The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-02
The KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON LEGISLATION.
The Petition OF the Hamilton Meet
ing to Be Presented TO Con-
gress-DOcumen ~.

tACepL III C-TIalu grievances WueTo
action is necessary, a strike or boycott
will not be allowed without their ap-
proval.
An address to the Women's Chris
tian Union was adopted, after which
the COMMITTEES on Legislation pre-
senied the following report, which was
adopted:
''Iu place OF document No, II, enti-
tied AN act fixing the measure of
value and further regulating the value
Of money, your committee calls stten-
ton to the petition passed at thu an
nual session held at Hamilton in o.
tobet last, embracing the came sub
! ject, which petition is known az docu-
ment No. II, and is printed on pages
ilS and 119 Of the record of proceed
iDls OF that session. and We urge that
sid petition be presented to Congress
az there recommended, and that it al }
be given to the press for publication, as
We dsem This Couue nece; sary before
further leg alton by the General AS
sembly on the subject
Document No. n, referred 10 by the
committee, is as follows, and was in
trolucsd by Representative A. H, Low
of Pennsylvania:
"ReSOlUed, That the following petition
be presented to Congress:
"Tne petition of the members OF
the Order of Knights of Labor of
America, through their leprsseD r.
tive in General Assembly, met at the
cess On he'd at Hamilton, Oat., COM
men csd October 5, 1885, and atte1ted
by their proper officers, respectfully
repTCs 3nt: That YOUR pc itoners are
citizens of the United States and
members o! the laboring classes Ct
society; that while human labor pr).
duCes all wealtb, II oJe who have per-
formed no honest labor have amassed
the most of the wealth, and those who
have performed the lab hav5 least
to enjoy; that we fesl this state of
things TO be largely due to both vicious
legislation and want of proper legis'a
ton by Congress; that the money of
the United States is of uncerla n
value, differing widely in different
pats of the country at all times,
and in every part at various
times; where as, being The mess.
ure OF commercial value, it
should be fixed aud unvariable in
value. For example, at this time in
one part OF the country money is
worth only per cent. interest per an
mum, in another IL per cent. aud in
enpther 20 per cent, and ranges from
2 10 20 per cent. throughout the coun-
try; that the uncertainty in the value
OF money causes distrust aad uEcsr-
tainty in commercial transactions, in
somuch that capital is timid and labor
unemployed, and peric dical panics &C.
cur in all business, in consequence of
which the industrial CLASSES are fnan-
cially ruined end the laborers
thrown out of employment and indie
scribable want and suffering brought
upon the masses of the people, and
unjust gains ara acquired by. those
who manipulate the money; that the
supply of large portion of the money
OF the country is in the control of pri-
vate corporations, called national
banks, creatures of Congress, with
whom private gain is the only motive
for supply ng money to the people ;
that it is through the msnipulations OF
raid corporations and other money
lenders that The people luffeg
many of the misfoitunts and
grievances hereinbefore mentioned
and many others net mentioned.
That the right to issue or coin mouey
is high sover ign prerogstive when
ought no, to be exercised by any but
the highest power in a nation, and
we view with alarm the exercise OF
such prerogstive by private persons OF
corporations, and as a rems dy for tee
evils OF which we complain and fox
IedIes OF the grievances we suffer as
herein set forth, we pray that your
honorable body fulfill the duties inn
posed on you by the constitution in
Ste. s of Article l, which Divides
that Congress shall have power 1T
coin money aid requisite the value
thereof ana OF foreign C ia and fix the
standard of weights and measures
that You fix the measure OF value BY
establishing just uniform and un
vsr able rate of interest for money
lonned; that in order to maintain SUI 81
rate OF interest as the normal Ia;
you repeal all laws authorizing
private persons or corporations tC
issue money and in the stead estab.
fish public loan offices throughout th(
country wherever needed, at least on
in every county, with proper officers
to perform the duties of said offices
that the national government lenC
money to the people at said offices OF
gond aud Sufficient security aud a
said fixed rate of interest on demand
and t. at the profits arising from the
business Of lending said money b.
covered into the public treasury foi
/ public uses, and tina, said loan Office
be also made repositories for the sav
: ing5 o. the people, and your psti ion
els will ever pray.
Resolved, That the General Masie
Workman shall certify duplicate copie
: of the foregoing petition to Congress
, and that he is requested to select tn
most suitable member of CONGRESS
: and United States Senator available
aud request that they present the SAT-
. petition to their rep sciive blauches o
Congress.
Representative Low, of Pennsylva
nis, then introduced bill fSr recon-
mendstiou to Congress, ent tied Gal
act fixing the measure of value, AM
, further regulating the value O
money" The bill provided for tb.
corrections Of the abuses seS forth II
, document No. II, aud provided 70
+ the losniug of money by the govern
ment at three per cent. per annuRo
, The bill contained sixteen long sec
lions.
After the adoption of the above re
port, the Committee on the Safe o
the Order read its report, and TIA
General Assembly took a recess 70
dinner.
The entire afternoon was taken VI
in discussing the report OF the Com
mittee on the State of the Order, T.
whom were referred the troubles Will
the trades unions The report anC
discussion were not given to toe press
but 1t was learned that action ha'
been taken in the matter.
The Iron aud steel Workers.
PITIsBURG, PA, June 1.-The an