The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-21
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Adjournment OF the XLV1u Congress
What 1t Did for the WOrkingmen.
General Items OF Interest.
By Associated Labor Press.

By Associated Labor Press.
The forty-eighth congress has passed away,
which VIII be memorable Tor various reasons.
1t had perhaps larger number of bills be-
fore it than any previous congress and
passed a smaller number. Among the large
number of bills introduced in the interest of
labor but one or two were enacted as laws,
and these only after persistent appeal and
threat. The bill to establish a bureau of
labor statistics, after Its passage, came near
being rendered useless on account of the fall
ure of the executive to appoint its head and
the imported contract labor bill was post
poned until the last moment, and came near
finding its death in the senate.
Perhaps it was a piece of good fortune
which delayed final action on these two i'm
pOrtant measures, for in no other way could
congress have tested the feelings of the large
body of working people who beseged the
capitol. The reports sent out from here to
the labor press did great good in arouslng
to action the slow and methOdic senate, and
during the debate on the final passage of the
imported contract labor bill the open letter
to Senator Blair, sent out to the A. L. P,
was read before the senate and made part of
the record of congress. The importers of
foreign labor are already devising means to
evade the provisions of this law, and it will
be duty Of the labor press to watch and eX-
pose them in their evil practices. This was
deemed of sufficient Importance by President
Cleveland to be alluded to in his inaugural
address. He refers to it as follows:
"The laws should be rigidly enforced
which prohibit the immigration of servile
class to compete with American labor, with
no intention of acquiring American citizen
ship and bringing with them and retaining
habits and customs repugnant to our civili-
ZatiOn"
While the last congress did not pass upon
many of the bills in the interest of labor, its
attitude has shown that organized labor can
now address the law-making power with a
chance of being heard, and many public men
heretofore opposed to the labor movement,
have entirely changed their 'front.' and are
eager to be known as the champions of the
peoples rights. Among the many labor bills
which now slumber in committee rooms or
on the dead calendar are, bills to fix and reg
ulate the hours of labor, etc., to legaize the
| incorporation of trades unions two or three
measures against the employment of prison
labor; and various educational bills The
bill granting leave of absence to employees of
the government printing Office was not acted
on, but petition from the employees of the
| 30 ho
bursed for lost time during the recesses of
congress was enacted into a law, and each
emploYe was allowed $50 for such lost time,
which indicates that a spirit of justice to
labor resides in the congressional conscience.
The members of congress were frequently
and persistently interviewed during the past
session by the legislative committees of va
rious labor bodies, and many senators were
made to see things in different light.
1t is generally believed here, whether with
reason or not time will determine, that the
attitude of the new administration towards
will endeavor to keep the letter and the
spirit of the utterance in his message which
declares such policy should be pursued as
shall ''make the wage of labor sure and
steady" Secretary Lamar, of the interior de-
partment, has all along expressed his sympa-
thy with the labor movement, and has assured
us that he will defend our interests. Itisre-
ported that he has proffered the assistant
secretaryship to Hon. John 81. OberIv, for
mer president of the International Typo.
graphical Union, now chairman of the DEM
ocratie state central committee of Illinois.
Mr.. Oberly is now in the city, and visited
Columbia Typographical Union Saturday
evening