The Irish standard., 1910-04-16

as a long deferred payment of prom
Use or pledge made by the Republican
party to the labor men of the country.
Despite the passage of the eight-hour
bill, however, way was found to
prevent it's application to the con-
struction of battleships. By some
what extraordinary opinion Of the at
torney general it was held that a war
vessel was not a public work.
"The effect of this amendment ex-
planned Rep. Fitzgerald, will be to
require all contracts for the construc
ton of vessels authorized in this bill
to contain a provision that the vessels
shall be built in accordance with the
eight hour law. Since l have been IL
member of this house, some II years,
act law making an eight-hour day
the legal day for all work done for the
government under contract. Such
bill has never come before the house
for action. The ability of men to turn
out more in eight hours than in nine
hours is easily understood by those
who have given careful attention to
the question. There is a maximum ca
pacity to the ability of every mechanic
and laborer to work. Working eight
hours day after day, the mechanic does
not become stale. but commences each
days work thoroughly refreshed and
able to maintain his highest speed the
entire day. Not only is the output of
his labor greater, but it is a better
product in every way.
1.-THE report of the industrial COM
mission some years ago disclosed the
fact that a number of manufacturing
establishments had voluntarily reduced
the number of hours from ten to nine,
and that under no circumstances would
they go back to the ten-hour day, be-
cause the output was not only greater,
but was more satisfactory than under
the ten-hour day. The government
should not only set the example, but
should accelerate the movement 20
have a universal eight-hour day by
insisting that all work done for it I'M
der contract should be by men en-
ployed eight hours"
The Taft administration is still fight
ing desperately to prevent an investi-
cation by congress Of the sugar trust
frauds.
The administration clings to the posi-
ton that an investigation might give
immunity to the guilty parties.
Those who desire congressional
probe contend that the really big
multi millionaires who
would have pocl1eted the s2,OOO,O0O of
stolen import duties had not their
more Immunity through congress-
failure to investigate than they could
possibly secure through an investiga-
ton.
One of the remarkable features of
the situation is that the all-poWerful
steering committee of congress refuse
to allow resolution providing for an
investigation of the sugar trust to even
come before the house for vote. The
members Of the committee on rules and
a few other men are to all practical
ends doing all the legislating on mat
ters concerning the welfare or the
sugar trust.
An examination of the records of the
every bill or resolution touching either
the proposed Investigation of the Amer
lean Sugar Refining company, the sale
of $1,000 acres of rich Friar sugar
lands to the Havemeyer sugar inter-
ests in alleged violation of the organic
law Of the Philippines, or aiming in
any manner at the security of the
trusts monopoly of the sugar mar
kets, has been chloroformed in COM
mittee.
Here are the facts copied from tho
records of the Sixty first congress of
the United States:
House Concurrent Resolution No. "a
providing for the appointment of a
committee to investigate crimes of the
sugar trust; introduced Dec. 6, 1909
by Rep. p. P. Campbell (Repubican)
of Pittsburg, Kan; referred by Speak
err Cannon to committee on rules; neve,
afterward heard Of.
House Resolution No. 1854, providing
for investigation of frauds perpetratet
upon government by the American
Sugar Refining company: introduced
Dec. 10. 1909, by Rep. A. j. SABBATH
Of Chicago; referred to committee or
rules; no further record.
House Resolution No. 1872, providing
for an investigation of the sale by the
government Of 55 n0o acras 30 phi1;,