National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-24
The Bill Providing for Establishing Bureau
Of Labor Statistics.
The Full Provisions Of the Act as It
Passed,
Mr.. Weller Explains His Absence in tho Voting on
the English Peelle Contest
Mr.. Kellogg Demands ma Investigation
OF the Charge Against Him.
THE SENATE.

Weld as heretofore to Mr. Blair in order TO permit
consideration of the labor bureau bill, MI
Williams urged the senate to take up the heHlcHn
annual pension appropriation bill. An hgree-
ment was finally reached by which the Mexican |
pensioners bill may be taken up on Monday next |
Immediately after morning business.
Mr. Blair yielded to Mr.. Logan, who asked ana |
Obtained unanimous consent 70 take up and dls-
pose OF the invalid pensions bill, which was then
taken rp and in few minutes passsod as re-
ported BY the senate committee.
The labor bureau bill was then takon up.
Tie question pending was on the motion Of MI: |
Blair, to change the word "bureau' Into the Word |
department"
posed bureau into Il department as was now sug- |
Eested. He favored the bill and its object OF |
creating bureau Of statistics, but thought the |
multiplication OF departments, independent OF |
the principal departments Of the government |
and responsible to no head, was undesirable
With respect TO Mr.. Allison's suggestion OF I'M
consttutiohality In the provision, authorizing
the chief OF the bureau to appoint chief clerk,
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, said the appointment
would be ia the president, aud would be eNer-
cised by him as had been done when the chief
examiner of the civil service commission had
been appointed. Mr.. Cameron was therefore of
opinion that the bill, If passed It came from
the house, would be satisfactory.
MIR. Blair, concurring in the suggestion, with
drew amendments, leaving the bill as II came
from the house of representatives. .
The question then required on Mr.. Garlands
substitute committing the work to the statistical
bureau of the treasury department.
Mr. Garland spok In support of his substitute and
expressed tho belief that the original bill was un-
constitutional.
A motion by Mr.. Hoar to lay the substitute on
the table was agreed to-yeas 26, nays "a.
motion by Mr.. Garland to recommit tho bill
TO the committee for reformation was not agreed to.
Mr.. Jones' ot Florida, thought that tue matter OF
labor statistics would be better lett to the separate
states
Mr. Maxey thought the bill only to n slight ex-
tent practical, and to a largo extent impraeticable
aud speculative.
MIR. Blair sent to tho desk and had read tole-
gram from 4. " Powderly, master workman Of
the Knights Of Labor. stating that 5000 assemblies
of that organization requested the senate to con-
cur In the action Of the house the bill to estab
fish bur eau of labor statistics.
Mr. Morgan remarked that the telegram said
nothing on the subject of the unconstitutonality
Mr. Aidrich moved his substitute submitted
Thursday, which was agreed to without debate
On motion Of Mr.. Blair, tho bill as amended
was then PaS;sed;nySas o. nay (the nays be-
The bill as passed is as follows, being Mr.
Aldricb's substitute for the house bill:
R IA bo De- Tns there 6 sos shall be
q bureau Of labor, which shall be under
the charge OF commissioner of labor, who
commissioner of labor shall hold his
oihce for four years. ana until MS
$1,000 year. The commissioner shall collect in
formation upon the subject oflabor, its relations
capitol the hours of labor, and the earnings of
laborng men and women, and the means Of pro.
noting their material, social, intellectual. and
moral prosperity. The secretary Of, the interior
small appoint n chief clerk, who shall receive a
salary OF 81 900 per annum, and such other en-
ployes as may be necessary for the said bureau:
SOS, 900 per anuum. During the necessary absence
OF The commissioner or when the office shall be-
vacant the chief clerk Sa shall perform the
annually make a report in writing to the secre-
tnry of the interior of the information collected
and collated by him aud containing such recon-
mendations AZ he may deem calculated to pro-
mote the efficiency Of the bureau.
TO PROTECT TIE INTERESTS or THE UNITED STATES.
The senate resumed consideration of the bill
"to provide for protecting the interests of the
United states in respect of any membranes on
property wherein they have an interest The bill
provides that Whenever in the opinion of the
PRESIDENT it shall be deemed expedient and
necessary for tine government to pay OIL prior
mortgages or membranes on property which 1t
Is compelled to buy in self protection, The seCre-
tary OF the treasury shall have authority, under
the direction the President. to pay off snch prior
lions or inCumDrances and the United States shall
in all such cases become subrogaed to all rights
and securities heretofore pertaining TO the lien,
mortgage, or lncumbtance; and the attorney gem
eral is authorized 10 take proper steps i'll the
courts protect the interests of the United States
in connection with such cases.
Mr.. Beck said that under the letter of the act
the president could pay OFF the Union Pacific rail-
road mortgage. He was not prepared to rest so
vast u power in an executive officer. The au-
thority to pay out s500O0,0O0 or SCI, 200 900
large authority. Aud If we should pay the rail-
road mortgages and acquire the railroads were
to 10 Into the Duslllehh ana run the ROADS.
Mr.. Garland said the first mortgage bonds re-
ferred to would become due in 1895, aud mean
while the company could default in payment of
its interest suit could DO instituted and the mort
gage foreolosed, ana the government could do
nothing to protect its rights. Power had to be
lodged somewhere, and IL was here lodged In
those of the highest executive officers in the gov
ernment.
Mr. Bayard did not see that there was any
greater dangers under the bill, In the respects
mentioned. than under existing law.
Mr.. Beck remarked that the Thurman act had
not served TO accomplish all that had been in.
tended in its passage, aud he hoped to IL prop
erly amended at this session of Congress.
Mr.. Sherman supported the bin
Mr., Morgan moved an amendment recurring,
that If lhe lien in any be upon railroad, IL
should not be paid till after the Judgment OF
court OF competent jurisdiction declaring its va.
lidity.
FOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
The house bill 40 provide for the muster and
pay of certain officers ana enlisted men of the
volunteer forces" was on motion of Mr.. harrison
read a third time and passed
It amends u joint resolution on the same subject
of July IL. 1870, that in all cases arising under
It officers shall be considered as commissioned TO
their respective grades from the date when their
commissions respectively were Issued, as If mus
tered at those dates, providing they were then
actually in performance OF the duties. All claims
under this provision must, by the BILL be filed
within three years from the passage of the act.
TIE HOUSE.
Mr. Weller rising to u question of personal
privilege had read the newspaper report of the
speech made by Mr.. BRyne, in which he stated
,,nt bn Uaa informed that a memher who Ind