Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-28
IN LABOR CIRCLES

\ Al HIS recent report freSlQent samuel
Gompers Of the American Federation Of
Labor asserted that there are now under
consideration contracts for the employ
ment of thousands Of Chinese laborers on
the Panama canal, and at wages as low
as nine and q quarter cents per hour"
He adds:
The Chinese exclusion law provides
that the Chinese laborers shall not come
to the United States. its territories or
possessions"
Speaking further on the Panama canal
labor proposition. Mr.. Gompers said:
"A plain sense Of duty requires that
should make a formal statement Of facts
relative to the changed conditions which
now obtain and are in course of determi-
nation In the construction of the Panama
canal. The Panama canal commission,
the outset assumed an attitude Of indif-
ference or hostility to the position which
labor declared to be essential and proper
in regard thereto.
AT this Boston convention the declara-
ton was made in favor of the construc
ton Of the canal connecting the Atlantic
ana Pacific oceans. We regarded it as the
most important work ever assumed by
this or any other nation. and a resolution
was ADOPTED urging that inasmuch as we
nave IN our country hundreds of thou.
sands of laborers of the Italian and other
southern races, adapted in every way to
the class of work to be undertaken at
Panama, that, therefore, the workmen of
the United States should be employed in
the construction of the inter-oceanic
canal.
Those In charge of the construction
Of the canal seemed bent upon the policy
the reverse of this; in other words, they
seemed to have no other conception than
That our government Should become the
sponsor of cheap laborers' in this greet
public work. We endeavofed to be Of
assistance to the work of the commission,
Panama canal be built by, and as a monu-
ment to. the ingenuity, enterprise and In
oustry of the American people.
In so far as labor is concerned, the
commission seems to have directed It's
attention to all other chimes and coun-
tries rather than to our own, and has
manifested its purpose to disregard the
eight-hour law, upon the premise that
the Panama canal zone Is not an Ameri-
can possession; that the canal is not an
American public work.
Inc Attorney General, however rendered
contrary opinion and held that the eight
hour law Of the United States applied Bent
upon the pursuit Of it's policy, the commits
sion prevailed upon those in control of leg
lsiallon to try and carry out its design.
When the urgent deficiency bill was under
consideration in the House a rider thereto
was offered to abolish the eight-hour law
SO far as 1t applied to the Panama canal
construction. This being new legislation it
tion. objection was entered and 1t was
ruled out. Then those in control Of the
rouse formulated new rule and forced
lts adoption, permitting this special and
new legislation; and, under the whip and
spur or those in control the following
amendment was passed abolshing the
eight-hour law. so far as it applies to the
Panama canal:
THE provisions Of the act entitled An
act relating to the limitations of the hours
OF daily service of laborers and mechanics
employed upon the public works of the
md Of he ~;
lumbia,' approved August 1, 1892, shall not
apply to alien iaborers employed in the con-
struction of the isthmian canal within the
canal zone"
Every effort was made tn nrevent tho
enactment and approval of this amend
ment but without avail
1t will be observed that the language en-
ployed appears to abolish the eight hour
law so far as allen laborers are con-
cerned; but the fact Of the matter is that
the eight-hour law is now dead in its prac-
tlcal application SO far as all workmen are
concerned, whether alien or American
Letters received by us from Amarican
Workmen In the canal zone complain that
tney are not only required and permitted
put are compelled. to work as much as six
teen hours a day. It is not dificuIt to an
preclate the enormity of so long work
day, particularly in such a torrid zone and
m1asmatic atmosphere as prevail along the
Panama canal strip,
Upon the return of Mr. Gompers and Sea-
rotary Frank Morrison to this city arrange
ments VIII be made. 1t is said, to have the
legislative committee Of the A. F. L. attend
the meetings during the short session Of
congress. In the Sixtieth Congress il is
added, the committee will watch public men
ana keep In touch with all proposed legisla-
member of Congress. Summing up the re- |
suits of the last election Mr.. Gompers SAYS:
Ih1s campaign was successful if Judged |
only by the number of votes cast. We say |
hat tie
hardly be accurately estimated at this time
Yet even now labor's political activity is rec
ognlzed as great movement to protect the |
liberties of the people and restore to them
their natural and constitutionaIIy guaran-
teed rights"
Referring to the recent death Of William
A. Whitney, a Washington typo, which oc-
CURED at Orange, N. j.. the Trades Union |
list says:
mr.. Whitney was employed at the gov
eminent printing office CTreasury branch), |
and was absent from the city enjoying |
vacation when the sad event occurred. He |
was aged about seventy-three years and was |
a man of apparently remarkable physical |
strength and vigor. and consequently the
announcement of his death came as a great
surprise to his friends. The Colonel" as he |
was Familiarity called by those who knew
him intimately. was a veteran Of the civil |
war, having served as volunteer in a New
York regiment, and was said by those ac-
quainted with his record to have been a |
faithful and gallant soldier. He was an
honored member of the G.. A. R. and also
Of John A. Logan Camp, U. V. T., of this |
city. He leaves a sister residing here, and /
both she and Mr.. Whitney were highly |
esteemed wherever known. When the notice |
Of his death was received by his fellow |
craftsmen meeting of his chapel was call |
ed by Chairman Kirsch and a committee |
appointed to draft a resolution expressive |
Of the sentiment of the meeting
Organized labor of Washington Is closely |
watching the board of arbitration in the |
plumbers controversy to what the out |
come will be as to the open shop PROPOSE |
ton advanced by the master plumbers. 1t |
is agreed that the problem will have to 60 |
before the arbitrators in some shape and |
that a decision of some sort viii be reached |
by the five lawyers who comprise the |
board.
The situation at this time isenigmatic,
and there Is considerable guessing oeing |
done on both sides of the fence.
Several Of the leading mechanics of the |
navy yard have expressed the |
belief that although it is almost fore |
gone conclusion that there will soon be |
big reduction in the force there yet those |
who escape the official 3uillotine will re-
ceive an increase In pay.
The hope Is also expressed that Congress |
WILL during its short session, make largely |