Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-21
THE LABOR TROUBLES
SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL IxvEsrIaA-
TroN OF LABOR TROUBLES.
GTard.Master-w Workman Powderiy Before
the Communicable Gives His impress
sions In Regard to the Conflict
Between Labor and Capital.
lBy telegraph TO the pispssch.I

first public session to-day. owing 10
the difficulty Of obtaining the use Of
convenient room in the Capitol, the
committee had 10 hire one in al ad-
iscent building rhe Congressional
Ho,eD at which the accommoda-
tons we're very deficient. The hour
Of meeting was fixed at IL
noon, but it was halfpast j
before the committee got to work. 1t
consists Of Ex-Governor Curtain, Of
Pennsylvania tchairman), and Messrs.
Burns, Of Missouri /; Grain, OF Texas;
Cultivate. OF Ohio; Stewart, Of ver-
mont; Parker, Of New York, and Bu-
chanan, of New Jersey. All the men,
bers were present except Mr.. Stewart,
who is absent BY leave Of the House.
Among the prominent persons in at
tendance were--as representatives Of
the Knights Of Labor. 7. V. Powderly,
grand master workman j. w. Hayes
and William D. Mcdowell, members OF
the Executive Board /; and Frederick
Turner, grand secretary. As repre-
septatives of the railroad interests.
Wager Swayne, counsel; and as repre-
sentatiyes OF the Women's League Of
America, Mrs. Charlotte Smith and
three other ladies.
A corps of four stenographers was on
hand to make foil report Of the pro-
ceedings for the railroad companies.
Mr.. Powderly was the first witness,
and as such was sworn by the chairman.
Mr.. Powderly is very far from filling,
at least in outward appearance, the
typical idea of horny-hsnded son Of
toll. On the contrary, he appears to
be quiet, reserved, delicate-looking
gentleman, who has spent some
fifty years Of existence in an
easy, contented way. lie dresses
plainly, is closely shaved, excepting as
to long, dropping mustache, wears
spectacles, and has high, intellectual
forehead. The chairman, addressing
him, said: "You understand that this
Committee is raised by the House Of
Representatives for the purpose, if
possible, Of getting down to the reasons
for the unrest and disturbance which
now exist in the country, especially as to
the conflicts between labor and capital
and between employer and employee.
This committee is fully sensible Of the
course you have taken in your previous
life, and Of your disposition to reconcile
the unrest Of the people. Therefore we
call you as the first witness. BE pleased
now to give to the committee in your
own language your impressions as to
this matter"
From the Chairman to MIR. Powder
.ly: know you well. and know that
YOU have intelligence enough to 60 on
and give this committee the information
il seeks.
Mr.. Powderly: When your message
came to me did not understand it, aud
came here without papers and without
any knowledge Of what would be re-
CURED of me. The field which you
have opened up in your question is so
broad that have not given it the con-
sideration which it deserves in order to
answer il properly, because it takes in
the general question that is now being
discussed by the working-people and
by the business-people OF the country,
so that would rather answer your
questions as they are put, end then, if
necessary, | will meet the committee
again after | have procured my papers.
The Chairman : What, in your judy
ment and opinion, is the cause of the
disturbances now existing in the locali-
ties referred to in the resolution?
Mr.. Powderly: The men who are
now engaged in the difficulties in the
West have drawn up a bill Of grievances
and have presented it to the manager
of the Missouri Pacific road at st.
Louis. That bill of grievances presents
the views Of the laboring men. 1t has
been stated that the cause Of the present
strike on the lines of the Missouri Pa
cihc Railroad Company was the dis
charge OF a man named Hall from the
employment Of the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company, and it has
been stated that Immediately following
his discharge and refusal to reinstate
him the employees Of all other railroads
struck. This statement the employees
Of the railroad system known as the
Gould system claim to be untrue. They
say that the discharge Of Hall was one,
and only one, of the many causes Of the
action taken by them. Here is the
official statement drawn up by the
committee of District Assemblies Nos.
l0l and rs of Knights of Labor, and
with your permission l will read it.
Powderly thereupon read statement
of the grievances referred to, and which
has been already published in the
newspapers.
The Chairman: What knowledge
have you as 10 the truth Of the facts
stated in that paper other than the state
ment itself?
Mr.. Powderly have never given it
my personal attention. When it was
first brought TO my notice was engaged
with the General Executive Board at
Philadelphia, where we were holding a
session. saw through the newspapers
that there was q strike on the Texas
Pacific railroad, and that strike on the
Missouri Pacific road had followed it,
but heard nothing from our men there,
and heard nothing official on the subject
until received q dispatch from the vice.
president OF the Missouri Pacific, Mr..
Hopkins, Of New York, asking some
questions. Immediately following that
We telegIaphed to the West for the par
ticulars Of the strike, and we received
an answer somewhat similar to the
statement which read just now.
The Chairman: From whom did you
receive that answer?
Powderly We telegraphed to man
whose name l saw in the papers
Martin lrons--but the dispatch in re-
ply came from another man named
Page. Then some mortgage bondhold-
ers of the Texas Pacific railroad came
to see us, and asked if we could not do
something TO end the strike. We then
telegraphed to the receiver Of that road.
The Chairman Can you give the
names Of those bendholders who came