The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-20
AID CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, December 10.
HOUSE.
A number Of bills wero referred.

tee. Passed.
On motion of Mr.. ELDRIDGE resolu
tion was adopted, calling on the SeCre
tary Of State for information rs to the
printing OF the statement of the case OI
the United States before tho Geneva arbl
traitors.
On motion of Mr.. PERRY, the Secretary
OF tho Treasury was requested TO give
information as 10 the amount of five
twenty bonds redeemed. o.
A debate took place on the eight thours
labor bill. "f COW ''.
Mr.. PIERCE, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Education and Labor, endeavorcd
TO effect an arrangement as to debate.
After some discussion, Mr.. PIERCE gave
notice that ho would move the previous
question at 10 o'clock tomorrow, He
was not prepared to affirm or deny that
legislation was necessary on the labor
question, but was convinced that an in.
Vestigation would do good. There was
no partizanship in the question. The bill
was not In the interest Of the InternatiOn-
ais, trades, DC. He advocated the passage
OF a bill in the interest Of agricultural Ia.
bOyers and tue laboring classes South,
He wished TO attract emigrants to that
region.
Mr., CAMPBELL suggested q substitute
for the bill, but the proposition was de.
Clared out Of order.
MIR. STORM advocated the passage Of
the bill. The evils Of which the indus.
trial classes complained were as clear as
the MONDAY sun. Investigation would
show that So 1883 100000 Of property be.
longing to capitalists was exempt from
taxation and other interests taxed to
make the deficit; $2l 100000 was paid
annually out Of the Treasury 10 banking
associations rs mere bounty. II was
shown that the poor man paid upon his
salt tax l55 per cent; on cutlery over 90
per cent? on clothing, over % per cent ;
and on his spade and shovel, over 46 per
cent; while the rich man paid upon his
jewelry, diamonds, laces, gold rings, paint.
ings and statuary, d tax not exceeding 10
per cent To adjust this wrong TO labor.
Ing men, Congress would have 10 rGpeal
every pet financial scheme Of the party In
power-the national bank scheme the
exemption Of the bonded debt from taxa.
tion, and the present system Of the tariff
When these were repealed tho Republi.
can party would be repealed and dis
solved. The only obstacle In this country
to the interests Of the masses was the ex.
istenCc Of the Republican party, and when
It was removed u better order of things
would reign,
Mr.. Cox said II was singular that Penn.
sylvania and Observation-Disclosures that
had more Of the bountes OF the prOteC.
tive system than any Othcrs--shOuld be
the most urgent advocates Of this
bill. He would propose m amendment
in the interest Of the Civil Service; that
no party or political influence, should
control the appointment of the COmmis.
sion. Before the protective frauds, there
was little or no agitation among the work.
lngmen. Where Is enquiry so pertinent as
to the fair division OF the joint profits Of
labor and capital, as an inquiry into
the commodities which pass through the
custom house, and the consequent effect
Ofthese exactiOns on the materials Oflabor.
take this bill as an earnest and better
policy on the tariff, towards which even
New England Is progressing, 1t the ad.
ministration can bring all their power 10
put down the strikes, surely we should
enquire into the causes out OF which these
strikes grow. will be glad to sec an In.
tolliEent investigation from any quarter.
A Joint committee, with both parties rep.
resented, would best accomplish the
object. The question Of our shipping 80
disastrously settled, should be investiga.
ted; ISWoull that such man aS David A.
Wells, could be o.. pointed on such Com.
mission. ....v an. -.
Mr. KERR spoke against the bill, which
he regarded as inslnCere and hollow, and
chiefly intended by false ptetense 10
bridge over the next Presidential election
and inislead discontented sons Of toll into
voting tho Radical ticket in 1872 He
believed 1t was an attempt 70 make place
for partisans, and that it was unConstitu'
tionalIor Congress 10 assume the power
TO regulate the hours Oi labor or standard
of wages, or the divisions .ot the joint
profits of labor and capital, or social con.
ditions of the people. Such sweep Of
Jurisdiction would speedily leave nothing
10 tlie States Or people He favored tho
investigation by persons not selected on
account Of party or on account Of devo'
tion to high tariff principles.
The discussion was temporarily inter.
rupted5 by the message of the President
relative to tlie civil service reform which
was read and referred, and by the Senate
amendments TO the bill iorthe Chicago
Custom House, which were cOncurred In.
Mt TOWNSEND, Of Pa. regarded the
message a. giving full and elfeCtual an
swer 10 the charges by the Democratic
members in relation TO the supposed
prongacy oi the administration. II
showed that the Presidents party was a
marty Of reform. He supported the pend
inp bill as In the interest Of all and in the
Interest Of common humanity. He
charged upon the Democratic party the
lull responsibility for the war, Tor the
debt which It entailed, and the cOnse.
quent taxation
III. iTAwLRY advocated the bill. lie
said the Republican party had always
been the friend Oft the workingmen. While
the Democrats had favored slavery In the
States and Territories, the Republicans
had made every man free.
Mr. SPRER, Of. Pa, suggested an
amendment. directing inquiry particular
liy into tho system Of paying laborers IN
store orders instead Of cash, and report
what means can be adopted to prevent
continuance Of the system. i,
Mr.. BURCHARD suggested an amend
ment committing the inquiry 10 tue pu
reau Of statistics, under direction OF lh'
Secretary Of the Treasury.
Mr.. FARNswoRTI said oil !he eVlIl
complained Of could be remedied by
repeal Of some laws and a reduction o
some taxes. lie opposed any moro com
missions, and believed the Committee o.
Education and Labor COuldinVesUgate IN,
subject more intelligently and economl
cAliy.