The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-13
= CONGRESSIONAL INQU1nY
20 be Made into the oauSo of Labor Troubles
In the West,

20 be Made into the oauSO of Labor Troubles
in the West,
WASHINGTON, April l2.-In the House
to-day Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, from the
Committee on Rules reported a
esolution for the appointment OF q Sc,
eCt committee OF seven members, to be
appointed by the Speaker, to investigate
;he causes and extent OF the disturbed
condition now existing in the relations be.
;ween railroad corporations engaged in
Interstate commerce and their employees
n the States Of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas
Arkansas and Texas, the committee to
nave power to send for persons and pa.
p9rs, to sit during the.sessions Of the
House and to visit such :plsces in those
States Rs may be necessary 10 facilitate in.
Vestigation. 1t shall report during the
present session with such recommends.
ions as 1t may deem proper to make.
Mr.. Morrison stated that tho bill which
had recently passed the house, known as
the Arbitration bill, was inadequate in its
provisions. The on sct Of the pending
resolution was to enable Congress to learn
The facts Of case so that 1t might perfect
ts legislation.
POWERS OF CONGRESS.
Mr.. Reagan, OF Texas, Contended that
Congress had no more power to regulate
questions arising between common car.
rlels and their hired laborers than ques.
ions arising between common carriers
md their butchers or groCers. These were
local questions and the fact that one OF
he parties might be engaged In inter
State commerce didn't give Congress jur.
sdiction over tue other. The question
vas whether a Democratic House Of Rep.
esentRtives would deny and repudiate
oCal sell-goYernment or whether 1t would
Nsume that the States wero no longer able
execute their functions.
Mr.. Morgan, Of Mississippi, thought that
II was time the House should diBpel the
Illusion III the minds Of laboring men, an
fusion that relief laid in the body Of this
uOuse, or relief be found here or be aided
by any legislative enactment. II was the
duty Of the House TO speak at once in
order that the workingmen might stop
md pause and consider. Mr.. Powderly
tood at the head OF a powerful organizes
ion which ho Ondeavored 10 govern with
Wisdom. He had been unable to do 80 be-
cause his subordlnRles had refused 10 RC-
knowledge his authority.
ONE SIDE OF THE CASE.
The workingnen, said he, wished to ar
bitrats. What was there to be srbitrsted !
They said 10 the railroad company, tive
want employment" and the company
said, I've don't want your services" The
mon said "we will arbitrate." The rail-
road company answered, we will not ar
citrate, because we don't want you." This
vas like any other contract. When the
services OF the men were declined there
vas au end OF the transaction, and Con.
Iress had no power to p1ss law which
would make q contract Tor men.
Mr.. Randall said that no member was
more dGsirOus than hO OF the restriction OF
legislation within the constitutional limits,
yet In this case tie govern
ment was interested In seeing
peace and order prevail instead OF
iitConteut. The resolution had reference
20 the interstate commerce which WAS
now Interrupted. There Was no harm In
the House possessing itself Of full inlofma.
lion on the subject.
Mr.. HisCoCk, OF New York, was Curioua
20 see how many gentlemen on the other
aide OF the House would invoke theGon.
stitution against the right of petition
how many should 20 on record against
the 100000 who said they had wrongs to
be redresaed, and who asked for the assist
anCe Of Congress.
Mr.. Reed, OF Maine, said that Congress,
like every other legislative body, sat ior
hearing and redress Of grievances, and In
this case 1t was bound To give the investi.
CATION asked for, to learn what the facts
we're and then to act upon them, II 1t
turned out that the facts were such a.
could be acted upon.
MAKING A MorxERI or TuE CONSTITUTION
lie protested against the everlasting
putting up Of the Constitution against
eyery proposition which was presented in
| the House. The effect Of this would be 70
make moCkery OF the Constitution and
10 give polnt to the Jest that the OOnstitu.
tion in the mind Of q strict ConstruCtionist
WS in favor Of every bill he wanted and
against every bill he opposed.
Mi. Warner, Of Ohio, emphasized the
gravity ot the occasion, maintained that
no power other than Congress was ade'
quate 10 deal With the subject, and con-
tended that the proposed investigation
came within the provisions Of the ConSti'
tuition. ,.,,
MF, Curtin, oi Pennsylvania, said that
The purpose Of the resolution was TO In
yestipate the causes Of the arrest oi the
people, Ii corporations had Violated the
fights Of The humblest man he bad the
right 10 redress and had the right 10
hearing bsiore this assembly. II the man
was wfonged let Congress understand II
aud lay the power Of the government on
those who lad wfonged him. II there
was not power in the constitution to te.
dress those wrongs II was broken slati
The resolution was adopted without
division.
WeN vlfglniaus At the capital.
1