St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-24
THE PREsIDENT,s MESSAGE.
Debute in the House on Its Proper
Reference.

WASHINGTON. April 23.-The house
Immediately upon its meeting this morning
went into committee of the whole on the
river and haTbOr bill. The regular Friday
session was opened at noon. and the preSi-
dents message on the labor troubles was
read. Mr.. Butterworth thereupon moved
that it be referred 10 the committee of the
whole, and after some debate the motion
was lost-yeas a, nays 147. Mr.. Reed of
Maine regretted that there would be no
opportunity to discuss the message in the
committee of the whole. as the result
would have been more speedy and useful
legislation than would have been ac-
complished by its reference to standing
committee. There being thirty-minuteS
debate allowed, Mr.. But;erwOrth said that
it had been his purpose if IFS motion had
prevailed, to ask unanimous consent to fix
an early day for the consideration of the
question. with the hope and expectation
that it might be fairly considered, not with
a view to
CONTROLLING THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS,
but with view to getting at the right So
luton of the problem He criticized the
want of consideration given to the arbitra-
ton bill by the committee on labor. There
had been no effort to ascertain the facts.
III a member secured fifteen minutes to
speak on the bill he devoted eight minutes
to abusing Jay Gould. SIX minutes to abuS-
ing corporations and then surrendered the
other minute of his time, being unequal to
the task of suggesting any remedy.
"why did not you suggest q remedy?"
asked Mr.. O'Neil OF Missouri.
because you didn't give me time even to
open my mouth" replied Mr.. Butterworth.
Mr.. Bland of Missouri: We had a bill here
some DAYS ago that proposed TO set the labor
ers Of the country at work-how did the
gentle man vote on that? The contrac ton OF
the currency is impovershing the people to-
day.
..Stil harping on my daughter" quoted Mr..
Butterworth in reply. "If we were discuss
ing infant baptism here, the gentleman would
stand up and want to have the baptismal
basin purchased with standard silver dol
lars" Applause.
In conclusion Mr.. Butterworth said that
congress owes it to itself to take the labor
question and consider it carefully and then
refer thesubjeet to an appropriate commit
tee. If it were referred to a committee
now he feared that a measure would be re-
ported representing not the needs of the
hour, but the political necessities of the
coming campaign.
Mr.. Randall of PENNSYLVANIA confessed
to feeling of surprise at the heat with
which the gentleman from Ohio had ap-
preached this subject. 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 touch
ing the state of the Union, and recommend
such measures as he shall deem necessary
and expedient. The president had not
ventured hair beyond that, and .how was
he met here? He was met here with an
ASSAULT ON HIS MOTIVES.
There was not one word against the propo-
sition which he made. On the contrary,
there was not an intelligent man in the
country but knew that the present condition
of the labor of the country commanded the
attention of congress. Itwas easy to ques-
ton mems motives. He had also supposed
that the right to question the motives of a
human being rested with a higher power.
He asked that the message should have due
consideration and deliberation. and a
remedy for the trouble conceived if possible
and enacted into law. He declared proudly
that there was not a word in it that ap-
pealed in any particularly to any party, or
any set, or any class of men in the United
States. On the contrary, it appealed to
congress as a body of American citizens,
wishing for the public welfare. Applause.
Other members joined in the debate, and
finally, on motion of Mr.. Springer, the
message was referred to the committee on
labor, with instructions to report upon it
on or before May Is. A resolution offered
by Mr.. voorhees,, of Washington
Territory. was adopted, instruct
ing the committee on rules
to inquire whether any member of the
house who has availed himself of the privi-
lege of the floor under rule 81 is interested
as agent or attorney for any railroad or
other corporation, or interested in any
claim or bill pending before congress and
report the result of such inquiry to the
house. 1t had been an open secret, he
said. that ever since the beginning of this
congress a powerful Lobby. organized in the