The Portland daily press., 1871-12-21

and sending ignorant boys and girls to the pill
lory or whipping post.
Mr.. Bigg3 said that it was right and proper
tor Massachusetts, to establish her labor bureau
out she should not come to Congress for that
purpose As to the whipping post, that was an
institution which the people Of his State were
proud Of 1t only had been established for
felons, scoundrels, thieves and robbers, and it
was said to the great glory of the State that a
man was never brought back the second time
after being properly whaled. General laugh
ter.
Mr. Campbell disclaimed any such motive
he had offeree the amendment because he be-
tleved that committee so appointed would be
fairer and freer from objection than any COM
mission appointed by the President.
Mr.. Hoar said that two things were to be &C.
complished by an investigation: LIST, thorough
and fair ascertainment of the facts, and I'd, the
satisfaction OF the country with the result
Both OF these were impossible under the propo-
sltlon of the gentleman from Ohio-an investi-
CATION by a committee of the House and SEN
ate consistent with attention to other duties,
ana In the next place these were all members
OF one or the other political party, so that the
proposition, when translated meant that in the
investigation no member of the labor party
would be competent. 1t could be otherwise
and therefore the proposition belittled the
measure. 1t was true that the President might
nominate and the Senate might confirm three
gentlemen of the class described by the gentle
man from Delaware (Biggs), as broken wind
ed Republican politicians" The President was
a man OF courage, but there was one thing he
dared not do, and that was to devote this COM
mission to partizan purposes. The President
was to exercise the authority conferred upon
MIN in the eyes of an anxious, expecting and
aroused sentiment of the laboring classes
Mr.. Hoar inquired whether no women were
whipped there a second time
Mr.. Biggs was unable to say, but there had
been quite an emigration from Delaware to
Massachusetts,
Mr.. Hoar said that if the gentleman or any
body else thought the system of Delaware was
better than that of Massachusetts, or that it
was matter for an exhibiting sheer orlaughter
he was welcome to either, he had nothing fur
ther to say. This was simply demand for an
investigation into thequeston whether the legis
lation of the general government did in any re-
spect operate injurously on laborers who would
dare to refuse an investigation demanded by all
organizations of labor, and refuse to have it
made by the ablest, most impartial persons?
On those two propositions he would rest the
bill and call for vote.
The several amendments relative to the char
acter of the commission were rejected and the
bill finally passed. Yeas 1874; nays &c. TOf the
nays % were Democrats and Republicans
The bill as passed, reads as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate anu HOUSE of Reuro-
sentatives of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled that there shall be appointed by the
President by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate commission OF three persons OF whom one
shall be practically identified with the laborng inter-
ests Of the country and who shall be selected from
civil life solely with reference to their character and
capacity for an honest impartial investigation, who
snail hold office the period of ono year from the date
of the appointment unless their duties have been
sooner accomplished, who shall investigate the sub.
ject of and hours of labor and of the division of
the joint profits of labor and capital between the Ia
borer and the capitalist and the social. educational
and sanitary condition of the laborin5 classes of The
United States and how the same effe ted by the
existing laws regulating commerce, finance and
rem " provided that the said commissioners shall be
appointed irrespective of political or partizan consd
Grafton.
Section I'd, That the said commissioners shall re-
ceve annual salary of $4,000 eacI shall be author
lied to employ clerk and shall report the result OF
their investigation to the President, to be by him
transmitted to Congress.
The House at $50 adjourned