National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-21
Passage Of Bill Creating q Bureau for Their
Collection.
A Measure Demanded by Laboring Men
All Over the County,
Inquiries 10 Be Made as 10 the immigration and I'm
portaiiOn Of Labor.
Also the Effect on Production OF Shorten
ing tho Hours OF Labor.

mixed commission and for information as TO the
amount of money on hand applicable to the pay
ment of new awards. Adopted.
The speaker laid before the house tho following
named messages from the President, which were
appropriately referred:
Transmitting a report OF tho secretary of state
in regard to the final awards made by tho late
French and American claims commission against
the United States for s625,526 for the payment OF
claims of French citizens against the United
States. The President recommends the appropri-
alton of that sum to enable the government 70
1890
Transmitting communication from tho secre-
tary of state relative to the approaching visit of
special embassy from Slam. The President rec
ommends the appropriation OF 900 to defray
the expenses of the embassy WHO In this coun-
try -,..,,., s..,,, ,Ao .o.-
rotary of state respecting the approaching inter-
national conference at Washington for the pur;
as q common zero Of longitude and standard reck.
oning throughout the globe Inc Prosldent
the expenses of the same.
The house then, In accordance with the special
order, at l245, went into committee the whole
(Mr. Wellborn OF Texas in the chalr) on bills re-
ported from the committee on labor.
The first bill considered was that establishing
and maintaining department of labor statistics
Mr.. Hopkins, Of Pennsylvania chairman of the
committee on labor briefly called attention to the
provisions OF The bill and to me SdvanIsgSs 70 6s
one Of the most important questions which de-
manded and commanded the consideration OF the
that a department should be established which
could furnish authentic and reliable data on the
subject. Tho bill was not in the interest of any
school Of political economy. but was Intended TO
compile information for the use OF protecti0nist
and free trader alike.
great deal of attention had been given to the
American hog and the American steer; II was time
congress should give more attention to the Ameri-
can man. Capital always received consideration
here. but legislation In the interest ofthe laboring
people had been rare and stinted The present
house had shown some disposition to atone for
past neglect by creating committee on labor,
and this action had been greatly appreciated by
the toilers all over the land: They looked upon
this bill az one OF immense benefit so them, be-
cause 1t would bring TO the attention of the coun-
try a full and truthful statement OF their condi-
ton.
Mr.. o'Neill, of Missouri said that the passage Of
this bill was demanded by the laboring men all
over the country; They realized that agriculture
ment Of agriculture; that the signal service pro-
tected the shipping interests that commerce was
benefited by the bureau to collect information
from consular officers. and for the past twenty
years they had been asking for bureau to com:
pile Information as to labor the slatisticsl
complish what was needed, and 1t was deplor.
able fact that that portion Of the people who did
not work knew little of the condition of that larger
portion which toiled.
Mr.. Young, Of Tennessee, had no doubt that
when the report of this discussion went out to the
country the laboring classes would be startled at
the discovery that they had so many and ardent
friends on this floor. The tone and temper of the
when the committee on public buildings had
brought in a number of bills, the effect of which
more practical good than would ever DO accom-
plished by the measures coming from the commit
tee on labor. Thousands Of idle men and willing
workers would have been given profitable en-:
ployment He proposed to give the pending bill
his most cheerful and earnest support, but he
hoped that 1t would be amended so as to establish
bureau of labor statistics as an adjunct otthe
agricultural department. No question which
could be considered by this body was more far
reaching in its influence than this; none more
earnestly demanded by the highest consideration
Mr. Woiford, Of Kentucky, said that If the object
OF the bill was alone to show TO the men engaged
In labor where they could get better compensa-
every man who loved his country. But as he was
not thoroughly confident that that alone was the
SSd TO he En- II s
was to point out to the cupidity of men whore
cheap labor could DO found and brought into com
petition with the honest labor OF the American
people, he was utterly opposed toit.
Mr. Beliord. ofColorado, spoke In support OF q
rom importing foreign labor 10 compete with
American citizens. He reiterated n statement
made by him some days ago that the riot in Gin
ism in this country. The riot at Pittsburg yester
day had been occasionod by the cupdlty OF clr-
pete with the American workmen, and in pre-
venting the latter from having n fair chance to
earn their honest bread and butter,
Mr.. Bland of Missouri, suggested that protection
did not protect American lobor.
Mr.. Belford replied that at n meeting OF opera
tives in Pittsburg series of resolutions was
adopted declaring that, while the protective sys-
TEN protected the manufactures, the wages of the
laborer were constantly diminishing.
Mr.. Foran of Ohio, favored the bill and strongly
nntsgonized any proposition to put the work of
collecting labor statistics In tho hands of the ag-
ricultural department
MIR. Blount, of Georgia, said that at this momen
the comm shoner ofagricuture had agents all oye-
It was proposed should be compiled by q new de-
partment. In addition to this, there was the Du-
reau of statistics, which could do the work and
he could see no necessity to add to the expenses
Of the government by the passage of this bill.
Again, he had no faith in the information when
gathered. These bureaus when created instead
of being used for information impartial in Its
character, were utilized to forward some political
tails OF the bill and inquired by whatlrght il was
proposed that congress should authorize an inyes-
tisation into THE social and religious condition
of the working people. lit had right to order
this examination II had the right to legsloto upon
the whole subject Was congress unlimited In its
thought of any American citizen? II he did not
go to church, would congress make him? Ifhc
was not well, would congress doctor him? There
was not single thing in the bill 10 Justify the
Mr.. Aiken, of South Carolina, thought It unwIsc
TO multiply The methods of collecting statistical
information, and favored the placing of the duty
ofcollecting labor statistics in the hands of tho
commissioner of agriculture.
Mr. Hopkins replied to tho criticisms made
against the bill, and maintained that the people
who would be vastly benefited by the compilation
of the information did not want TO see the bureau
buried in the agricultural or treasury department
Mr. Bayne, OF Pennsylvania, while heartily sup
porting the general purpOrt of the bill, though
that the section providing for an investigation o
the religious views of the laboring classes was IL
plain violation Of the spirit of the constitution.
The bill being open to amendment. Mr., Knsson
of Iowa, moved to change the word department
wherever II occurs, to bureau" so as to reaC
'bureau o. labor statistics" Adopted.
ON motion of Mr.. kasson an amendment wal
also adopted changing the word religious" x
"mOral' wherever II occurs,
Mr.. Bland of Missouri, offered an amendment
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 fol
this amendment a proposition that the commits
Bioner the bureau shall be appointed by the
president from list of names presented by the
legislative committee OF the Federation Of Labor
After n desnltory discussion, Mr. Weller withdrew
his substitute and BANDS amendment was lost
Mr.. Aiken, of South Carolina, offered IN amend
sioner of labor statistics, and providing TINT the
Information shall be acquired ~ the commits
sloner Of agriculture through the bureau OF sta
tistics. LOFTS to97.
On motion of Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania az
amendment was adopted requiring the bureau u
collect full statistics relating TO the Immigration
and importation OF labor, on motion of Mr.
CutCheon, of Michigan an amendment wal
adopted requiring 1t to inquire into effect on pro
ductlon OF shortcomings the hours of labor.
on motion OF Mr.. Warner OF Ohio, the salary q
the commissioner oflabor statistics was reduced
to 49, 600.
Numerous amendments were offered ant
sever4lly voted down and although no debate
was allowed upon them tho committee was tn,
scene Of good deal of confusion and II was no
until 500 that the bill was reported to the house
II was then pAss0d--ycaA lS2, NAYS 10