The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-04-23

| VOLUME Z.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Cox, of
y. ~, OF the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, reported back the resolution
calling on the Secretary of State for
copy Of the list Of certificates issued
by the late Venezuelan mixed com.
mission and for information a. to the
amount Of money on hand applicable
TO the payment of new awards.
Adopted.
The Speaker laid before the House
the following m. ssage from the Presi-
dent, which was appropriately re-
ferred, transmitting the report of the
Secretary of State in regard to the f.
nal awards made by the late French
and American claims commission
| ~ tAV ~ OAlIOu OlS1tCo A0k VV&OsOkUs
for the payment of the claims of
French citizens against the United
States. The President recommends
an appropriation of that amount to
| enable the Government to fulfill its
obligations and OF the treaty Of jan
uary 18th, 80.
Transmitting q communication
from the Secretary of State relative
to the approaching visit of q special
embassy from Siam, the President
recommends an appropriation of $25,-
600 to defray the expenses of the en-
bassy while in this country.
Transmitting communication
from the Secretary of State respect
ing the approaching international
conference at Washington for the pur-
pose of fixing meridian proper to
be employed as the common zero Of
longitude and standard reckoning
throughout the globe, the President
recommends an appropriation of $1O,-
600 to defray the expenses of the
same.
The House then went into q com.
mittee of the whole, with WeltOn, of
Virginia, in the chair, on the tills
reported from the Com mittee on
Labor.
The first bill considered was that
establishing and maintaining q de-
partment of labor statistics.
Hopkins, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Labor, briefly called atten-
ton to the provisions of the bill and
the ad -antages to be derived from its
passage. Tue labor problem was one
of the most important questions
which demand and receive The con-
sideration of the people, and it was of
the greatest benefit to all that the
bureau be established, and which
should furnish authentic and reliable
data on the subject. The bill was
not in the interest of any school Of
political economy, but was intended
to compile information for the use of
protectionists and free traders alike.
A great deal of attention had
been given to the American
hog and to the American steer.
It. was time Congress should give
more attention to the American man.
Capital always received considers
ton here, but Legislation In the inter-
est of the laboring people had been
I01O 0Au oVlAIOus L uO HAV0OuV AA"N0O
had shown some disposition to atone
for past neglect by creating q COM
mittee on labor and this action had
been greatly appreciated by the Ia
boring classes all over the land. They
looked upon this bill as an immense
benefit to them because it would
bring to the attention of the country
y full and truthful statment of their
condition.
After desultory discussion We'll
ler withdrew his substitute and the
Bland amendment was lost.
On motion of Bane an amendment
was adopted requiring the bureau to
remit full statistics relating to immi-
grafton aud importation of labor.
On motion of Cutcheon az amend
ment was adopted requiring it TO In.
uuire into the effect on production of
shortening the hours of labor.
On motion of Warner the salary of
the commissioner of labor statistics
was reduced to s., $500,
Several amendments were offered
and severally voted down. Although
no debate was allowed on them, the
committee was subject to general
confusion. Finally the bill was re-
ported to the House. It provides for
the establishment of q bureau of labor
statistics in charge OF commissioner
at salary of So 5OO, who shall acquire
all useful Information on the subject
oflabor, its relation to capital and the
means Of promoting the material, so
cial, intellectual and moral prOsperi-
ty of the laboring men and women.
He is authorized to employ such en-
ployes as he may deem necessary for
the successful working of the bureau,
provided the total expense shall not
exceed $500 per annum.
O'Neil said the passage of this bill
was demanded by laboring men ali
over the country. They realize that
agriculture had been recognized by
the creation of the department of az
riculture; that the Signal Service pro-
tected shipping interests; that COM
merce was protected by the bureau to
collect information from consular
officials, and for the past twenty
wears they had been asking for .
bureau to compile information as to
labor. The statistical bureau of the
treasury department could not &C
complish what was needed, and it
was deplorable fact that portion of
the people who did not work knew
little of the condition of that large
portion which t0iled.
Young proposed to give the pend>
ing bill his most earnest support, but
hoped it would be amended so as to
establish the bureau of labor stats.
tics as an adjunct of the agricultural
department.
Wexford said if the object of the
bill was alone to show to men en-
gagged in labor where they could get
better compensation fol their work,
it would commend itself to every man
who loved his country, but IS he was
not thoroughly confident that tnat
alone was the object, he had some
hesitatlon in givlsg his unqualified
smnnort to the measure. If the OBJ
;oat ,,zas To noint ont to the cupldltY