The Washington times., 1916-09-02

The House passed the eight-hour
bill by a vote of 239 to Sc last night
an decided to hold a session today to
await the action of the Senate.
Belief in the House Is that the Sem
ate will take the House measure and
there will not be the necessity for
a further roll call on Senate amend
ments in the lower chamber.
Should the Senate approve the House
bill, many Congressman will leave for
their homes tonight as there 10 feel
ing that Congress will adjourn next
week and there will be no additional
roll calls in the House.
Tow Democrats, Congressman Black
of Texas and Steel Of Pennsylvania,
voted against the eight-hour Dill.
Fifty-four Republicans, lie dby MI;
Mann, the minority leader. also voted
some Of the Republicans woh cast
a vote for the measure said they did
SO under protest and only to avert q
strike. They argued that the Presi-
aiir. q. emit and brought about the
Thta the President should have. and
could have, brought about arbitration
by taking q arm stand was the plant
OF a number Of Republican speakers.
Exempts Electric and Short Lines.
As amended in the House the bill
exempts from the operation OF the
eight hour law tho employees on short
line railroads, not exceeding 100 miles
in length, electric and electric inter-
urban railroads are also exempted.
The exemption does not apply tc
short-line carriers engaged in switching
and transfer services at terminal points
and between railroads. or between rail-
roads and industrial plants. ,u
presented a minority amendment to in.
clude legislation for the Canadian plar
of arbitration in the bill. This went out
on a point Of order. Minority. leader
Mann assailed the making Of this poin,
arbitration legislation was ons OF tbs
very things recommended In the Presi'
dents message.
yet we see the Presidents :pokes
man on this floor objectinE to iegisls.
days ago" said Mr.. Mann. THE Pres
ident as usual has wobbled and waver
ed"
An appeal from the decision Of thu
chair holding the Sterling amnedmen
'Ono Of the gentlemen who mus
Strike situation is tie President Of tn,
United States" said Congressman Lon
root in q speech assailing hasty legis
lation Of such importance.
Adamson's Reply.
Replying to this, Chairman Adamson
in charge of the bill said:
"A condition and not q theory present
itself. There may be 10000 differon
opinions as to what ought to be done q
adjust relations between our two classe
opportunity to give deliberate consider
atoms toSthose questions
Mr.. Adamson said the bill has bee
inaptly described a. Temporary legisla
ton"
ut Is hasty legislation. 1 admit" h
continued. and Intended . to. meet u
emergency. There IL but one substantia
law. We have been committed to tn
hours Of service law for years and year,
We have a sixteen hour law and q min
hour law, and gentleman who can rea
| he-provision Of the Constitution sayin
that oCngress can regulate commerce
between the States and then cavil aoou
the constitutionality OF Congress doin
| anything to regulate commerce read tn
Constitution with glasses different froi
mine.
1--WE now put In an eight-hour law an
provide to preserve the status quo unit
a commission can investigate the di'
putc between the two CLASSES of OF
servants. Afterwards we will MAX
complete and adequate regulation. tai
Ing care Of the interests Of both classt
Of our servants. and doing justice
the people to whom all service belongs
There IL no pretense that this bi
establishes an eisht-hour day." sal
Congressman mann, the minorit
leader, in his attack upon the bill
| sdrha onlv puruose Of this hill II 1
have Congress write into law an