Speech #490055627

In order to remove a wrong impression in the minds of some of the members concerning the effects of this resolution if adopted. and the scope of. measures likely to be brought before the House. I desire to.ctate that the only bills now pending on the Calendar and in the committee which could be called up under this resolution other than the educational bill are the bills to prohibit the employment of aliens on public works and to prohibit the use of the product of convict labor on public buildings. to protect laborers. servants. and mechanics in their wages. to restore wages in the public printing establishment to the standard of 1879. to extend the scope of the eighthour law. not in regard to the back claims pending under it which were referred to a different committee. but to extend its scope. to grant leave of absence to certain laborers in different Departments of the Government. to provide for the incorporation by a national law of trade unions. to further extend the scope of the bill passedby the last Congress prohibiting importation of contract labor. to include those engaged in the traffic in foreign slaves under the guise of "employment agents.11 Those bills. together with the Presidents message on the subject of arbitration. comprise the business of that committee.