Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-24
MADE A PARTY ISSUE.
A LIVELY DEBATE OVER THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Motion to Commit 10 TO the Labor
Committee Finally Prevails.
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-In the House
to-day the Presidents message upon the
labor troubles having been read by the
clerk, MIR. Springer, of Illinois. moved its
reference 10 the Committee on Labor,
with Instructions to that committee to
report upon it by bill or otherwise, on or
before May 10.
Mr.. Hammond, OF Georgia, thought
that there was no reason to be-
lleve that the committee would not act
diligently, and it was unusual to instruct
committees on such matters.
Mr.. Butterworth, of Ohio. moved to re-
fer the message to committee of the
whole.
Mr.. Butterworth's motion was lost by
vote OF II yeas to TAT NAYS.
MR.. BUTTERwoRTH's AIM.
There being thirty minutes debate al
lowed under the rules Mr.. Butterworth
secured the floor. The object of his mo-
ton to refer the message to committee of
the whole, he said, had been considered by
some gentlemen as unwise, because it
could not be reached at an early day.
believe that the message presented a
question Of vast consequence to the coun-
try. 1t had been his purpose If his motion
had prevailed to ask unanimous consent
to fix an early day for the consideration OF
this question with the nope and expecta-
ton that it might be fairly considered,
not with view to controlling elections
in November, but with view to getting
at the right solution of the great
T.
owed it to itself to take up the labor Ques
ton and consider it careully and then re-.
fer the subject to an appropriate commit
tee. If It were referred to committee
now, he feared that a measure would be
reported representing not the need of the
hour, but the political necessities OF the
coming campaign.
RANDALL PROCESSES SURPRISE.
Mr.. Randall, OF Pennsylvania. confessed
a feeling of surprise at the heat with
which the gentleman approached this SUBJ
ject. He desired to direct attention to the
fact that the constitution made it the
duty of the President from time to time
to communicate to Congress touching the
state of the Union, and recommend such
measures as he shall deem necessary and
expedlent. The President had not VEN
tured hair beyond that, and how was he
met here? He was met with an assault
on his motives. There was not one word
against the proposition which be made.
On the cQntrsA z, tAere was not an inteIli-
gent man II the country but knew that
the present condition of the labor of the
country commanded the attention of Con-
gress. 1t was easy to question mems
motives. He had also supposed that the
right to question the motives of a human
being rested with higher power.
DUE CONSIDERATION ASKED.
He asked that the message should have
due consideration and deliberatlOn and
remedy for the troubles be conceived. If
possible, and enacted into law. He de-
clared proudly that there was not a word
in it that appealed in any particular to
any party or any section and class of men
in tine United States. On the contrary, it
appealed TO Congress as body of Ameri-
can citizens working for the public well
fare. Applause.
Mr.. Weaver, of Iowa, was in favor of
the motion 10 commit, with instruc-
lions. that the message might be
calmly considered. The gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. ButterwOrth) said il
could only receive deliberate
and calm discussion in committee of
the whole, but what an example of calm
ness the gentleman himself presented.
He had not suggested any remedy for the
troubles. It was easy TO find fault and
criticise, but it required craftsmanship
and calm dellberation TO meet the under
lying causes OF the present labor troubles.
REPUBLICANS TO BLAME.
Mr.. Gibson, of West Virginia, regret
ted that the gentleman from Ohio should
undertake to bring politics into the dis
cussiOn OF this question The gentleman
had charged the majority of the House
with not bringing forward a proposition
when would have any practical results
on the labor troubles. The troubles the
country was suffering from were the re-
suit OF powers given by "A corrupt Congress
to great corporations under twenty years
OF Republican administration. IL was
watered stock and unjust charters
granted by Congress against which labor
was rebelling. The gentlemen on the
other side ought not TO assail this House.
because it could not bring about remedy
in day, but ought rather to confess the
crimes and sins Of their twenty years of
legislation.
MIR. o'NEILL AROUSED.
Mr.. O'Neill, Of Missouri, said that the
arbitration bill had been discussed by
the House for four days. Not one word
of partisan bias had been injected into
the debate. 1t had passed by a lour-ffths
vote II had been reported unanimously
ny Tue oeuhbe NUulullttS. IL nAQ Deen
Endorsed by the press and by the inteli-
gence OF the country, and it rested with
the gentleman from Ohio to
take these preteXts for injecting
partisan bias into the question.
The gentleman was like a man with one
stOry-tbe gun story, II a conversation
did not give him an opportunity OF telling
his story, be would stamp his foot on tine
floor and say: "Ihat sounds like "A gun,
ana talking Of guns, ETC." The gentle
man was so full of partisan bile that he
could resist no opportunity Of showing IL.
REEDS SATISFACTION.
MIR. Reed, of Name, ex pressed his sat
isfaction with the vote be had cast for the
arbitration bill The gentleman from
Pennsylvania Mr.. Randall), in under
taking TO excuse the President for bis
message, was the only man who had ac-
cused him. Nobody on the Republican
side had found any fault with the Presi.
dent, or even complained Of the lateness
Of his arOusing TO the subject. The ques-
ton which was stirring among the peo-
pie should be deliberately considered by
Congress-. IL might be that Congress
could devise remedy; IL might be that
it could not; but IL was bound TO consid-
err the question, and bound 20 consider II
with regard 70 something else besides the
November election.
THE MESSAGE ENDORSED.
Mr.. McCreary, of Kentucky, was grail
fed with the Presidents message, regard
ing IL as a wise and fOrcible document.
The relations hot uVapn In bor "a ua onnifaI