The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-13
FORTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE LABOR QUESTION IN THE
HOUSE.
The Indian And District OF Columbia
Appropriation Bills-PrOeeed-
ings in the Senate.

WAsnINGToN, April l2.- HOUSE.
Mr.. Morrison TIL. /, from the Commit
tee on Ways and Means, reported a |
bill to reduce tariff taxes and to mod |
ify the laws in relation to the collec-
ton of the revenue, and 1t was referred /
TO the committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Mckinley [O.l presented the
views of the minority OF the commit
tee.
Mr.. O'Neil PA. asked leave to have
printed in the Record protest of en-
blowers, representing 1900 working
men in all the States of the Union,
against a reduction of the tariff.
Mr.. Morrison I'LL insisted that the |
protest should be presented through |
the petition box.
Mr.. Morrison III ], from the Com
mittee on Rules, reported a resolution
for the appointment OF select COM
mittee of seven members, to be APP |
pointed by the Speaker, to investigate
the causes and extent of the disturbed
conditions now existing in the rela-
tions between railroad companies en-
, gagged in the interstate commerce and
their employees in the States Of Hi
, nois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and
Texas. The committee shall have
t power to send for persons and papers,
, to sit during the sessions of the House
; and to visit such pl5ces in those States
| as may be necessary i'll order to facili-
} tate the investigation. 1t shall report
/ during the present session with such
J recommendations as it may deem
3 proper to make. Adopted without
| division. Il
: Mr.. Morrison stated that the biz
Z. which had recently passed the Hous.
I known as the arbitration bill, was m
/ ADEQUATE in its provisions. The object
= of the pending resolution was to en-
Q able Congress to learn the facts ofthe
: case, so that it might perfect its legis
y lation.
s Mr.. Reagan TEX contended that
Congress had no more power to regu-
y late questions arising between COM
D mon carriers and their hired laborers
4 than questions arising between carri-
If ers and their butchers or grocers.
r These were local questions, and the
1t fact that one of the pa'ties might be
l. engaged in interstate commerce did
is not give Congress jurisdiction over
le the other. Thequestion was whether
p a Democratic House OF Representa-
g. tives would deny and repudiate local
le self-governmeut, or whether it would
Of assume that the States were no longer
t. able to execute their functions.
10 Mr.. Morgan Miss thought that it
lie was time the House should dispel the
- illusion in the minds of lahoriDg meO 4,
II an illusion that relief laid 10 the body
g. of this House. Relief could not be
I'd found here, or be aided by any legis-
to lative enactment. 1t was the duty OF
s, the House to speak at once in order
be that the worlipgmen might stop and
in pause and consider. Mr.. Powderly
re stood at the head of powerful organ
m ization which he endeavored to gov
I'd ern with wisdom. He had been un.
ng able to do 30 because his subordinates
'e- had refused to acknowledge hit
se authority. The workingmen sale
les they wished TO arbitrate. What wal
of there to arbitrator They said to thu
lie railroad companies we want employ
ny ment, and the companies eaid we dC
ne not want your services. The meI
a said, ave will arbitrate," and the rail
mt road company answered, "We will no
n arbilrate because we do not wan
lie. YOU" This was like any other con
IN tract when the services of the mel
$50 were declined there was an end to tn,
oil. transaction, and Congress had nj
lot power to pass law which would max
no a contract for the men.
mt Mr.. Randall Pa sad that mem
er Der was more DESTROYS than he of re
.; stricting legislation within Constit
a tional limits, yet in this case the gov
,lp eminent was interested in seem
lie, peace and order prevail instead OF dif
content. The resolution had referenc
to interstate commerce which wa
now interrupted. There was no harr
-. in the House possessing itself of fu
~ information on the subject.
o os Mr.. Hiscock N. Y. YVES curious t
o see how many gentlemen on tn
on other side OF the House would invok
,n the constitution against the right {
~ petition, how many would 20 o
Az record against the 100000 men VIII
a au said they had wrongs to be redresse
ea and who asked for the assistance {
No uo Congress
we Mr.. Reed + Me. said that Congress
10 like every other legislative body, 50
III for the hearing and redress of grieV
60 ances, and in this case it was bound
a. give the investigation asked Tor,
VIC learn what the facts were, and then I
I" act upon them, if it turned out this
the facts were suCn as could be aCte
upon. He protested against the ev
A design in putting of OF the constitr
,at ton against every proposition whic
,ot was presented in the House. The e
or feet Of this would be TO make a mock
MS ery OF the constitution, and to Civ
er point to the Jest that the Constituuo
,ed in the mind OF a strict constructions
mrs was in favor of every bill he wanted
nh- and against every bill he opposed.
,ar Mr.. Warner, [Ohiob emphasize,
,he the gravityof the occasion ;maintaine
,nI that no pover other than Congress
,ts was ADEQUATE to deal with the subjec
no and contended that the proposed il
noe vestigation came within the piovi
wo iontlo the constitution.
MS Mr.. Curtin, LPennsylvanisl sal
our that the purpose OF the resolutlo
Was was to investigate the causes OF th
md unrest OF the people. IL corporation
, 10 had violated the rights OF the hun
blest man in the country, he had
right to redress, and had right to
hearing before this august assembl
ed, II the man was wronged, let Congre
ant understand it, aud lay the bar
for of the Government on those WI
g. had wrougsd him. If there was n
66S power in the constitution to redre
the wrongs, it was broken staff.
Mr.. Springer III regretted that &
gentleman from Texas Mr.. R,aga
ner should have placed his opposition
lrds the resolution on CONSTITUTION
ON grounds. That gentleman should ha
lch- been the last man to oppose PROF
was sition which had in view the sscuri
ack, OF valuable information touching int
ltry state commerce. The time OF q
ON House should not he irittered away
sed, disgusting constitutional points eve