The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-20

Information upon subject that in terested every
human being on the continent. The sentiment
OF the people should be respected by this Con-
gress. To know the facts about intemperance,
which wrecked so many households in the land,
he hoped the representatives Of the people would
accord the friends of humanity, justice, mercy
and happy homes the right to be heard, and ex-
tend to the people an opportunity to gather In
formation on subject of such tremendous i'm
portance. 1t did not follow necessarily that
there would be a prohibitory law.
Mr.. Randall said he mad no hesitation in stat
ing that in the committee he voted for COM
mittee on the alcoholic liquor traffic. He never
favored sumptuary legislation anywhere, he did
to be the widest latitude in behalf of the right
of petition. The people who were interested in
and agitated the subecthad right to be heard,
and to that extent he was willing to take the
consequence and vote in the affirmative, in
order that they might be heard.
Mr.. Blackburn expressed himself as being in
favor of the widest range for the right of peIi-
ton, but what was the question presentedq The
question was, whether there should be a special
committee raised to investigate henquOr traffic,
and for nothing else. 1t did not involve the
right of petition.
Mr.. Mills said he was much in favor of
temperance as the gentlemen from North Caro-
lima and Pennsylvania (Mr. Vance and Mr. Rau-
dall), but he not one of those who believed
great truths could be propagated By legislative
DEGREES He stood in the footsteps of the faith
ers, who held it a cardinal fact that all great
improvements in science, religion and morals
came from the brain and conscience, not from
the whip on the back. The gentleman from
North Carolina eulOgized temperance and anath-
emat1zed iDtemperance. He would have drawn
a stronger pa rallel had he told the glory of the
Christian igiOn. II had laid the track for the
advance of civilization. Would the member ask
Con gress to define orthodOXy2 Should it APP
point committee to inquire whether the Meth
Odist, the Presbyterian or the Baptist was the
orthodox faitn2
The amendment was adopted-yeas 143, nays
SO.
On motion of Mr.. Willis, an amendment was
adopted increasing the membership of the select
committees, to be composed as follows: Civil
reform. thirteen meIQOArS
ing election of President, thirteen; pension,
bounty and back pay, public health and liquor
traffic, each nine; ventilation of the hall, seven;
American shipping, eleven.
The original resolution, as amended, was then
agreed to.
Mr.. Blackburn also reported resolution for
raising a standing committee on labor, to which
shall be referred measures affecting labor, limit
ing the jurisdiction of the committee educa-
ton and labor, and providing that it shall here
after be known as the committee education.
Mr.. Willis offered an amendment increasing
the membership of the twenty-three standing
committees from eleven to thirteen, and retain
ing the committee on education ami labor.
Mr.. Blackburn thought it dangerous to in
crease the committee membership further, and
opposed the amendment
Mr.. ONeill said the original resolution had
nothing to do with this special bid offered men,
hers of additional committee places. He asked
the House to dignity the cause of labor by Great
ing a committee on the subject. 1t had better
be done now, in order that it might be vent
through which the feelings of this element
would reach thellaw-making power. Had any
body ever heardiof the committee on education
getting down and having sympathy with the
workingmena Those upper-air and solar-walk
gentlemen did not know what the workingmen
wanted. a
Mr.. Willis withdrew his amendment, under
standing the matter wonld be considered by the
committee on rules. The original resolution
was adopted
Mr.. Blackburn further reported a resolution
for the creation of committee on rivers and
harbOrs which was laid over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Keifer, from the same committee, reported,
recommendation,
appointment of committee on woman suffrage,
which was laid over until tomorrow
Mr.. Calkins offered resolution which was
adopted, calling the Secretary of State for all
communications, documents and papers in his
possession relating to the trial, conviction and
execution of the late Patrick O'Donnell by the
British government.
The Senate amendment TO the recess resolu-
ton was concurred in.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Hoblitzell, Ca
bell, Wilson of West Virginia, Kasson and Long,
members of the special committee on centennial
anniversary of Washington's surrender of his
commission as cOmmander-in-chiefo of the army.
Adjourned.