Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-16
Fate of BorIand Bill
May Be Decided Before
Senate Adjourns Today

The fate of the Borland eight-hour
amendment, 50 far as the agriculture ap-
preparation bill is concerned. may be set
tied in the Senate before adjournment to-
day. Yesterday afternoon in committee
of the whole. the Senate. by a vote of %
to %, refused to adopt a motion of Sena-
tor Sheppard of Texas to strike out the
Borland amendment.
Senator Sheppard Immediately gave
notice he would reserve the right to ask
for a separate vote on his motion when
the bill goes from committee of the whole
into the Senate for final action.
So evenly divided were the supporters
and opponents of the amendment the re-
suit was in doubt up to the casting of the
last vote. Several times before the an
nCuncement of the result by Vice PreS-
dent Marshall the balance shifted to one
side or the other as senator's who came
into the chamber late voted. Several of
amendment were away from the Capitol,
and Senator Sheppard hopes that he will
be able to overturn the action of yeSter-
day on the final roll call.
Amendments Offered.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia offered
an amendment providing that If the en-
ployes were forced TO work more than
eight hours in a day they were to be
given an equal amount of time off the
next day, soon as they could be
spared from work 1t was voted down.
81 to 81. the opponents of the Borland
amendment voting against it.
Senator Jones of Washington had an
amendment adopted which makes the
Borland amendment include employees Of
the Department of Agriculture wherever
they may be. The original Borland
amendment was confined only to those
employed in the District of Columbia
JHh Gli yls-S ifax- 1I,,
unfair
Another amendment adopted was that
of Senator Kenyon of Iowa, providing thai
the eight hour amendment should be eff
fective only during the continuance OF
the war.
Senator Williams of Mississippi made a
vain effort to have an amendment adopt
ed by which the employees would be paid
time and half for overtime work. a
point Of order, made by Senator Gore
against this amendment on the ground il
was new legislation was sustained by the
Vice President. Senator Sheppard had
announced he would offer a similar
amendment, and provided he can frame
one that will not be Subject to a point
of order, he may offer it today
Mr.. Williams Demands Vote.
Senator Williams appealed from the
ruling. and as soon as the Senate con-
vened today ne demanded that vote
be taken on MS appeal.
Il voted for the Borland amendment
yesterday" said Senator Williams. but
after ! had said that l would support
it, provided | cbuld have it amended
so that the clerks would be given time
and-a-half pay for overtime work But
the chair has ruled that it is not in
order to offer this amendment of mine
Yesterday the Senate by Il vote of
% to IS defeated . motion to strike out
the Borland amendment Unless | can
get u vote on this amendment of mine
] shall change my vote when the bill
goes into the Senate, and | believe that
the motion to strike out viii then pre-
vail.
There is no reason why the clerks
| should not work eight hours a day as
| well as men working IN mines or build
! ing ships or in the fields or factories
l would nate to vote against a propo-
siton to make the clerks work eight
| hours a day. But | would hate also
gong 10 De put under an eight hour law
they ought to have the same conditions
| that workers throughout the country
| under the clght-hour provision have"
| senator PUTNAM of Nevada, saying he
| dlSliked to vote to oVerrule the chair
| pointed out that when a Navy appro-
| prlatlon bill was up the Vice Presi-
| dent had ruled it was in order. if the
| House mad opened the door to general
| leSlslatlon on an appropriation bill, for
| path.
me vice President insisted that the
| condltlon had been different in tina,
| case.
But Senator Pittman disagreed wit,
| him.
I NIL 30 Ill