Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-14
4Sth Congress- Second Session.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is

Mr.. Ingalls, said he had heard it intimatsd
that the Republicans were endeavoring to pre-
vent progress on the appropriation bills 80 as
to necessitate an extra session. He there
fore asked Mr.. Allison, chairman of the SEN
ate Appropriation committee, to state the
condition of all appropriation bills before the
COMMITTEES thus far received and the
status of appropriation bills generally.
Mr.. Allison replied that the mill
tary academy and army bills had been
passed; the District Of Columbia, consulate
and pension bills were in conference; the In
dian bill had just been reported to the Sen
ate, and the agricultural bill would be re-
ported to the Senate on Monday next; the
Postotice, legislative, naval fortifcations,
sundry, civil and the deficiency bills had not
come from the House. So far as the Senate
committee was concerned the work of the
committee was well in hand, and there need
be no apprehension of delay in this body.
Mr.. Beck said that in his experience of
eight years as member of the committee
he could not recall time when the work of
the houses was better up than it seemed to
be now in the two appropriation committees.
Mr.. Ingalls, said the assurances given by the
Senators from Iowa and Kentucky were en-
tirely satisfactory to him. He took advan-
tage of the occasion to repel the insinuation
that Republicans of either House desired an
extra session. In his judgment nothing
could be worse, and the incoming admins
tration would be embarrassed by it. The
responsibility for it, should there be one,
would rest with the friends of the next ad-
n1inistration.
Mr.. Hoar presented the report of the con
ference committee on the electoral count bill
disagreeing with the House conferees.
The bill to quit title of settlers on the
Des Moines river lands in Iowa was then tax
en- up, the question being on the motion to
postpone its consideration indefinitely. Mr.
Lapham argued against it, but before he had
finished the Texas Pacific land grant forfeit
ure bill was taken up as q special order.
This, in turn, after discussion gave place to
Mr.. Blair's bill to prevent the importation of
contract labor.
Mr.. Van Wyck moved to strike out the
clause permitting the importation of skilled
labor. Mr.. Blair said the bill had net been
framed by children or by babes, but by
friends of the workingmen who were anxious
that that clause be retained. A vote was de-
mandsd on the motion of the Senator from
Nebraska and it was lost.
Mr.. Hawley thought that the bill having
been drawn by outsiders should be very
carefully considered before being finally
acted on He proceeded to criticise the pro-
visions of the bill. In its present shape he
thought it was il contravention of natural
rights.
Mr.. Blair explained that the bill simply
aimed to prevent the introduction into this
country by capitalists corporations of I'M
when it is not needed here.
Mr.. Ingalls, said we were soon to be con-
fronted with great question, involving the
doctrine of the natural rights of men
whether any man from any country has the
right to come here to the detriment of others
already here. There were to-day in this
country half a million wageworkers out of
work. with perhaps three million dependents
suffering for want of food and clothing.
They needed the corn which to-day
in Kansas was being used for
feed and the wheat which was
being fed to the hogs. We would soon be
confronted with the proposition whether we
should protect our citizens against the detri-
mental competition of those brought here by
the cupidity of employers who wanted to
swell their gains. Foreign countries had
been dumping their criminals and lowest
perhaps we ought to modify our views about
the declaration of independence and
the rights of man. Very serious
questions had been presented by re-
cent demonstrations, and unless some
measures were taken to protect our civil in
situations within very brief space, dangers
with ruthless rage might assail the institu-
not regard the bill as perfect, it was move
ment in the right direction, and inasmuch as
the object of the bill was to prevent the i'm
portation of laborers under contract to work
for less wages than men in this country could
work for, he would vote for it.
Mr.. Hawley did not share the Kansas Sen
ator's apprehension about disturbances here.
There was no land where the distribution of
property was SO general in the United
States. Every man who owned only cabin
had given a bond for the protection
of property and such men were
command of the Governor of a State than
against him. He acknowledged freely the
evils of importing contract labor. 1t was
| shameful and in opposition to the spirit of
our institutions. He would repress these
| evils, but not interfere with proper immigra-
| ton.
Mr.. Bayard did not want to embark upon
| discussion of the somewhat dangerous
| cial problem now attracting attention in this
country. The bill was not leveled at this
dangerous socialistic element. 1t seemed
strange that such an anti-immigration law
should be proposed. Our forefathers
| fought and defeated the King of England be-
very difficult to properly characterize the
| proposed measure, observing its crudities, its
| impracticability except by expressing general
| want of faith in an opposition to it. He
moved to strike out the primitive section OF
| the bill.
Mr. Morgan ridiculed the propositions en-
| braced in those sections proposing to convert
| a breach of contract into crime and char
| acterized the bill vicious class legislation.
| Mr. Sherman said the bill Disseminated
against class of people who do not own
themselves. 1t Disseminated against organ
| lied corporate importation, not of laboring
| men but of men WHO were bought and came
here to compete with free men, and for this
reason alone he would favor its passage
| The discussion continued until 5:15, when
| the Senate adjourned.
| HoUsE-Tbe House conc1rred in the San.
| ate amendments to the bill to prevent the
| unlawful occupation of public lands.
| It was moved to go into Committee of tbs
| Whole on the river and harbor bill, against