National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-29
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
A Labor Memorial Presented by
Senator Davis.
The Anderson Testimony Finally Received
from the Potter Committee-Thc War.
rem Mitchell Case Ended for this
Congress-NTr. Edmunds Res
olutions Taken Up--Ant-
Chinese Bill Passed.
SENITE.

22d Of February legal holiday In the District of
Columbia was agreed TO- and the bill passed. The
amendment provides that II shall tako effect Feb
ruafy p, 1879.
Mr.. MORRILL, presented The memorial Of the Cap
itol Hill aud East Washington Improvement AssO.
citation In relation to the site for new Congress
slonnl Library. Referred 10 the Committee on Pub
lie buildings aud Grounds,
Mr.. DAWES, from the Committee OF Public Build
ings aud Grounds, reported adversely on n number
OF memorials referred to that committee, among
them one of the Missouri Legislature asking the
removal OF the National Capital to n moro central
portion OF the Union and others from various labor
organizations, protesting against the violation of
the eghthour law The Committee was discharged
from their further consideration
Mr.. DAVIS ull) said he had been charged with
the Presentation Of n memorial upon the labor
win Moody, OF Boston. the author of n treatise on
the subject, Which showed him TO he close OBJ
server and student The memorinisls represented
That multltudCS OF our people, popularity estimated
by millions. are unemployed aud this stnte of
things dcmoroizes al our industrial Interests, and
calls upon Congress 10 ascertain tho cause OF the
evil and its remedy. They complain that while
the Government expcuds much time and money IN
nscert0nng mud improving the condition Of our
lnrelBn H0dc, which does not exceed per cent. of
the great aggregate, II does absolutely uohing IN
the way Of comprehensive effort IN behalf Of the %
percent which IS supposed to represent the home
trade aud consumption.
The mcmorioll'ls did not believe nor did he that
the problem could be solved Ly any theory based
Is authentic information ohiaiued by the Govern
ment, The mcmori0isis pray for the establish.
mcnt Qtu separate Bureau Ia have special charge OF
all industrial aud trade Interests, both foreign and
domestic. III the meantime, n new census Is
about to DO taken, they ask TINT report be made of
every person over sixteen years Of age. whether en-.
nloyed or not. and u unemployed during what pur'
ton of the preceding year. This important in.
formation lie (Mr Davis was advised had never
been obtained 10y nuy government. Finally the
momOrialists pray fOrthG appointment of special
commission tn Inquire to whit extent machinery
ftg Itt In
production aud manufacture and what have been
ihe general effects, in order 10 determine the legis
machinery has displaced
The memorial was signed by 300 persons from
sixteen states. Among the signefs were Mrs.
Elizabeth Thompson, many Of the best known poo
pie of Massachusetts, among them the Governor
end Lieutenant Governor, Wendell Phillips, ex.
Mayor Ely, of New Yoip the Mayors of Boston,
Cambridge, Lynn. Lawrence Salem Philadelphia
Wv: corcornu Mr.. DAYS said Mr.. Moody, IN
handing the memorial to him happily observed that
II WINS the iout prayer ofcnlture wealth and labor
Continuing bis remarks Mr. DAVIS said whatever
differences olopinion there may he as b the cause
of our labor difficulties II Is quite evident that the
way out OF them cannot DO found without the
statistical information asked for. and that the re.
quests contained in the paper are reasonable and
entitled to the careful consideration of Congress.
me labor problem forces itself upon the attention
of Congress and the country. II has already en-.
gagged body of earnest thinkers and will enlist
SUI moro The statesman who can bring It to
successful solution, so TINT every man Wiling TO
ana gratitude Of his countrymen and leave TO bis.
tory an iinpcrshable name.
Mr.. HoAR said he thought II proper to say that
bill such as the memorinlists prayed for the passage
oi passed the House Of Representatives at the last
congress but one almost by unanimous vote. 1t
was defeated In the Senate after considerable dis.
Cussion. The mon who had represented what might
be called the discomfort in labor In this country and
III Europe, although they may have gone nstray in
regard to finances and questions of political econ.
oiny, mad united In praying for the Initiation of
measures by tho Government to obtain statistics to
hp al lprn linn IL ku ana
thing upon which all this class of persons seem 10
have agreed that tho Government should obtain In.
FORMATION for It's own use and for the lahorng men
lie trusted the honorable Senator from Illinois
Weuld be successful In securing favorable action on
this matter.
