The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-13
The United States Senate.

Grafton of the urgent deficiency ap-
propriation bill which was passed
practically as it was reported from the
committee on appropriations. The
only discussion in connection with the
bill was over an amendment suggested
by Senator Patterson to strike out the
provision relieving alien workmen on
the canal from the operations OF the
eight-hour law Senator Patterson con-
tended that to require men to labor
more than eight hours a day IN the
tropics was inhuman and argued that
the requirement would do injustice to
America labor. Several Senators on
both sides Of the Chamber controvert-
ed the position. The amendment was
voted down without resorting to roll
call.
Senator Patterson thought that with
improved sanitary conditions in Pana-
MA a large number Of negroes Of this
country could find profitable employ
ment there if the eight-hour law was
enforced.
Senator Hale said that it had been
impossible to get American negroes to
60 to Panama to work.
Senator Money also opposed the
amendment. He did not believe that
there would be any American labor
there. "They won't live more than
eight hours after arrival,' he said
"when they are turning up mlllor
germs with every spadeful Of earth. "
Work there, he said, means death.
"What it all means in plain, brutal
English is that there is being prepared
on the Isthmus slaughter house for
aliens, and that the canal is to be built
at a fearful cost not only Of money,
but of life,' responded Senator Pat
terson.
Senator Tillman also took issue with
Senator Patterson, saying that "when
the Colorado Senator makes an appeal
for alien labor he would better look
little closer home and consider the
American laborer who in the end must
pay for building the Canal.'' He made
an appeal for a commense sense course
in dealing with the Canal and for the
exclusion Of cant from the consldera-
ton Of the question. He thought that
Senator Patterson was conJurlng up
sobling which no one else can see, "
and said that the interests Of foreign
laborers would be protected by their
own Governments.
Senator Patterson declared that II
one-half that was promised i'll the way
Of sanitation on the line of the Canal
is to be realized many Americans
would seek work there. He Withdrew
the amendment he had offered and
offered another. fixing the limit OF a
davis labor on Canal work at 10 hours,
instead of eight.
Senator Simmons said that the testi
mony taken before Canal committee
showed that fully ten per cent OF the
American on the 1sthmus were en-
ployed in outdoor work, many Of them.
being in charge Of foreign workmen.
He saw great difficulty in enforcing
the eight-hour law as to those men,
and in not enforcing it as to the men
of whom they have charge. He told
that MI. Wallace had taken this view.
Senator Simmons did not, however
advocate d short hour for the West
Indian laborers employed on the Can
al.
Senator Hale said that the Secretary
of War. Mr.. Shonts and Mrs. Stevens
had taken position opposed to- that
of Mr.. Wallace.
The amendment was lost. Senator
Tillman expressed dissatisfaction with
the relationship between the Canal
commission and the Panama Railroad
Company, and he said he hoped the
Canal committee would find means OF
unifying the Canal and the road. Sen
ator Hale agreed with the statement