St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-13
THE SOUTHERN STRIKERS.
appointment of a Committee to In
Quire Into the Cnuse Thereof.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-In the house
to-day Mr.. Morrison of Illinois, reported a
bill TO reduce tariff taxes and to modify the
law regarding the collection of the revenue,
which was referred to the committee of the
whole. He also reported 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 conditions now existing in
the relations between railroad corporations
engaged in interstate commerce and their
employees in the states of Illinois, Missouri,
Kansas, Arkansas and Texas.
The resolution, which was adopted
caused some discussion, Mr.. Reagan of
Texas, cOntending that congress had no
power to regulate questions arising between
common carriers and their employees. while
Mr.. Morgan of Mississippi, held that it was
time that the house should dispel the illu-
sion existent in the minds OF wOrkmen that
relief lay in the body Of the house.
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 resolu-
ton had reference TO interstate commerce
harm in the house possessing itself of full
information on the subject.
Mr.. Hiscock 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 petition. How
many would go on record against the 700,-
600 men who said they had wrongs to be
redressed. and who 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 investi-
CATION asked for. to learn what the facts
are and then act upon them. if it turned
out that the facts were such that they could
be acted upon. He protested against the
everlasting putting up of the constitution
against every proposition that was pre-
sented to the house. The effect of this
would be to make a mOckery of the consti-
tuition and to give point to the jest that the
constitution, i'm the mind Of a strict con-
structionist. was in favor of every bill he
wanted and against every bill he opposed.
Mr.. Warner emphasized the gravity of
the occasion, and maintained that no other
power than congress was adequate to deal
with the subject. and contended that the
proposed investigation came within the pro-
visions of the constitution.
Mr.. Curtin of PENNSYLVANIA said that
the purpose of the resolution was to inves-
tlgate the causes Of the unrest of the peo-
pie. If corporations had violated the rights
OF the humbleSt man In the country he had
the right to redress, and had a right to a
hearing before this august assembly. If
the man was wronged let congress under
stand il, and lay the iron hand of the gov
Elf1n NaV1fr
Ii there was not power in the constitution
TO redress those wrongs it was broken
staff.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois regretted that the
gentleman from Texas Mr.. Reagan) should
have placed his opposition to the resolution
on constitutional grounds. That gentleman
should have been the last man to oppose a
proposition which had in view the securing
OF valuable information touching inter-
state commerce. The time of the house
should not be frittered away in discussing
constitutional points every time the rights
or the workingmen were involved Under
the call of states, the following bills were
introduced and referred:
On the call Of states a number of bills
were introduced, the most important of
which was that by Mr. Brady of Virginia,
authorizing the president to appoint a
board of commissioners to investigate to
what extent the United States may be le-
gally or equitably liable for the debt due by
the state of Virginia because of the parti-
ton of the state without its consent, during
the late war; the extent of the equitable
liability of the United States to the bond
holders of other states OF the union and
foreign bOndholders OIL account of the ac-
ton of the state authorities of Virginia in
multiplying the decisions of the supreme
court of the United States as to the debt of
Virginia.
The District Of Columbia bill was then
passed and the house adjourned.