The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-18
Political discussion in the House.

WAsHINGToE, Jan. 17.-Mr Gibson, rising to
personal explanation, denied that he had
harshly criticised Mr.. Randall at the recent
Wheeling conference. He differed from the gem
tleman named, but respected his capacity and
integrity.
Mr.. Hopkins from the committee on labor,
reported a resolution directing the Postmaster
general to ask the Attorney general whether the
eight-hour law applies to letter-carriers.
Adopted.
the House went into committee Of the whole
on the consular and diplomatic appropriation
bill.
Mr. Townshend offered an amendment re-
questing the President to invite the cooperation
of the governments of American nations in
securing the establishment of o commercial
league between the nations, to be- known as
''The Customs Union Of America" Ruled out
on point of order.
Mr. Cox, of New York, was sorry the amend
ment had been ruled out. The remedy for the
publics of our own hemisphere. Congress
should make market abroad for the surplus
products of our country.
Mr.. Dorsheimer favored reciprocity not with
American countries alone, but with the whole
world. He approved the proposed treaties with
Mexico. Spain and Nicarauga. He did not be-
lieve it to be possible that a canal should be
built through to the Isthmus of Panama by any
foreign government without giving this people
to use the most temperate phrase---cause for
serious disquietude. How would it be when to the
fleets of some foreign power, there was direct
way opened to the Pacific coast, while our fleets
were compelled to make a long journey around
Cape Horn? Under such circumstances, in
some possible exigency of the future,
the people of the United States would not per-
NIT that highway to remain in foreign hands
but would take it into their own, by the exercise
of all the power the assessed.
Mr.. HiScock said the country understood the
policy Of the next administration to be that
this country should be purely an agricultural
country. Expecting that this issue was to be
presented to the people, the country heard notes
from Pittsburg of the failure of great iron
industry and news came from New York of
the insolvency of banking institutions He was
not prophet, but had no hesitation in declaring
that before this Congress adjourned, from other
manufacturing and business centers would come
announcements of distress and failure, all pre-
cipitated by the agitation that was threatening
the country on the part of the next administra-
ton. Referring to the pending treaties, he
asked his colleague Mr. Dersheimer] what the
United States would have to SELL provided these
were ratifedl The United States had nothing
to sell i'll the markets of South American
unless it could compete with England, and to do
so it must reduce the price of labor. Did his.
colleague propose to degrade labor down to the
point that it could compete with foreign labor9
Mr.. Cox, of New York, contended that the
Democratic party was misrepresented by his
colleague Mr.. Hiscock when he said the incom-
ing administration was in favor of making this
country purely an agricultural country. The Re-
publican party, after many years of protection,
had come forward all at once with lot Of recip-
rocal treaties, free-trade treaties.
II beg pardon" interrupted Mr.. Hiscock "not
the Republican party
swell, at least Republican administration
replied Mr.. Cox. Continuing, Mr. Cox denied
that the distress which now prevailed in the
country was attributable to Democratic success
The Republican party was responsible for that
surplus production, and it was that very man