The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND COMMENT

much to do with defeating the bill be- fore the Senate committee. Then again the Democrats on tho committee did the measure as advocated by the House Republicans, and the DentOcrsts xinp- ly could not resist the temptation to tie up the whole question and lnak. the Republicans appear ridiculous. Tie Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee were divided on the proposition. some holding that 1t was better to bring about a reduction of the tariff duties on the products or the islands as long as they could no. force free trade; others contendinE that 1t was better to oppose the Republican policy all the way through.
 Engraving and rJinting is kept con- startly at work turning out in cnQr- nous quantities postage. revenue sild other stamps for the Philippines: Also ing printed and shipped out regularly by the War Department. It would seem that the administration has no idea of Filipino independence inside or generation. as. Secretary Taft re- mer.
 Some of the labor leaders who are looking after legislation aEecting theiT road Iiabi,..y bill in which soo,Ooo cn.. ployes are directly interested Is not passed at this session they propose to make serious trouble for certain Re- measure has passed the House. but it Is being held up In the Senate. and 1t is freely charged that Republicans over there are responsible fer the fall al, of Virginia, and other Democratic Sen ators, have tried repeatedly to force action upon the measure. but prominent Republicans-notably Messrs; Knox. have thrown obstacles in its way.
 The agents of the labor organizations are putting great many Inquiries to Congressional candidates with a view of finding .i,o out how they sssaI stand on na a generally understood that if the an- swers are not satisfactory organized labor will have out candidates for Cor Their policy seems to be this If a Republican cannot be brought rms and the Democratic candidate 7 S1uGt- ly as objectionable the fabs ol 1i- nations will put up ma. of ta"it own. They expect in certs .'f to indorse Republicans ard otnr"s they calculate to give their support G. Democrats---it all depending upon the concessions obtained. Just how this will affect the two old parties few pol iticians so Fer iH advance of the cleo ton would care to speculate upon.
 Violations of Efxht-h0ur Law.
 The labor men complain bitterly that the administration has not lived up to It's promises in enforcing the eight hour law on Government work. They charge that in the construction of the big filtration plant i'm the District of Columbia, instead of working eight hours the men were forced to toll on an average of ten hours day and did not receive any extra sompensa- tion.
 William Hughes, formerly Demo- cratic member of the House from the Paterson District of New Jersey, ven tilated this subject pretty thoroughly before the Labor Committee on which he served. He had numerous letters from high officials of the Government in which they are said to contend that shorter hours could not be granted. It is understood that the facts collected by MT. Hughes will be put In compact form and widely circulated during the this year. MT. Hughes ex- poets ta run for the House again from the Paterson district, and his friends appear to be confident that he will bs elected because of his popularity among the wage- workers of his district.
 The labor watchers of Legislation are also known to be much displeased be. cause the eight-hour rule has not been applied in the construction of the Pan- ana Canal. They positively assert for the Republicans in many of the close or doubtful Congressional. dis- tricts.