National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-13
wANrs rnE rAors.

Select Committee OF the House TO In
vsstigate the Causes and Extent Of
Labor Troubles in the West and
Southwest.
Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, from the com
mittee on rules. reported to the House yes
terday a resolution for the appointment Of
select committee OF seven members to be
appointed by the speaker to investigate the
causes and extent Of the disturbed condi-
lions now existing In tho relations between
railroad corporations engaged 10 interstate
commerce and their employees In the states
OF Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas,
and Texas. The Committee shall have
power TO send for persons and papers, TO
sit during the sessions OF the House, aud
to visit such places In those states as may
be necessary in order TO facilitate the In
vestigation, 1t SHAH report during the
present session, with such recommends
tions as II may deem proper to make.
Mr.. Morrison stated that the bill which
mad recently passed the House, known as
the arbitration bill, was inadequate In Its
provisions. The object Of the pending res
olution was TO enable Congress to learn tue
facts Of the case, so that It might perfect its
legislation.
Mr. Reagan, OF Texas, contended that
Congress had no more power to regulate
questions arising between common carriers
and their hired laborers than questions
arising between common. carriers and their
butchers or grocers. These were local
questions, and 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
Democratic House Of Representatives
would deny and repudiate local self-gov-
eminent, or whether IL would assume that
the states were no longer able TO execute
their functions.
Mr.. Morgan, Of Mississippi, thought that
10 was time the House should dispel the IL
fusion in the minds Of laboring men-an IL
fusion that relief laid In the body Of this
House. Relief could not be found here, or
be aided by any legislative enactment. IL
was the duty Of the House TO speak at once
in order that the workingmen might stop
\ and pause and consider. Mr.. Powderly
, stood at the head Of O powerful organlza-
ton which he endcavored to govern with
wisdom. lie had been unable to do SO, be-
cause his subordinntes had refused to ac-
knowledge his authority The workingmen
said they wished to arbltrate. What was
there TO be arbitrated? They said to the
railroad company, tive want employment
and the company said, tive don't want
your services The men said, 1--WE will
arbtrate," and the railroad company an
swered, 1--WE will not arbitrate, because we
don't want you" This was like any other
contract; when the services OF the men
were declined there was an end Of the trans
action, and Congress had no power to pass
a law which would make contract 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 seeing peace and order
prevail instead Of discomfort.
The resolution had reference to interstate
xuae No INT nj cd
There was no harm in the House possessing
itself of full information on the subject.
Mr.. Hlscock, Of New York, was curious
to see how many gentlemen on the other
side Of the House would invoke the consti-
tuition against the right Of petitlon-how
900 men who said they had wrongs to be
redressed, and 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 inyesti-
cation asked for, to learn what the facts
were, and then TO act upon them, IL 1t
turned out that the facts were such as could
be acted upon. He protested against the
everlasting putting up Of the constitution
against every proposition which was pre-
scented In the House. The effect OF this
would be to make mockery of the constl-
tuition and to give point to the Jest that
the constitution In the mind of strict con-
structionist 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 that nc
power other than Congress was adequate
with the subject, and contended that the
proposed investigation came within the
provisions of the constitution.
Mr.. Curtin, Of Pennsylvania, said that the
purpose OF the resolution was to investigate
The causes Of the unrest Of the people. II
corporations had violated the rights OF the
humblest man In the country, he had the
right to redress, and had right to hear
ing before this august assembly. III the
man was wronged, let Congress under
stand 1t, and lay the iron hand OF the gov
eminent on those who had wronged him
il there was not power in the constitution
to redress those wrongs 1t was broker
staff.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, regretted thai
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reagan
should have placed his opposition TO The
resolution on constitutional grounds. That
gentleman should have been the last mar
to oppose proposition which had in view
the securing OF valuable information touch
ing interstate commerce. The time Of tn,
House should not be FILTERED away in dis
cussing constitutional points every tint
the rights of the workingmen were in
volved.
The resolution was adopted wlthou
division.