The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-23
! PRICE $40 A YEAR,
! bCENTS A COPY.
LEGISLATION FOR LABOR.
BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS CON-
SIDER THE SUBJECT.

inc Bill to Keep Convict-mado Goods
From Competing With the Product
OF Honest Toll Favorably Treated by
the House-The Senate Votes to
Establish Department of Labor.
WASHINGTON, May 22.-In the House
today the floor was accorded to the Conn
mittee on Labor and Mr.. O'Neill, of
Missouri, chairman of that COMMITTEES,
called up the bill to conflne the sale of the
products of convict labor to the State in
which they are produced. Mr.. O'Neill
endeavored to have an arrangement effected
whereby the debate on the bill should be
limited to two hours, but opposition was
made on the ground that the principle in
volved in the bill was too important tc be-
established without full discussion and
consideration.
The aioIity and minority reports were
read at length, and an hour was thus con-
sumed Mr.. O'Neill explained that the
measure originated in visit to this city of
manufacturers from Now York, Brooklyn,
Jersey City, Philadelphia and other cities,
who appeared before the committee and
pictured the absolute ruin that stared them
in the face from the competition of convict
labor The labor organizations of the
country, through their representatives. had
urged upon the committee the necessity for
the passage Of the bill.
IT'S CoNsTITuTIoNALITY ATTACKED.
Mr Plumb, Of Illinois, member of the
Labor Committee, opposed the bill on the
ground that it was unconstitutional and in
terfered with interstate commerce.
Mr. Raynor, of Maryland, contended
that the bill was constitutional under the
provision giving Congress a right to regu-
late commerce between States.
Mr. ButterWOrth ODnOSed tha hill both
as bong beyond the constitutional powers
of Congress and as inadvisable. He de-
clared that there was no evidence that any
industry had been stricken down by reason
of competition with convict labor. There
was not a well-ordered business establish
ment that could not compete with prison
labor.
oUTHwAITE's ATTITUDE.
Mr. Cultivate of Ohio opposed the bill
because it interferes with the rights of
States and Mr.. Cannon of Illinois was
unwilling that it should pass unless the
importation Of foreign goods wholly or in
part manufactured by convicts, was also
prohibited.
Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts supported
the bill as being both constitutional and
wise.
Mr. Cannon offered an amendment pro-
hibting tho importation for commercial
purposes of all goods, wares or merchandise
from any foreign country to the United
States, which, in whole or in part, were
manufactured or produced by convict labor,
and prescribing penalties for violation Of
this prohibition. The amendment was
adopted.
Tue previous question was then ordered
by vote Of 1856 yeas to A nays on the en-
grossment and third reading of the bill,
and then the House adjourned.
LABOR IN THE SENATE.
After some routine proceedings of minor
interest, the Senate at 40 O'Clock this after
noon proceeded to the consideration of ex-
ecutive business. The doors were re-opened
at o'clock when the Senate proceeded to
consideration of the unfinished business be-
ing the House bill TO establish u department
of labor, and Mr.. Reagan addressed the
Senate in opposition 30 the bill. He said,
it was a mere tub thrown TO the laboring
whale. The laboring classes had many
grounds of complaint; but he had never
heard that they demanded a mere change
in the manner of collecting information
about labor as being sufficient to satisfy
their complaints. Their complaint was that
the government had, for many years past,
ever since the Republican party got con.
troll of it been run In the interest lin short)
of special favored classes to tho injury and
oppression of those engaged In agriculture,
the mechanical arts, labor and professional
occupations.
Mr. Reagan moved, as a substitute, the
bill creating department of industry. On
a vote by yeas and nays on the substitute,
there were ayes and q nays, less than
quorum, and then Mr.. Reagan withdrew
the substitute. After few amendments of
phraseology, the bill passed, and n confer
ence committee was ordered, and Senators
Blair, Wilson, Of Iowa, and George, were
appointed conferees.
The bill provides for Department of
Labor, the general design and duties of
which shall be TO acquire and ditfuse among
the people Of the United States useful in
formation ON subjects connected with labor
in the most general and comprehensive
sense Of that word, and especially upon
its relation to capital, hours of
labor, earnings of laboring men and
women, and the means Of promoting their
material. social, intellectual and moral
prosperity. The personnel is TO consist OF
commissioner, TO be appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate, who is 10 hold Office for
four years, and receive salary of IS, 900;
a chief clerk, stenographer, various minor
clerks, copylsts and messengers.