Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-09
Expediency of the Eight-Hour
Law Discussed.
CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE
Mr.. Patterson Would Restore Provi-
sion to Deficiency Bill.
OTHERS JOIN ISSUE WITH HIM
Claimed That Waterway Can Be Con-
structed Only With Alien Labor
Private Pensions in House.

Private Pensions in House.
At the beginning of today's session of the
Senate Mr.. Foraker presented an amend
ment TO the statehood bill, directing the
method of proceeding in Arizona and New
Mexico on the question of admission 1t
directs that within thirty days after the
approval of the statehood bill the COVER
nors of the two territories shall. respec-
lively. call elections for submitting the
question of joint statehood to the voters of
the two proposed states separately, and
that the union shall not be consummated
unless a majority of the votes In each ter
ritory is cast in the affirmative.
The urgent deficiency appropriation bill
was laid before the Senate and read at
length.
When the reading OF the bill had been
finished Mr.. Patterson moved to strike out
the provision abrogating the eight-hour law
in the employment of alien laborers on the
Panama canal. He spoke in support of the
amendment. contending that the inevitable
effect would be to entirely eliminate. the
possibility OF employing American labor on
the canal He said that with the time limi-
tation removed from one class of labor on
the canal others to whom the limitation
thought that with improved sanitary con-
ditions in Panama large number of negro
citizens of this country could find profitable
employment there If the eight-hour law was
enforced. He also thought that many
American mechanics would find employment
in the canal zone.
Mr. Hale said that it had been impossible
to get American negroes TO go to Panama
to work.
Proceeding, Mr.. Patterson contended that
IL the provision was allowed to remain the
IL, T. I-s~~ l.
cheapest labor to the isthmus, and he con-
tended that the example was not good
one. There was, he said, especial danger in
case the digging of the canal was done IN
der contract, as was probable 1t would be.
MI. Hale's Contention.
That the canal work cannot be done
and that the enterprise must end in fail
ure if alien labor cannot be employed on
the canal. Mr. Hale said was the general
consensus of opinion. He said the authori-
ties in the canal work had been most AK
ious this point-that, indeed, 1t was
the crucial point In connection with the
canal enterprise.
President, the Secretary of War and 9TH
ers awake more than all others connected
with the canal" he said He expressed
the opinion that only the natives of the
islands of the Spanish Main. such as ia
maica, could be depended on to do rhe
work This labor he said, entirely
They know nothing of the eight hour sys.
tenn
Mr.. Morgan corroborated the statement
OF Mr. Hale, saying that the testimony
taken by the interoceanic canal COMMITTEES
supported this view. He hoped the .lulcro
ment would not prevail. If he ed 10
defeat the canal work he would exclude
alien labor from the canal.
Opposed by Mr.. Money.
Mr.. Money also opposed the amendment
fe 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 a million
germs with every spadeful of earth" Work
there. he said means death
What it all means in plain, brutal Eng
hsh is that there is being prepared on the
lsthmus slaughter house for aliens and
that the canal is to be built at a fearful
cost, not only of money. but of life" re-
sponded Mr.. PATTERSON, in persisting in
pressing the amendment upon the Senate
MT Gailinger called attention to the
statement of the canal officials that sani-
tary conditions on the isthmus We're much
improved and Mr.. Patterson replied that
these statements did not correspond with
the testimony given by senator's. He found
IN the bad sanitary condition along the line
or the canal the strongest reason for n
limit on the time of labor
Mr. T1llman also took issue with Mr..
Patterson, saying that when the Colorado
senator makes an appeal for allen labor he
would better look little closer home ann
consider the American laborer, who in the
end must pay for building the canal"
"Conjuring Up COLLINS"
lie made an appeal for common-sense
course In dealing with the canal and for the
exclusion of cant from the consideration of
the question. He thought that Mr. Patter-
son was "conjuring up COLLINS which no
one else can see,' and said that the inter-
ests of foreign laborers would be protected
by Their own governments.
Mr.. Patterson replied that ii was quite
probable the work would be done under con-
tract rendering governmental interference
all the more difficult. He said this debate
had had only the effect of confirming him
In the opinion that there should be hmlta-
ton.
Even though 1t be called can't" he added
am willing to stand by the contention
that the provision in the bill is inbuman
toward alien labor and opposed to the in
teTests OF American labor"
Offers Another Amendment.
He added that If one-h half that was prom
ised in 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 an
other hSlng the limit of a DAYS la hor on
canal work at ten hours instead of eight.
Mr.. simmons said that the testimony taxi
en- before the canal committee showed that
fully 10 per cent of the Americans on the
lsthmus were employed In outdoor work
many or them being in charge of foreign
workmen He saw great difficulty in en-
forcing the elght-hour law as to those men
and In not enforcing II as to the men of
whom they have charge. He said that Mr.
wallace had taken this view. Mr. Simmons
did not. however, advocate a short hour
for the West Indian laborers EMPLOYED on
the canal.
Mr.. Hale said that the Secretary of War.
Mr.. Shonts and Mr., Stevens had taken a
position opposed to that of Mr. Wallace
Mr.. Allison appealed to senator's to let
the bill proceed to a vote. saying that the
difhculty could be remedied in a general
bill on the canal question. He added that
La.