Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-21
FORTY-EIGHTR CONGRESS.
First session.
WASHINGTON, April L

WASHINGTON, April 10.
| Mr.. Cox of North Carolina. from the COM
mittee on foreign affairs. reported back res
| olution calling on the secretary of state for a
copy Of the list of certificates issued by the
! late Venezuela mission, and for information
as TO the amount of money on hand applicable
TO the payment of new awards; adopted.
The speaker laid before the House the fol-
lowing named messages from the President
which we're appropriately referred: Trans
mitting a report of the secretary of state in
regard TO the finsl awards made by the late
French and American claims commission
against the United States for S625, $40 for the
payment of claims of French citizens against
the United States. The President recon-
mends the appropriation of that sum TO enable
the government to fulfill its obligations under
the treaty of January l5, 1880. Transmit
ting 4 communication from the secretary of
state relative to the approaching visit of
special embassy for Siam. The President
recommends the appropriation of S25,0 to
defray the expenses of the embassy while in
this country. Transmitting communication
from the secretary of state respecting the
approaching international conference at
Washington for the purpose Of fixing meri-
dian proper to be employed as q common zero
of longitude and standard reckoning through
out the globe. The President recommends
the appropriation of $4,000 to defrsy the
expenses of the same.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on bills reported from the committee
on labor. The first bill considered vas that
establishing and maintaining department of
labor statistics.
Mr. Hopkins of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the committee on labor, briefly called atten-
tion to the provisions of the bill and to the
advantages to be derived from its passage.
The labor problem was one of the most i'm
portant questions which demanded and COM
manded the consideration of the people, and
it was of the greatest benefit to all that de-
partment should be established which could
furnish authentic and reliable data on the
subject.
Mr. Belford of Colorado spoke in favor of
the proposed amendment prohibiting corpor-
stions from importing foreign labor to COM
pete with American citizens.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa moved to change the
word department whenever it occurs to
''bureau," so as to read ''bureau of statis-
tics; :" adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Kasson, an amendment
was also adopted to change the word "relig
ious" to ''m0ral' wherever it occurs.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri offered an amend
ment.providing that the bureau shall be under
the charge of the president of the knights of
Labor.
Mr.. Weller of Iowa offered as a substitute
for this amendment a proposition that a
commissioner of the bureau shall be appoint
ed by the president from list of names by
the legislative committee of federation on
labor.
After desultory discussion Mr.. Weller
withdrew his substitute and Mr.. Bland's
amendment was lost.
NJ sc Caro1,po nAa
amendment striking out the provision for a
commissioner for labor statistics, and pro-
viding that information be acquired by the
commissioner of agriculture through the bur
ecu of statistics; lost-68 to 81.
On motion of Mr.. Bayne of Pennsylvania,
an amendment was adopted requiring the
bureau to collect all statistics relating to the
immigration and Importation of labor.
On motion of Mr.. Cutcheon of Michigan,
an amendment was adopted requiring it to
enquire into the effect on the production of
shortening the hours of labor.
On motion of Mr.. Warner of Ohio, the sal
ary of the commissioner of labor statistics
was reduced to $500.
Numerous amendments were offered and
severally voted down, and although no debate
was allowed on them the committee was
scene of a good deal of confusion, and it was
not until j. 25 that the bill was reported to
the House. 1t was passed-yeas 1872, nays
10. ct provides for the establishment of
bureau of labor statistics, in charge of COM
missioner, at salary of $500, who shall
acquire all useful information on the subject
of labor-its relation to capital and means of
promoting the material, social, intellectual
and moral prosperity of laboring men and
women. He is authorized to employ such
employees as he may deem necessary for the
successful working of the bureau, providing
that the total expenses shall not exceed $685.
900 per annum.)
Adjourned.