The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-20

ty or reporting pIii
the act of the l4th OF February, 1871,
granting pensions to soldiers of the war
Of 1912, by making it apply to all who
served for any period during that war
or the cotemporaneous Indian war, and
to the widows Of such soldiers, no mat
ter when married. Adopted.
Mr.. Perry, of New York, offered
resolution calling on the Secretary OF
the Treasury for information as to the
amount of Fivetwenty bonds redeemed
in accordance with the notice. Adopted.
Mr.. Wells, of Missouri, offered a
resolution calling on the Postmaster
General for information as to increased
allowances for carrying the mails on
routes where steam is not employed.
Adopted.
Mr.. Kinsella asked leave to offer a
resolution directing the committee on
public expenditures to investigate as to
the number OF persons engaged as
clerks, laborers, &c, in the New \ ork
custom house and navy yard immediate
" preceding the late election in the
State of New York, on whose recon-
meudation they were appointed, how
long they were retained in service and
from what fund they were paid.
Mr.. Spear, of Georgia, objected.
The House then took up the House
bill for the appointment OF a committee
on the subject of wages and hours OF
labor and of the division Of profits be.
tween labor and capital in the United
States.
Mr.. Pierce, Chairman of the COM
mittee on Education and Labor, from
which the bill was reported, endeavored
to effect some arrangement as to debate.
Mr.. Dawes suggested that the debate
shall be fixed for Thursday next, which
day had already been set apart Tor
general discussion.
Mr.. Farnsworth objected to express
sions used by Mr.. Pierce, such as this
side of the House." and that side OF
the House" as if the House was divided
into party ranks on the subject.
Several Democratic members cx.
pressed the desire Of having full oP'
portunity to discuss the qeustion.
Finally, Mr. Pierce gave notice that
he would give the previous question at
one o'clock tomorrow. He was not
prepared to say that any legislation was
necessary on the labor question, neither
was he prepared to deny that great and
general legislation was required on the
srbiect He was convinced, however,
that the investigation as proposed would
do good. He denied that there was any
craftsmanship in the question. lie
should have thought that the Demo
Gratis in the House would be the last to
object to the proposed investigation.
Some gentlemen seemed to think that
the bill was intended for the purpose Of
supporting socialistic movements and
was in the interest of the International
Society, labor societies, trades unions
and strikes. There was no evidence
in the bill, however, that such
desire existed, and he denied that
ere was such an intention on the part
of it's author. He represented a labor
ing constituency OF agricultural Iaborers
and it was in their interest that he ad-
vocated the passage Of the bill. lie
advocated it in the interest OF the
laboring classes of the South. The war
had created great gaps i'll Southern IN.
dustry, and millions Of acres OF land
were living idle for want OF labor Down
the Mississippi river there were one
numbered acres OF yirg in forest lands
for every acre Of cultivated land. He
wanted to attract emigranls to that
region.
Mr.. Pierce's time having expired,
Mr.. Campbell suggested substitute for
the bill, providing for the appointment
OF a joint committee to investigate the
subject Of wages and hours OF labor,
and the effect Of existing laws regu.
lating commerce, finance and currency.
The Speaker ruled that the proposi
ton was not in order.
Mr.. Sturm, a member OF the commit.
tee on Education and Labor, advocated
the massage of the bill. He admitted
that it was impossible for Congress to
make laws interfering with contracts
between labor aud capital, but an ln-
vestication of the subject would prob
ably disclose state of facts which
would create a public sentiment that
would be a correction Of many abuses
which the laboring classes now COM
plajned OF. On that score, he was IN
favor OF investigation. For himself he
needed no information on the subject.
The evils of which the industrial classes
complain are patent 10 everybody. They
were as clear as the MONDAY sun. An
investigation would show that 1885,,
900, ,O00 ofproperty belonging to capital,
lists was exempt from taxation, and
other interests were taxed 10 make up
, the deficiency. 1t was shown that 81 :
900, 900 was paid Annually out OF the
treasury to banking associations as a
mere bounty and gratuity. 1t was
shown that tee poor man now paid upon
his salt tax of l55 per cent, on his
cutlery over 50 per cent, on his clothing
over 65 per cent and on his spade aud
shovel over IS per cent; while the rich
man paid upon his jewelry, diamonds,
laces, gold rings, paintings and statuaIy
| a tax not exceeding 10 per cent To
adjust the wrongs OF the laboring men
Congress would have to repeal every
pet financial scheme Of the party in
power. Was not the national bank
!. scheme theirs? Was not the exemp'
ton Of the bonded debt from taxation
: theirs? Was not the present system Of
tariff theirs? When these were re-
pealed the Republican party would he
repealed and dissolved. The only obsta'
Gle in this country to the interests OF the
masses was the interests Of the Repub,
lican party, and when it was removed
better order Of things would
! reign.
Mr.. Cox, OF New York, submitted az