The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-22

trusts. and stop taking 500 600 900 year from
the people to be piled up in the Treasury
Mr.. Taulbee opposed the bill.
Mr.. Lane. of Illinois, denounced the bill as
being not in the interest of labor. but In the in
terest of Office seekers
measure, did Messrs. Compton, Dingi9y.
Cummings, Boothmau and Buchanan, the latter
asserting that the bill would not involve an ex-
penoiture of more than So 0O0, 0OO
Mr.. Tarsney, of Michigan. earnestly support.
ed the bill, and declared that to him il was q
resolting proposition that men sent here to make
laws should themselves publish the country
that they. as representatives. violated 9hs very
laws they told their constituents obey. He
stated that the COMMITTEES labor had given
carefuI nearing TO mechanics and saboreFs who
asked that which should never be denied in any
civilized Countrywide right 90 into the courts
of the country. and have their rights and their
duties defined and plared on record. Mr.. Tars
ney then moved that the committee rise, stating
that his intention TO let the bill 20
until April l6, in order that the gentlemen who
were shooting at bird that they did not see, and
that not there, might have opportunity
to examine the record, and oecome better in
formed as to the merits of the case than their
speeches to-day indicated them to be.
The committee then rose, and the bill went
over.
Bills were passed TO prevent the product of
convict labor from being furnished TO or for the
of any department. of the government. and
from being used in public buildings or other
public works. and to prevent the employment of
alien labor public buildings and other public
works and in the various departments OF the
government.
Tho House then went into committee Of
wbole-Mr. Hatch, of Missouri. in the chair-on
the bill 10 establish department of labor
An amendment adopted striking out the
provision for an assistant ommissioner OF la
Dor.
Mr.. Buchanan. of New Jersey. moved, to
strike out the clause charging the commission to
ascertain, whenever industrial changes shall
make 1t essential, the cost OF producing articles
at the time dutiable in the United States. In
leading countries where such articles are pro-
duced, by fully specified units of production
and under classification showing the different
elements of cost. or approximate cost, of such
articles OF production.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas. vigorously opposed the
motion.
Mr.. Reed of Maine expressed wonder
whether the chairman of the committee
ways and means, if he got the Information,
would allow 1t to be read to the com mittee.
Mr.. Randall offered amendment extend
the inquiry to the amount of wages paid In vari-
Gus industries, accompanying his amendment
with the remark that I'VE all stand the ques-
ton of labor" The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Mills offered amendment to insert the
words per diem, weekly and otherwise, after
the word wages" in Mr.. Randalls amendment.
He said he wanted to know the difference be-
tween the productive efficiency of wages In Eu-
rope and this country; whether If a man In this
col ntry did five times as much work and got
twice as much pay, he was not the cheaper
worker of the two.
Mr.. Randall am not going to philosophize
as to that
The amendment was adopted
On motion of MIR. Mckinley, of Ohio an
amendment was adopted adding to Mr. Randalps
amendment the words land the hours employed
per day"
The following amendments. extending the
scope Of the inquiry. were adopted: By Mr..
Buchanan, Whether any convict made goods are
imported into this country. and whence; by Mr..
Bland, The profits of the manufacturer and pro-
Queer of dutiable articles; by Mr.. Washington,
of Tennessee, the comparative cost of living in
this country and Europe; by MIR. Milhken, And
the kind of living
Mr.. Browne, os Indiana, offered an amend
ment extending the inquiry to the effect of the
protective tariff in the United States the
aericul tural industry, and, especially. as it's
effect the mortgage Indebtedness of farmers.
Mr.. Mills offered amendment extending the
inquiry to an ascertainment of whether articles
controlled by trusts and what effect
those trusts had IN limiting supply and keeping
up prices.
Mr.. Randall offered an amendment extending
the inquiry as TO the effect of the state of the
currency upon the agricultural interests. No
one could condemn more than he did the sys-
tenn of combines and trusts. He was inclined
to think that the currency had more to do than
the tariff In the condition of affairs touching
agriculture. That, and the natural law of de-
mand and supply, had reduced the value of corn
and wheat and dairy products to alarming
extent. and Congress ought, therefore. in this
investigation, to seek to learn whether this con-
dition came from the present tariff laws
whether 1t came from the state of the currency.
Mr.. Weaver am glad to have that state
ment made here.
the Commissioners Of Labor investigate the
Mills tariff bill and 90 report what effect it
would have the labor and industry of the
United States and on foreign industry, and
the profits of foreign manufacturers and the
markets of the American farmer.
Mr. BuchanAn's motion to strike out was re-
jected, ana pending action upon the amendment
the committee rose and the House adjourned.