Montana labor news., 1934-08-30
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF LABOR
DAY AS NATIONAL LEGAL HOLIDAY
Fifty Third Congress in 1894, When Grover Cleveland was Presi-
dent, Unanimously Passed Bill, Jointly introduced by Senator
Kyle of South Dakota and Representative Cummings of New
York, Making Labor Day a Legal Holiday.
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ings is taken from the Congressional
Record for that day:
"The VICE-PRESIDENT. The
Calendar under Rule VIII is in order.
"Mr. KYLE. We are on the Calen-
dar Just about down to Order Of Bush
ness No. PAS, which is Senate Bill 73O
| ask that the Senate proceed to the
consideration OF the bill Is. 800 max
ing Labor Day a legal hiloday.
There being no objection, the Sen
ate, as in Committee Of the Whole,
proceeded to consider the bill which
was read, as follows:
"'Be it enacted, etc, That the
first Monday in September OF each
year, being the day known and
celebrated as labor's holiday, is
hereby made a legal public holiday,
to all intents and purposes, in the
same manner as Christmas, the LIST
dav of Jan, the END day of Feb
ruary, the 3Oth of May and the
4th day of July are now by law
made public holidays.
Labor Asks First Monday in
September.
"Mr. KYLE. l should like to say,
for the information OF those who do
not know, that something like twenty
five States of the United States have
now settled upon the first Monday OF
September or the first day of October.
In order to make the observance uni
form, that all may enjoy vacation
privilege upon the same day, the labor
organizations Of the country have
united in asking that the first Monday
of September be set apart as a holi-
day."
This explanation of the bill by Sen
ator Kyle was followed by a brief dis
cussion participated in by Senator
William B. Allison of Iowa, Senator
Francis M. Cockrell of Missouri, Sena-
tor John H. Mitchell OF Oregon, and
Senator John Sherman of Ohio. The
only objection raised was by Senator
Cockrell, who believed that for the
sake of symmetry" in national holi-
days Labor Day should be fixed for
the first day in September instead OF
the first Monday.
Cockrell Urges First Day in
September.
The Congressional Record gives this
account OF the debate:
"Mr. ALLISON. Is the day in the
bill the 1st day of September?
"Mr. COCKRELL. The first Mon
day of September. 1t ought to be the
LIST day of September. | to
strike out Monday" and insert day,
so as to read, "the first day of Sep
TENDER"
"Mr. MITCHELL Of Oregon. Then
it would come on Sunday every few
years.
"Mr. COCKRELL. So does the 4th
of July, so does any fixed holiday fall
upon Sunday occasionally.
MFR. MITCHELL of Oregon. Il
should be fixed on a week day.
Sherman Abhors Sunday Holidays.
"Mr. SHERMAN. I think if the
labor organizations have liked thelI
own time, as it is said twenty-five
States have done, we had better lei
them have a week day. | do not my
self like to encourage holidays on Sun
day. There is too much old Presby-
terianism in me for that.
Cockrell Stresses Legislative
Symmetry"
"Mr. COCKRELL. Neither do
like to encourage holidays on Sunday
but if there is to be any symmetry il
our holidays this one ought to be fixeC
on the first day of the month, just al
we have the 4th of July, the 25tf
of December, the 30th Of May, an Sc
on for public holidays. However,
have no objection to letting it go; anc
l withdraw my amendment if there i:
any objection to it.
Original Bill Is Passed.
Mr.. SHERMAN. We had BETTE
leave it the first Monday, as we nov
create the holiday. The 4th OF July
was created by a great event, anC
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