INC memorial was referred 10 the Committee on
Education and Labor.
The Vice President laid before the Senate mes.
sage nom the House of Representatives in answer
to Senate resolution Of December TO- 1878 transmit.
ing the report OF the testimony 0f James H. Andcr
son in relation to Hon. Stanley Matthews Sen.
aor from Ohio said testimony having been given
before committee Of the House, Referred 10 the
select committee on that subject of which Senator
Allison II chairman.
Bills were introduced Os follows mud referred:
:, ny Mr., EDhuNlS (by iequGsp Authorizing the
Tr T go, TO prescribe suitable police regnalons
tons aud TO provide for the punishment OF the
crimes of murder, manslanghtcr arson, rape. bur
glary and robbery committee, upon the various In.
dian reservations.
By Mr., MORRILL,: substitute for Senate bill to
provide additional accommodations for the Library
VI Congress. Laid on the table tor the present.
by Mr., llARnIs: 10 authorize the Commissioners
Of the District Of Columbia To remit certain charges
penalties, commissions. Interest and other expenses
upon payment Of the original amounts of the gem
eral and special taxes and assessments.
Mr.. ANTHONY, from the Committee on Printing,
reported tavorably on the resolution TO print 10000
copies of the report Of the United States Entomo.
logical Commissions Placed on the calendar
MIR. MITCHELL submitted Il resolution insructing
the Committee on Railroads TO inquire into the cX-
pcdency Of authorizing railroad companies operat-
Ing Interstate railroads to construct and opcrnte
nd
authorizing the connection Of lines OF different
companies. with view of encouraging competition
in the tcegr0phic business of the country, and to
report by bill or otherwise. Agreed to.
Mr. EDMUNDs submitted resolution that during
ihe remainder of the present session 20 person not
entitled 10 the privileges of the floor be admitted to
the corridor or marble room. in the rear Of the
senate chamber. Laid over.
Mr. BooTI from the Committee on Public
Lands reported, with amendment, the bill Intro.
duCed by him Oh the llth OF December last for the
relief ofsetllcrs on the public lands Placed on the
The Senate tcn proceeded to consider bills on
The calendar and indefinitely postponed the bill
for the relief of Macnn. Ga, which proposed TO re-.
taxes collected.
Mir MORRILL, moved to postpone the further con
sldcraton of bills on the calendar and take M that
10 provide for taking the tenth and subsequent
celsuses. Recctcd-yeas, % nays. ~.
Pending discussion on bill for the relief of the
Richmond Female Institute, the calendar was laid
aside, and the Senate resumed consideration Of the
unfinished business, being the bill TO pay Warren
Mitchell for cotton belonging To him taken by the
Government, at Savannah, Ga,
II was discussed Mt length by MesSls Jones (Flal,
Edmunds, Mcmillan. Voorhees,, und Others.
Mr.. VOORHEES, during his remarks. said this
money was not to come ont of the people by taxa.
alton. II was In the Treasury now, the proceeds Of
Mtchclls property. The section from which Il
claim came had no influence upon him. whether
II be nom Massachusetts or Mississippi, Vermont on
South CaTOliDa SO far as he was concerned he
would vote for II, iflust
Mr.. EDNuSps, during legal collOquy with Mr.,
Jones Fla,l, said when he was called upon as u
lAw'maker the Supreme Court decision could have
no more effect over him than his decisions could
have over the court.
Mr.. EAToS said he had heard II said that two
thousand million dollars worth of southern claims
were TO be paid, and Us this was the first one. he
would vote against H. so that the people whom he
In part, represented would know where 10 find him
There had been hundreds of thousands of dollars
paid to good, loyal Republicans, and II was about
time now To put stop TO IT, lie had examined
these southern claims, and there were not more
than hall dozen that he would vote for and they
Involved nboul half million dollars.
NJ $40 MI MITCHELL moved that the Senate PRO
coed 10 the consideration of executive business
Rejected without a division.
After further discussion, the question being oil
the thlld reading Of the bill TO pay Warren Mitchell
for his cotton the Senate refused To order tho third
reading yeas H. nays 20, as follows:
NEAs-AlessTs Bailey. Beck, Booth, Dorsey Gar
land, Gordon Grover, Harris, Hereford Jones (NeV
Lamar, McCTeery, Patterson, shields, spencer Noor
he's. and Wlhers.E