Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-10
DEFICIENCY BILL is PASSED
Senate Approves Eessure as Reported by
the Committee.
SHARP DEBATE OVER CANAL SECTION
Provision Abrogating Eight-Hour
Law on Isthmus IL Allowed
TO stand After Long
Discussion.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Almost the en-.
tire session OF the senate today was de-
voted to the consideration of the urgent
deficiency bill, which was passed practically
as It was reported from the committee on
appropriations. The only discussion In con-
nection with the bill was over an amend
ment suggested by Mr.. Patterson to strike
out the provision relieving alien workmcn
on the canal from the operations OF the
eight-hour law. Mr.. Patterson contended
that TO require men to labor more than
eight hours a day in the tropics was In
human and argued that the requirement
would do injustice to American labor. Sew
eral senators on both sides Of the chamber
tcontroverted the position.
would Amend Statehood Bill.
At the beginning of today's session of the
senate Mr.. Foraker presented an amend
ment TO the statehood bill, directing the
method OF preceding in Arizona and New
Mexico on the question of admission. II d.
reefs that within thirty days after the APP
prevail OF the statehood bill the governors
OF the two territories shall respectively call
elections for submitting the question of
statehood.
Voters of the two proposed states shall
vote separately and the union shall not
be contaminated unless a majority of the
votes in each territory are cast in the
Affirmative.
The urgent deficiency appropriation bill
was laid before the senate and read at
length. Mr.. Patterson moved to strike out
of the deficiency bill the provision abrogat-
ing the eight-hour law on the canal zone.
He argued that the provision was adverse
10 Americans as well as aliens.
Uattp~sOD amend
ment
what It all means in plain, brutal Eng
lish is that there is being prepared on the
isthmus q slaughter house for aliens and
that the canal is to be built at fearful
cost not only of money but of life,' re-
sponded Mr.. Patterson in persisting in
pressing the amendment upon the senate.
Mr.. Gallnger called attention to the state
ment of the canal officials that sanitary
conditions on the isthmus were much I'm
proved and Mr. Patterson replied thai
these statements did not correspond with
the testimony given by senators.
TiIIman Replies to Patterson.
Mr.. Tillman also took issue with Mr.
Patterson, saying that when the Colorado
senator makes an appeal for alien labor
he would better look a little closer home
and consider the American laborer. who
in the end must pay for building the
canal" He made an appeal for COM
mon sense course in dealing with the cana
and for the exclusion of can't from the
consideration of the question.
Mr.. Patterson withdrew the amendment
he had offered and offered another hxins
the limit of a days labor on canal worl
at ten hours instead of eight.
The amendment was lost. Mr.. Tillmar
expressed dissatisfaction with the relation
ship between the canal commission and
the Panama Railroad company and said
he hoped the canal committee would find
means Of unifying the canal and the road
Mr.. Hale agreed with the statement made
4 by Mr.. Tillman as to the desirability o.
Adoing away with the dual arrangement.
The bill was then passed and at S:OS p. m
the senate went into executive session anC
adjourned at 3:i5 p. m. until Monday.