Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-14
FOrty-Second Congressional Session
WAsHINGroN, D. c., Dec. 10, 1871.

Mr. Trumbul, not satisfied with the PROPOSE
tiOn to establish a standing committee on inves
tigation and retrenchment, which Mr.. Anthony
offered in the senate, offered as an amendment
his resolution establishing a special committee.
Mr. Wilson advocated the appointment of
retrenchment committee which would, not only
now, but in years TO come, keep the hands of
thieves out Of the treasury. 1t meant no war
on the administration, but was for the general
good. lie regarded the difference between the
two proposed committees as the difference be-
tween "tweedlc DUN ard tweedle dee"
Mr. Thurman undertook to show that the res
OlutiOn Of Mr. Trumbull was preferable to that
of MIR. Anthony, which is understood to have
been presented TO the caucus by Mr.. Morton.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
question had not been decided, and the senate
decided TO postpone all other business that the
discussion might be continued.
MIR. Casserly commended that the committee
proposed by Mr. Anthony would be a mere null
lily, having no power to originate nYestiga-
tons
Mr.. Schurz supported Mr. Tumhulrs PROPOSE
ton. After alluSion TO the exposures in the
New York custom house, Mr.. Sehurz said !:
Gentlemen, tell you, whatever may be said of
| the Improvements that have taken place, the
people Of the United States are startled ut the
frequency and enOrmity of the disclosures made
from day to day. Do not give yOurSe Ives up to
| any decisions on the subject. The American
people are on the point OF demanding an honest
means used for that object that are compatible
| with laws. They demand the exposure and
overthrow of corruption, regardless of the in
terest Of any party or any persons. 1t seems
to me we are standing on the threshold Of Il
moral revolution that bids fair to 90 Dey Ond the
overthrow of Iammany hall, and in that reYO-
luton the science of 'hOw not TO do it will be
of very little avail. Neither will cheap decama-
ton against corruption in the abstract, or
against the sinfulneSS of sin in general, and the
beauty of virtue, avail much. We have had
enough of all that. The people will not much
longer take that worthless currency as legal
| tender. If we wish to serve the country, and
command its confidence, we shall have to make
clear TO the country thar we hate no party more
than we hate corruption, and that we love no
party more than we love good government"
MIR. Conhling replied, in defense Of the purity
of the republican party.
Mr.. Morton followed on the same side.
AT four, without reaching vote, the senate
| adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Mr.. Hoar, from the committe on education
| and labor, reported bill to provide for Il COM
mission to examine the subject Of the hours of
labor and the division of the profits and labor
| in the United States. He desired first to have Il
day fixed for the consideration Of the bill after
| the recess, but, as objection was made, he pro-
Ceeded at once to address the house upon the bill
| for immediate consideration.
Mr.. lIOar moved that the bill be the special
| order for the 10th OF January He said he pro.
| posed to give an opportunity for amendments to
| be presented
| The speaker stated that the proposition was
that the bill be the special order for January
10th, to the exclusion Of all other orders on that
| day.
MIR. Wood and Mr. Kerr objected
MIR, Hoar then moved to put the bill ON its
passage now.
Mr.. Kerr moved to lay it on the table.
The sneaker said Mr. HOor had lao Hnor
Mr.. Iloar proceeded to explain and advocate
the bill. He was sure the bill, when understood,
would receive almost unanimous appreciation.
There was 4 cry of discomfort from all parts of
the country, and the civilized world, by the la
boring classes. In this country, the abonng
classes were the state itself, others being com
parativey so few that they might be left out in
considering the question who are the persons
whose will should determine the policy of the
country, and for whose benefit that policy
should be directed 1t was being urged not only
bY agtators and malcontcnts but by large and
increasing number of the laboring classes, that
the existing institutions and laws of this coun-
try on the subject of tariff, finance, currency
and taxation, tend more aud more TO give capt.
taliSts undue share OF the Joint profits of the
results Of labor and capital, and TO deprive labor
Of its due and proper share. The first duty of
| legislators, in regard TO such complaint, was to
provide for thorough, exact and regular as
| ccrlanment of the fact.
Congress ought not to be afraid of light, for
no abuse was so great, no darkness so profound,
no prejudice so intense, rs to require congress
to cover it with a veil, or to fear 10 let light in
on it. He did not place the bill on the judy
ment or recommendation of the committee
| alone The slight expenditure proposed was due
| to the Judgment of the !aboring men them
| selves. The labor party of his own state last
summer recommended the passage of this very
BILL and had, although politically opposed to
the republican party, expressed qualification and
respect for that party in consequence of its CIV
national association of working men, an organi-
zation which peryades Europe, and which is
making its voice heard and its power felt every
where has also asked Of congress this special
measure.
| lie was not competent to express an opinion
on the interesting historical question of the
| commune, or of events which took place in
Paris last summer The other side of the story
had not been heard, but one thing is known,