New-York tribune., 1885-02-18
DISCUSSING FOREIGN CONTRACT LA Bok'

MR. VEST ARRAIGNs Mr.. SHERMAN FOR INCoN :
sIsrENcY-rnE OHIO SENATOR'S REPLY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-In the Senate to-
day the Anti Foreign Contract Labor bill being under
discussion. Mr. Miller, Of NewYork supported the pi
and opposed the pending motion which would strike out
the clauses providing penalties for violations OF the
law The Democrats he said had been charging that
the Republicans were in favor OF protecting merchan-
dice but not labor Here bin that protected LABOR
but it did not satisfy gentlemen notwthsand-
ing. This bill simply meant that white slavery should
not any longer tolerated in this country The Senator
recited some of the difficulties growing out OF the I'M
poraton Of large gangs OF Hungsrians and Italians TO
build railroads NcwYork state Those had been i'm
ported he said, by companies organized Tor tle
purpose. Those OF these imported labofeis
who strong and robust. retnrheu
TO Europe when their work here was completed whne
the helpless and the lazy and the criminal among o
reaned here and became serious disadvantage 70 any
community TO which they attached themselves.
Mr. Morgan inquired under what clause OF the consul
tuition Mr. Miller believed the bill to come
Mr.. Miller did wish to enter Into the Constitu-
onal question He would do his duty as he saw it and
leave Constitutional question to tho Supreme Court
of the United States.
Mr. Dawes suggested the general welfare clause.
Mr. Morgan did not wish to had precedent estab-
sheda precedent that might lead hereafter TO the pas
sage of law refusing to coored the right to come
from the South to the North in search OF work
MI Miller of New-York assured Mr.. Morgan that the
people of the North would pass law TO interfere
with the coming OF any class OF people who should eo"o
OF their own free Will.
Mr. Vest expected TO vote for the bill lie had no
doubt OF its consttutonality He was glad 70 sec thnt
Mr sherman and other Republicans favored tis onl @
According newspaper accounts, there were fo,oVo
men out Of employment IN the streets ser
years OF Republican ascendancy and protective tarin
that there were I'm London many of idle work
ingmen. and that they were even now demanding WORK
partisan turn to the debate or to discuss the tr pu ne
would degrade American labor by 10 per cent In
order 10 all the markets OF the world -
when It was not under consideration. But Mr. Vest
should not give blows without being prepared to take
blows in return The tariff policy which Mr.. Vest wond
pursue would throw very much larger number OF men
And may be that much OF the difficulty now expert
enced I'm the labor interests was due 10 fears mat have
been ener aimed Of radical interference with the talh
TO Offset Mr.. Vests renal ks about tEe respohsny VI
the Republican party and the protective I@im 'Pp INC ,nS
AT TIE conditions of industry after i3ns ease Oh p9~rt
by he Democratic party Mr morrill, then resu ,oi S
dIti"n with ali the elemcnts Of NeItouM wealth wo
fad our manufactures suspended, public WORKS r.
taided. private enterprises a. sndoEcd ana nous
OF aborers thrown out OF employment aud reduced
- Mr.. r'''' sherman entering, the chamber, sa.i
isry absence the Senator from Missouri
had alu led 10 him In connection Win no act 10 enc3!I
age Immigration passed In July 1861. That act Mr.
sherman said. was temporary measure. ihe senator
from Missouri ought 10 have remembered thai 10 INC
date ~ is passage this country engaged IN one ot
the most memorable struggles OF history oar labor hai
been taken from h'ncs to put down furu!dAno re-
hcOn. Tho gentleman from Missouri was NOT az mat
time aware of the motives that influenced Congress IN
passage OF thai ac Ho engaged III an attempt
TO break mp this Government.
Mr.. Vest replied that far as tho remarks or the
from Ohio bore personal aius.on 20 him ana hi-
during the war; he would only say that whatever
may he the opinion of others in that regard he nal no
sort ~ apology mako 10 that ~era.O IL had nothing
legi,f natey 10 10 with this d,cussiOn.
vote Was then the motion OF Mr.. BAJari "a
Section 3 which prrscrbcs penalty OF $1,000
for the violation Of the act. aud tho motion not
agreed 10.
Jr Coke thought the bill would prevent THO farmers
anu OF Texas from securing sufficient labor
lie moved % amend by excluding from tho operon or
the bin agricultural laDOrrrs employed III slOcs-raslng
Mr. COkr's amendment was rejected.
Mr. Morgan moved amendment - the encot that
the bin shodd apply 10 agent OF slate hcllhg
under authority of law. who should induce Immigration
perssn who good farm should h-ist fAni-
ics to the United States Mr. Morgan and M
George took If tnc 'rirniy opposite views na 20 o ntc
sty for this amendment 20 tls bill vote bong ta@cu
q Mr.. Morgan's amendment 10 was defeated ON tHo
sucge -on II Ar Butler. M Blair consented not 10 o-
pose OUrnIucut vote cold br uuAulinud-J aEIct4
for = O'Clock Tomorrow. Consent Hah B4'cu "il tAo
Senate $50 adjourned.