The sun., 1916-09-04
CONGRESS REGRETS
LABOR'S "HOLDUP"
1--WE Have Debauched Govern
1ment and Settled Moth
ing," Says Borah.
EIGHT HOUR LAW RIDDLED
Dark Picture Of Future Drawn
by Senator's and Repre-
Sentatives.

sentatives.
W~AshiNGToN. Sept. 3.-"We have
crineed and crawled. We have humlli-
ated ourselves. debauched our Govern.
ment. discredited union labor and settled
nothing"
II the average member OF Congress,
Democrat or Republican, were to &c,
you on in a corner where nobody else
could hear him he would say to-day
Just about what Senator william A.
Borah Of Idaho. Republican, in the fore.
going has had the courage to say in
public.
Senator Lawrence Y. sherman. Re
publican, of Illinois declared:
The eight hour act Is misnamed. II,
Is a law increasing wages because In
erect II likes a ten hour wage for an
e.snt hour service. The social Justice
or an eight hour day was mo- the i'm
peiling motive Of Congress. The law
Is the child OF a panIcstriken Congress
and "A brazen. shameless bid FOR the labor
vote on the eve OF q Presidential cleo
tion. congress has never before in It's
history been stripped bare Of it's last
hg leaf OF pretencs OF being a body
representative of the whole American
nation. Never before In our history has
an epochal law been enacted without
investigation or hearings Of the millions
affected.
Vicious C1ass L~egislatiea.
IN is %rreccden, that opens Con.
eress 10 the demands OF every industrial,
dispute in the United States. Congress
AS now constituted has forfeited Ito
right IN I've considered representative. OF
the American people. II has established
class legislation OF the most vicious
character. 1t has opened a Pandora box
OF evil that Will disable us as We face
the gravest industrial and commercial
war or our history when peace returns
TO Europe.
THE men benefited by this law are
is per cent. Of the railway employees
and now draw 2s per cent. OF all the
wages. All other workers have
no consideration The great public who
" finally bear the burden IL ignored.
This Is done in the name Of humanity
and Justice. Congress has stultifed itself
ard abdicated It's legislative functions
Lawmakers Feel Ashamed.
Democrats and Republicans alike feel
the shame and humiliation Of the
Sust concluded. There's no
doubt about that. They acknowledge
Congress n the President OF the
United States have been held up BY union
labor and have delivered through fear
OF political disaster.
What does the passage OF the eight
hour law mean In regard On the future
Of Congress and organised
What does IL mean 70 the rail-
roads OF the country Now tina Con-
sress has entered upon n programme Of
liking wages for 100000 tra!nmen In the
United states. where will II stop7 How
long viii It be before the millions OF
other employees In the United States will
De demanding action alonS the same line.
either from Congress or from the State
'ogislatures' What Is his going 10 mean
TO tho country's productive Industry,
especially when confronted with the
necessity OF readtsting itself to con-
iitions following the European war?
QuestiOns for Congress.
These are some Of the questions that
Of Congress say will be thrus.
upon the next session OF Congress. be-
ginning In December. and that will make
II one OF the most important legislative
periods In the history Of the Government.
There are two views here as 10 the
general broad effect Of the passage of
the eight hour day on union labor.
one view is that organized labor, haV-
ing driven Congress info granting an
eight hour day to 400. 900 trainmen. will
quickly follow this advantage with sue.
efforts In other directions, obtain
Ing not only increased wages but an
actual eight hour day. The views In Con-
sress Indicate clearly that most members
realized that this bin was only the be-
and that Congress would be
rallsd called on to increase the wages OF
the $500. 600 other railroad employees
and that the great industrial army In the
| nited States would not be slow In in
upon sharing In the advantage
by the railroad trainmen.
The railroad presidents say the bill
Rs " passed Congress will cost them AT
east an additional $50. 600, o0o zach year.
and Senator Newlands. chairman Of the
Interstate Commerce Committee.
has figured he application Of the e.aht
o law 20 all railroad employees. will
an additional expenditure each
OF $500. 900. 900.
Means ~ Extra Per Capita rax.
That is what the ultimate consumer
will have to pay In the end as
he result OF yesterdays legislation. Four
dollars from every a woman and child
In the United States. and this covers
Dnly the additional burden that will come
railroad wages.
As against those who argue that union
|abor has won a great victory and that
the passage Of the Wilson eight hour
will be followed ny other favorable
concessions from Congress and the state
are those who contend that
labor has dealt itself the hard
est blow It ever has received.
Il want to warn the union labor
men Of this country" said Senator Borah.
'of the inevitable logic OF tho position
they occupy when we pass his bill. I
TO say that the American people
will never permit Congress- TO pass this
kind Of legislation unless there accom-
II provision for a tribunal which
shall be clothed with the authority and
The power to make full investigation
and to nx wages for all men engaged In
the service Of the public utilities.
Calua Ne~ p~->.S