Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-11
,EIGHT-HOUR LAW UP
House Committee on Labor is Taking
Testimony on Bill
SAMUEL G0MPERs Is HEARr
President Of Federation and 0tht
Leaders Before Committee.
OBJECTION FROM sHIPBUnDER
New York Constructor Says Measure
Would Damage Business.
TwO.CEgT PASSENGER FARES
Representatives OF Travelling Mems
Association Appear Before House
Committee on Interstate
Commerce.
OBJECTION FROM SH1PBUnDER
New York Constructor Says Measure
Would Damage Business.
TwO-CEET PASSENGER FARES

WASHINGTON, March 10.-President
Gompers Of the American Federation CT
Labor, accompanied by several union man
of the District OF Columbia made his -irst
appearance today before the Eouso com
mittee on labor In the series Of h arings
on the eght-hour bill which has been going
on for some weeks.
W. II. Fletcher, vice president of the w.
and A. Fletcher comT any OF Hohoken,
shipbuilders, and representing also the Ma
tional Metal Trades ussoCiation, n ade a
presentation OF facts and deduction against
the proposed law, lie sald as have all his
predecessors before the Committee In the
construction line, that II the bin becomes
a law mis- company will be eompellet TO
cease bidding for government contracts.
Answering questions put by Mr.. Gompers
and by members Of the committee, Mr..
Fletcher denied that the commercial ship
building industry on tic Atlantic coast of
the United states is practically ext.nat,
that about the same condition PREVAILS on
the Pacific coast. and that the only pieces
in the United States where The indus ry
still survives are the Great likes and ether
inland waters.
In addition to Mr. Gompe,s, Edward
Notbagel. representing the elcc real work
ers of the District Of Columbia, and John
+. Babbitt. representing the union plaster
ers OF the District OF Columbia, made argu-
ments IN support OF the bill. Thy boih
stated that organized labor is oppo ed T.
overtime wirk.. In fact they said that in
the bylaws OF the orders they represented
they had penallzed overtime by ctarg'ni
almost prohlbitive rates for it.
Gomperu Closes Argument.
ant
half OF the bill. He made nlea for the
massage of the measure and emphatically
contradicted tho assertion that had been
made before the committee by employers
representatives that worlkingmen as a re-
suit were In favor of working overtime u
they received extra pay for the same. He
claimed that the representatives of some
of the employers who had appeared before
tho committee during these hearings had
been INSTRUMENTAL ms securing Legislation
that practically has made outlaws of union
workmen,
& When asked by Mr.. vreeland TO explain
Z his meaning, Mr.. Gompers said The suits
that have been brought against the organi
zations OF labor ana which have reached
final decision by the supreme court of th'
United States, have outlawed the ordinary
actions OF the labor organizations that had
been regarded as lawful until these deci
sions were rendered and the very fact thai
a union Of worltmen has come to an agree
ment with a large number Of employers t'
maintain Industrial peace between them II
cited and held TO be proof Of the success
Of a conspiracy in restraint of trade, rend
ering not only the organization and its Of
ficers. but the men In that organization
liable to be sued in the courts for three
fold damages which a dissatisfied employe
may claim--an employer with whom h
cannot come to an agreement, and will
whom they have been in contest. Unde
the law and under the decision these mel
can be proceeded against in the fedora
courts, and II found guilty may be impris
oned for one year or fined S5OOo or both"