National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-18
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
Democratic Allegations Refuted by Republican
MISUNDERSTANDING, Executive, and Ju.
dicial bill Passed by the House.

Democratic Allegations Refated by Republican
Senators-LeglslatlVe, Executive, and Ju-
diclal BILL Passed by the House.
In the senate yesterday the bill to quiet TIL o
Of settler on the Des Moiucs river lands came
up as the regular order.
Mr.. Lapham addressed the senate. on tho
conclusion Of Mr.. Lapham's remarks the mo-
ton by Mr.. Morgan to indefinitely postpone
the bill was voted down-yeas q, nays 2s
AZ o'clock the bill, still remaining un-
finished business of the morning hour went
over until to-day.
The anH-foreign contract labor bill was then
placed before the senate.
Mr.. Miller, of New York, supported the BILL
and opposed the pending motion, which
would strike out the clauses prescribing pen
alties for violations Of the law. The demo
Gratis, he said, had been charging that the
republicans were in favor of protecting mer-
ohandise, but not labor. Here was bin that
protected labor, but II did not seem to satisfy
gentlemen Notwithstanding. He (Mr. Miller
was in full sympathy with the bill As n man
ulacturer, he could say,that the manufacturers
OF the United States did not want the lmporta-
ton Of labor Ifskilled labor wanted to come
hero IL would come voluntarily, and not in
serfdom. This bill simply meant that white
slavery should not any longer be tolerated In
this country. The European countries had
been for years dumping their paupers and
criminals upon our shores, and the time was
coming when we would have TO pass stringent
measures to protect ourselves from those. We
could not afford to leave our ports open to
such impOrtations
Mr.. Morgan did not wish to sec bad pre-
cedent established-a precedent that might
lead hereafter TO the passage OF u law refusing
TO colorod men the right to come from the
south TO the north in search of work.
Mr.. Miller, of New York, assured Mr..
Morgan that the people OF the north would
mover pass law 10 interfere with the coming
OF any class of people who should come Of
their own free viii, and were not criminals or
paupcrs.
The debate was continued by Mcssrs Vest,
Plat, Morrill,, Plumb, Dawes, sherman, Call,
Coke, Maxey, Miller. of New York, Morgan,
Williams, Blair, aud George.
In the course Of the foregoing debate Mr..
Sherman, entering tho chamber, said he UNI
dcrstood that during his momentary absence
tho senator from Missouri (NIr. NcsD had al
ludcd to him in connection with the act to en-
courage immigration, passed In July, 1864.
That act, MIR. sherman said, was q temporary
measure. Tho senator from Missouri (Air.
VosO ought to have remembered that at the
date of Its passage this country was engaged
In one of the most memorable struggles OF
history. Our labor had been taken from our
homes to put down formidable rebellion.
The gentleman from Missouri was not ut that
time aware of the motives that influenced
congress In the passage of that act. lilo mir.
vesD was engaged In an attempt to break up
this government.
The act referred to was one Of the means de-
signed by congress TO meet that emer-
gcncy. IL passed both houses OF con
gress unanimously, receiving the vote
of every democrat of both houses Soon after
the war the net was repealed, 1t having been
only temporary measure allowing the pas
sage money of All intending immigrant TO be
returned out of his earnings within twelve
months. Mr., Sherman thought IL would DO
well for Mr.. Vest, before arragning for incon-
sistcncy either Mr.. sherman or tho repub-
| lican party, TO recall the circumstances in
which the country was situated at the time the
| bill was passed. All tho measures that had
been passed for the protection of our labOring
men had emanatcd from the republican party.
| II was the policy of tho republican party TO
| elevate and build up the lnboring men of this
country, and to build up the industries of the
country, so that we may be independent of
| foreign nations. Mr.. Sherman strongly sup
ported the bill under consideration.
Mr.. Vest replied that so far as the remarks
OF the senator from Ohio (AIr. sherman bore
personal allusion to h i'm (Mr. VesD and his
status during the war he would only say that
whatever may be the opinion of others in
that regard he had no sort of apology to make
to that senator. 1t had nothing legtimatoly
| to do with this discussion. He (Mr. Nest) had
only stated what he had because he had
heard the senator from Ohio (Alr. Sherman)
coudemn in toto the principle of contract
| labor." That senator was now compelled to
admit that the principle Itself was applied by
| the republican party to meet the contingencies
OF the war. In other words, he adopted the
| principle when he thought the emergency JUS
| titled IT, That legislation had been engraited
| on the legislation of this country blythe repub-
| lcan party. II had never been expressly re-
| pealed either, but was merely omitted from
| the revised statutes, and that not until 1874.
| If II were mere temporary measure, and
meant only for the exigencies of the war, how
did Il happen that 1t was on the statute books
as late as 1874?
Mr.. Sherman thought the law was repealed
long before lSH-perhaps AS early rs lSG6-in
| an appropriation bill. He repeated his asser-
ton that IL was a war measure, and perfectly
proper at the time, In the situation In which
| we found ourselves. War made It's own law.
Several motions TO adjourn were made but
without success
on the suggestion of Mr. Butler, Mr.. Blair
| consented not TO oppose adjournment II a vote
| could be unanimously agreed on Tor 2 O'Clock
to-day. Consent was given, and the senate lat
| $40 p. n.y. adjourned.
The house proceeded to the consideration OF
business under the special rule.
| Mr.. Hutchins, of New York, from the COM
mittoe on appropriations, reported the naval
| appropriation bill, and gave notice that he
would ask for its consideration to-day.
| Under the call of committees for reports n
number OF measures were reported, and placed
upon the various calendars.
| The house then, at |. 55, went into commit
tee of the whole on the legislative appropria-
| ton bill.
The entire afternoon was spent In the con-
sideration of amendments proposed by diff
| ierent members.
subsequently the committee rose, tho bill
| was passed. and ut o'clock the house took Il
recess until 10 o'clock to-day.
| $-
| REMEDY resting on the basis Of intrinsic
| 1nnanIg fhn pA,H 4 .NT ali