The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-23
To Conflne Products of Convict Las
Dor to the State Producing.
It Is For the Purpose of Protecting
the Honest Workman
From the Cheap Competition of the
Criminal System.
The Bill to Create Department Of La
Dor, Which win Be In the Charge
OF a Commissioner, Passes
the Senate.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-[House. Tho
floor was accorded to the committee on
labor, and Mr.. 0'Neill, of Missouri, chair
man Of that committee, called up tho bill
TO confne the sale OF the products Of cons
Wet labor TO the State in which they are
produced
Mr.. 0'Neill endeavorcd to have an ar
rangcmcnt effected whereby debate on tho
bill should be limited TO two hours, but op-
position was made on the ground that tho
principle involved in the bill was too i'm.
portant to be established without full dis
cussion and consideration.
The majority and minority reports were
read at length, and an hour was thus con-
sumed.
Mr.. o'Nclll explained that the measure
originated In visit 10 this city OF manu-
iacturcrs from New York, Brooklyn, Jersey
City, Philadelphia and other cities, who
appeared before the committee and pic
tured the absolute ruin that stared them
in the face from the competition OF convict
labor. One industry after another was at
tackled by this convict labor system, and
In each case the industry was obliged 10
lower the rates Of wages or 90 out Of tho
business. Mon who were paying - and
3, 80 n day 10 their employees found them
selves face 10 face with competitors who
| paid only D cents per hour. The labor or
| carnations OF the country, through their
representatives, had urged upon the COM
mi,tcc the necessity for the passage Of tho
bill. The tariff question mnK into insig-
niflcanco when when IL was realized that
there was cancer at home eating tho
heart out OF every trade and industry.
Mr.. Plumb, Of Illinois, member OF tho
labor committee. opposed the bill on tho
ground that Il was unconstitutional and
inicricrcd with the interstate commerce.
lie said that the committee had not prop
crly investigated the subject bcfoo acting
upon the bill; Il had not ayailed itself Of
the opinions and experience Of experts. but
had based It's action upon petitions signed
by manufacturers who In many cases
sold IN this country tho products Of
Enplish prisons. lie held that prison
: labor was necessary 10 tho reformation Of
convicts, rs II prepared thom 10 rc-enier
society equipped With useful trades
Mr.. Rogers, Of Arkansas addressed him.
self 10 the constitutional principles in
volycd In the measure, and argued that
Congress had not the power 20 lay an
embargo and pass q law which provided
for nonintercoursc between the States Of
the union.
Mr.. Buttcrworih, Of Ohio. said that this
was not the iirst time when In the name
Of labor Justice was outraged upon this floor.
A pebble that was dropped into the ocean
disturbed every atom Of water in tho
ocean, and In the same way q disturbance
In the ranks Of labor anywhere disturbed
every portion Of society from the highest
a. the lowest, from the outer edges 10 tho
center. The highest interest OF the House
was 10 promote the well.being OF all, and
and the man who intimalcd that anyone
ON this floor was uniricndly 20 labor was q
Ounce, q knaye OF an unabridged ass Tho
main hackers OF this bill were not the la
boring men. This was the hrsl time no
had ever known monopoly 20 join hands
with labor In order ~ make the criminals
Of the country gentlemen of elegant leisure.
Some gentlemen seemed 30 feel sympathy
for the criminals. lie felt little anxious
about the men who bore the burlcn oi
caring for and supporting those criminals.
| Mr. O'Ncill inquired what labor the gem
tleman sought TO support In his tariff
speech.
Mr. Buiicrworh replied that he was try
ing 10 protect American labor against for
cign labor. lie was not attempting % tax
labor at home IN oricr To support labor ON
| thooihcr side IN idlcncss
Mr.. O'Ncill inquired which.thc gentle
man preferred 10 umain Tile. tlc honest
| workinunan or the fcloni
| Mr.. Butiorworih remarked that the gen.
iloman spoke with all the confidence u
knowledge aud all the assurance Of igno-
rance. Tho trouble with the gentleman
was that be- assumed his facts.
| Mr.. ONcill asserted that he assumed what
/ he know, and that wis that the working
men were demanding this bill.
Mr.. liullcrwOnh declared that there waa
no evidence that any industry had been
stricken down by reason Of competition
with convict labor There was not a wcll-
ordered business and establishment that
could not compete with prison labor.
Mr.. Brumm, Of Pennsylvania, said tho
gentleman was entirely mistaken.
Mr. Butierwonh denied that he was
mistaken. The create: punishment that
could be inflicted upon honest men waa 20
tax them 10 support the criminals Who had
robbed them.
M. Wilson, Of Minnesota, argued against
the bin ON constitutional grounds.
Mr.. Adams Of Illinois, also opposed tho
| lin rs being unconstitutional and a. being
contrary 10 the public interest. lie read
a letter written 10 Mr.. Morrow, Of Caliior-
MIA, by the Governor OF the State, stating
that large numbers u juic bags were mads
by convict labor which did not compete In
tie slightest with FREQ labor, and that the
passage Of the bill would work a great
hardship. Mr.. Adams also called atien-
ton TO the fact that the conyic,s In tho
Missouri pcntcntiary were large producers
Of saddlc.lrccs, most Of which were sold ~
Mexico. The passage Of this bill would
prohibit that expectation.
Mr.. Cannon, VI Illinois, was unwilling
that tho ldll should be- passed unless thtro
was a provision Incorporated In u pro-
limiting tho Importation Of ioroign goods
manufactured in whole or In part BY oon-
Wet labor.
Mr.. Cultivate, Of Ohio, was opposed 20
Congress interfering with the domestic
affairs Of the States. when thcee states
were engaged In trying tpsolte The problem
as 10 how they should deal with Their con-
yicts.
Mr.. Builcrworth, Of Ohio, urgcd Mr..
o'Ncln to postpone the consideration Of the