The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-13
CONGRESS- AND THE STRIKE.
Debate in the House on the Question Of
Appointing a COmmitteeof Inquiry.
After q Pretty Free Expression of Opinion, a
Resolution Authorizing Such Action Is
Finally Passed Without q Division.


Finally Passed Without a Division.
WASHINGTON, April 12-Mr. Morrison, of Hi.
nois, from the committee on ways and means,
reported q bill to reduce tariff taxes and to mod
ify the law in relation to the collection of the
the whole.
Mr.. Mckinley. of Ohio, presented the views OF
the minority of the committee.
Mr.. ONeill, of Pennsylvania, asked leave 70
have printed in the Record a protest Of employ
ers, representing A. 900 working men In all the
States of the Union. against a reduction of the
tariff.
Mr.. Morrison, of Illinois, insisted that the
protest should be presentedthrough the petition
box.
Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, from the committee
on rules, reported a resolution for the appoint
ment of a select committee of seven members,
to be appointed by the Speaker, to investigate
the causes and extent Of the disturbed conditions
now existing in the relations between railroad cor
p~orations engaged in interstate and
their employees in the States of Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. The COM
mittee shat! have power to send for persons and
papers. to sit during the sessions of the House,
and to visit such places In those States as may
be necessary in order to facilitate the investiga-
ton. 1t shall report during the present session,
with such recommendations as it may deem
proper to make.
Mr.. Morrison stated that the bin which had
recently passed the House. known as the arbi-
tration bill, was INADEQUATE in it's provisions.
The object of the pending resolution vas to en-
able Congress to learn the facts of the case, so
that it might perfect its legislation.
Mr.. Reagan. of Texas, commended That Con-
gress had no more power to regulate questions
arising between common carriers and their
hired laborers than questions arising between
carriers and their butchers or grocers. These
were local questions, aad the fact that one Of
the parties might be engaged in interstate COM
merce did not give Congress jurisdiction over
the other. The question was whether a Demo
cratic House of Representatives would deny and
repudiate local self-government, or whether it
would assume that the States were no longer
able to execute their functions.
Mr.. Morgan, of Mississippi, thought that it
was time the House should dlspel the illusion in
the minds of laboring men--an illusion that re-.
lief lay in the body Of this House. Relief could
not be found here, or be aided by any legislative
enactment. 1t was the duty Of the House to
speak at once, in order that the workingmen
might stop, pause and consider. Mr.. Powderly
stood at the head of q powerful organization,
which he endeavored to govern with wisdom.
He had been unable to do so, because his subor-
dinatss had refused to acknowledge his author
ity. The workingmen said they wished to arbi-
trate. What was there to be arbitrated? They
said to the railroad company, 1--WE want en-
plovment," and the company sad, "We don't
want your services" The men said, "We will
arbitrate," and the railroad company answered.
I'VE will not arbitrate, because we do not want
YOU" This was like any other contract. When
the services of the men were declined there was
an end to the transaction. and Congress had no
power to pass a law which would make a con-
tract for the men.
Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, said that no
member was more DESTROYS than he of restricting
legislation within constitutional limits, yet In
this case the government was interested in see
ing peace and order prevail instead Of discon-
tent. The resolution had reference to inter-
state commerce, which was now interrupted.
There was TO harm in the House possessing it
self of full information on the subject.
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York. was curious to see
how many gentlemen on the other side of the
House would invoke the Constitution against
the right of p-etition-how many would go on
record against the zoo, 600 men who said they
had wrongs to be redressed, and who asked for
the assistance of Congress.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine. said that Congress, like
every other legislative body, sat for the hearing
and redress of grievances, and in this case it was
bound to give the investigation asked for, to
learn what the facts were, and then act upon
them, if it turned out that the facts were such
as could be acted upon. He protested against
E~ oPO@ htO
against every proposition which was presented
in the House. the effect of this would be to
make a mockery of the Constitution. ard to give
a point to the jest that tho Constitution, in the
mind of a strict constructionist, was in favor Of
every bill he wanted, and against every bill he
opposed.
Mr.. Warner. of Ohio, emphasized the gravity
OF the occasion, maintained thai no power other
than Congress was adequate TO deal with the
subject. and contended that the proposed inves-
sigation came within the provisions of the Con-
s~titution.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, said that the pur-
pose OF the resolution was to investigate the
causes of the unrest of the people. If corpora
tons had violated the rights of the humblest
man in the country, he had the right to redress,
and had a right to a hearing before this august
assembly. If the man was wronged, let Con-
gress understand it, and lay the iron hand of the
government ON those who had wronged him.
If there was no power in the Constitution to
redress these wrongs. 1t was a broken staff.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois. regretted that the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Reaganl should
have placed his opposition to the resolution on
constitutional grounds. That gentleman should
have been the last man to oppose a proposition
which had in view the securing of valuable in
formation touching interstate The
time of the House should not be frittered away
in discussing constitutional points every time
the rights Of the workingmsn were involved.
The resolution was adopted without division.
Under the call of States, the following bills
were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois: Authorizing
the granting OF pensions to the parents of de
ceased soldiers, on proof that they are without
other means of support than their own manual
labor.
By Mr.. Sanderson, of Kansas: For the CLASH
fcation of the public lands, and a revision of
the laws relating to the public lands.
BY Mr.. Zach Taylor. of Tennessee: Requiring
national museums and institutions to keep open
on Sunday.
By Mr.. Brady, of Virginia: Authorizing the
President to appoint a board of commissioners
to investigate to what extent the United States
may be legally or equitably liable for the debt
due by the State of Virginia because of the
partition of the State, without its consent.
during the late war, tae extent OF the equitable
liability of the United States 20 the bondholders
of other States of the Union and foreign bond
holders. ON Account of the action of the Stata