The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-01-11
HON. WALTER |. HEkSLEY
ON The EIGHT-H0U LAW.

United States, or for any Terri
tory, or for the District of Colum
bia, aud for other purposes" Hou
Walter l.. Hensley, in the House
of Representatives. on mber
ID, said:
Mr.. Speaker: | desire to take
advantage of general leave granted
Members in this connection.
am entirely in accord with the
purpose of this legislation; it is a
step in the right direction. Through
the enactment Of this measure
which we are going to pass, the
Government will set the standard
at eight hours per day for all Ia
bOrers and mechanics. Private
employers can therefore no longer
say that the demands of their en-
ployees i'll this respect are ureason-
able when the Government has
said that such demands are rea.
sonable aud just. 1t has been the
policy of the Government for a
great many years, in dealing with
It's employees, to keep pace with
the highest standard in private in
situations, and justly SO; the Gov
ernment should be a model employ
err. If, therefore, union labor had
done nothing more than to give us
this bill aud kindred measures,
which have been and are now un-
der consideration, looking to the
health. safety, and general ad'
vancement of employees, it would
be entitled to the lasting gratitude
Of the country.
The bill provides, That every
contract hereafter made to which
the United States, any Territory,
or the District of Columbia is a
party, and every such contract
, made for or on behalf Of the United
States. or any Territory, or said
District which may require or in
volve the employment OF laborers
or mechanics shall contain a pro.
vision that no laborer or mechanic
doing any part of the work con-
templated by the contract ir the
employ of the contractor or any
subcontractor contracting for any
part OF said work contemplated
shall be required or permitted to
work more than eight hours in any
one calender day upon such work."
with proper penalty for violation
of the provisions attached thereto.
1t is not my purpose, Mr.. Speak
er, nor does i, now seem necessary,
to make an extended argument in
behalf of this measure, as every
conscientious aud justice loving
citizen should favor its passage. It
is Just: il is honest; it is humane.
| wish this Congress. MS well as the
people generally, could be aroused
to just appreciation of the rights
of that great body of men, who
not only comprise the very founda-
ton of our Government, but who
by their efforts produce the wealth
and insure the stability OF our Ma
ton. II the true condition OF
these people were brought home to
each and every one of this mem :
bership. then there should not,
and, | believe, would not, be dis
senting vote in this House on this
bill.
The Labor Committee of this
House, of which l am a member,
in reporting this bill back to the
} House and recommending its pass
age. submitted report therewitl
from which | wish to quote. W.
: say:
These trade agreements have
the effect of shortening the hours
: in other lines of industry where NJ
trade agreement exists. The resul
has been benefscial to the countr,
at large by raising the moral, intel
lectual, and physical standard o
The workers to higher plane ant
improving the general standard o
living.
1T is conceded by many econ
4 omists that the standard of livinI
Q has as much to do with the rute
e of wages obtained ms the rate o
t wages has to do with the STANDARD
Q of living. When, by virtue OF
a higher standard of living, peopl
= have become accustomed to the us
r Of good food, good clothing, goo,
e homes, good schooling facilities
e and good conditions of employ
t ment, they will not resdlly accep
a wages and terms of employment
= that will not enable them to con
L time these conditions. Notwith
n standing these facts, wages do an
t will no doubt continue to fiuctuat
n with varying industrial and com
! mercial conditions. That is no
g the case. as rule, with the short
: eniug of the hours of labor. Whe,
o :, sh,,,a, ,yn,l dow has haau asta h