The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-13
AN OCEAN OF TALK
PROVIDED FOR BY THE HOUSE WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

Introduction OF the Tariff Bill = Brief
synopsis of the Reports for and Against
Tho Arbitration Bill Debated-Not
Adequate to Its Purposes-Notes.
WASHINGTON Cry, April l3.-Morrison
in the house Monday reported from the
ways and means committee the tariff bill,
accompanied by the report of the majority,
signed by eight Democratic members of the
committee; referred to committee Of the
whole. Mr.. Mckinley presented the views
of the minority-the five Republican MEM
bers of the committee.
The majority report of the committee
urges the abandonment OF the duties on
of full rebates ON exports of manufactures
having duty paid materials; the
substitution OF declaration by the
importer for oaths and fees;
the Limitation TO $500 of the value of per-
s,nal effects admitted free The minority
report OF Mckinley of Ohio controverts the
statements of the ma ority in support of
their recommendations. 1t declares that
the policy upon which the other report is
based has its legitimate end in free trade, ex-
cept for tea and coffee and other articles not
produced in this country. The minority de-
clareS that the hill is born of party ne,es-
sity Ii is here because the Democratic
party is in control 1t is in response to no
public sentiment or national requirement
In the Judgment of the minority it will in
crease rather than diminish our customs re-
ceipts; that 1t will answer no sentiment for
II reduction Of the surplus 1t will help no
American interest 1t will cripple, II not
destroy, all it touches
O'Neill of Pennsylvania asked leave to
have printed in The Record protest from
manufacturers, representing 4i.0O) working
men in all the states, against a reduction OF
the tariff
Morri ON, however, insisted that the petit
ton should come 10 the house in the regular
way, through the petition box.
Morrison from the committee on rules
reported a resolution roviding for con
gressional inquiry into the causes and ex-
tent of the present labor troubles in the
west / he resolution was adopted without
division. The resolution authorizes the
speaker to appoint an snvestigat-
ing committee of members to go
west, with power to send for per
sons and papers, and to set during
the sessions OF the house The committee Is
to report during the present session with
such recommI ndations rs it may deem
proper TO make
In reporting the resolution Morrison said
the arbiti alton bill which recently
passed the house was Inadequate in its
provisions, and the object Of the
resolution was TO enable congress to learn
the facts of the case, so it might improve
and perfect its legislation
Reagan said congress had no more power
TO regulate questions arising between
commont arriers and their hired laborers than
questions arising between common carriers
and-their butchers and grocers. These were
loal questions, and the question was
whether Democratic @bouse would deny
and repudiate local self-government or
whether it would assume that the states
were no longer able to execute their func-
tionS
Morgan of Mississippi thought relief for
the laboring men could not be found in
congress The men said; We will
arbitrate, and the railroad company
answered, I'VE will not arbitrate, because
we don't want you" When the services of
the men were declined that was an end of
the transa ton, and congress had no power
to pass ii law which would make contract
for the men.
Randall said the resolution related to in
ter state commerce which WAS now inter
ruptsd, and there was no harm in the
house obtaining full information ON the sub
ject
Hiscock was curious to see how many on
the Democratic side of the house would in
woke the con titution against the right of
petition; how many would 90 on record
against tie 100000 men who said they had
wrongs to be redressed, and who asked for
assistance from congress
Reed of Maine protested against the ever
lasting putting up of the Constitution
against every proposition which was pre-
scented in the house. Congress, he said, sat
for the hearing of grievances, and in this
case it was bound to give the investigation
asked for.
Curtin of Pennsylvania said the pur-
pose of the resolution was to investigate
the causes of the unrest of the people II
railroad companies had violated the rights
of the humblest man in the country he had
the right to a hearing before congress- Ii
IufTb WIS no power III the CONSTITUTION 10
redress such wrongs it was a broken staff
Springer regretted that Reagan should
have opposed the resolution on constitu-
tional grounds. The time of the house,
Springer thought, should not be frittered
away in discussing constitutional points
every time the rights of the workingmen
were involved. This endad the discussion.
A resolution was offered in the senate
l.onday and agreed to, appointing Gibson
a member of the committee on commerce, in
place of Senator Jones of Florida, during
the temporary absence of the latter from
the senate
Riddleberger moved to take up the reso
luton relating to the consideration of ex-
ecutiye nominations in open session
Dawes urged consideration of the Indian
appropriation bill lebate and voting re
suited in the taking up of the latter and il
was considered until ~, when an executive