The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-02
1ABOR'S POLITICAL PULL.
CONGRESS TO INvBSTIG ATE THE
READING STRIKE.

Majority of the Committee on Com
merce Opposed to the 1nquiry-Mr.
Ravner Makes a Strong Speech in
Favor of Congressional Action-Mr.
ravis Smells Rat.
WASHINGTON, Feb. In the House to-
dsv the morning hour having expired, the
House proceeded, in accordance with the
rrovious order, to consideration Of the re
ior. If the Committee on Commerce rea-
tive to the proposed investigation of the
pesding strike Mr.. Clardy, chairman Of
,be Committee on Commerce, said that
after a careful examination of the matter a
majority of the committee had been
satisfied that the original resolution, offered
bv Mr. Anderson, of Kansas, for
q Congressional inquiry ought not to be
,dopted. He briefly sketched the origin of
tho railroad strike and the subsequent strike
bv the employees of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, whose
stock he said, was held mainly by stock
holders of the Reading company. There
had been no testimony before the commit
Tee showing that interstate traffic had been
interfered with on the Reading road a week
Interruption at Port Richmond on account
Of the refusal of the men to obey the lawful
orders of the Superintendent.
NO INTERFERENCE.
On the contrary, he thought that it ap-
reared afirmatively that there had been no
sort Of Interference with, or interruption
Of interstate commerce. 1t had been
stated that the Reading Company, in max
inc allottments of cars to mining com
- -, v-rNf
panies and against others. This was
matter which was entirely within the juris-
diction of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Any person who was aggrieved
could secure an audience by knocking at
the door of that commission. 1t was also
stated that the Reading Company and Phil
sdephia Coal and Iron Company were
practically one and the same, in violation
# The constitution of Pennsylvania. If
tbs were true, the remedy was to be found
in the State courts of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Rayner, of Maryland. did not believe
IN half-w measures on this subject. When
uonopolies combined to drive the ranks of
abor to the starvation point, that labor had
an equal right, by every natural law of JUS
tee, 70 combine and strike for living wages.
NOT A DEMAGoGUE.
He said this not in spirit of demagogue-
izn, for he had neither the arts nor the as
plieved it to be the living truth. Zap
pause He was a mortal foe of violence
all its forms, but lie was
irend Of labor and of its sovereign
power, by every peaceful means to
sSert and vindicate its rights. The Read
n road had broken and violated solemn
enpact it had made with its employees, and
rOr it commanded them to surrender under
streat of proclaiming TO the American
pe0le that this great tributary of commerce
s1oIld be closed and that not a ton of
taflc should be freighted over its road.
Shqlld this be done' He, for one said
rsvH'. Congress had power beyond that
whIch belonged to the Interstate Commerce
Commission to bring this great monopoly
Toby.
NO USE IN REFERRING IT.
NJ Rayner said that this reference to the
Interstate Commerce Commission amounts
oDothing. You might as well refer it to the
Ch1ese Embassy or to the Public Printer
you will get it back Just as soon. Loud
saghter and applausel What is the use of
ZocEng at the door of the Interstate Com
nerce Commission2 It never takes up a
case mere motu You do not direct it
10 do anything; you merely request it.
h7the time it investigates the question all
VIII have starved to death. Let us track
tle subject to its foundation; and let us
discover as ! believe we Will that this is a
conspiracy of capital, and not of labor, and
et us apply the most heroic remedies IegiS-
Iatoa can devise to break up these Internal
Nstems which, under the name of trusts
are shadowing the prosperous homes and
business centres of the country. ] know
IS hard fight. ! know that monopoly,
unsc-upulous as TO the methods it employs,
is an enemy terrible to encounter. But in
my humble experience | have never yet
Seen day in the halls Of legislation when
nGhor, which has no price, our manhood,
which knows no fear, could not drive it like
akuiklng coward from the field of battle
Applause
PARLIAMENTARY METHODS.
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, commented
90 lhe fact that the petition of 81, 900 miners
was presented on the same day that the re-
l'rt of the Committee on Commerce was
lrSentfd While he did not charge that it
Hau @ Deen suggested by any member, it was
.rdSonable Inference that it had been pro-
u1ch rather by parliamentary than by bust
.t1s methods. He advocated the report of the
cralorlty of the committee, believing that
.Vnsress was too political body properly
investigate purely business matter, and
",du'e ne did not believe that an investi-
2auoh by Congressional committee would
g, productive of any good results. To
t sIhen TINS assertion, he instanced what
as ~ termed the failure of the Missouri Pa
.!nc Railway Investigating Committee to
yiiuce any good results or reach any con-
rlr burnes, Of Missouri, reminded the
sGa-sili sGfta.Ieiian that within twenty-four hours
IoI 'ne arrival Of that committee in st.
e't' peace had been restored aud com
s,d mad been resumed. [Applause J
Ia. at ne further reminded the gentleman
r.a 'ae lne committee bad recommended that
p,Jy railroad employe should be placed
6, 6r,'sI control Of the government, just as
sa,e uployes of steamboats, carrying inter
'9 commerce were placed.
OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN.
IN. .lI. Ciardy said that as it appeared TO be
oro.. r.eNIe OF the House 10 investigate the
~ ,'sts.'h ne would withdraw any opposition
vdeI original Anderson resolution, pro-
~, 10 was amended so as to create a
sn.,,eI committee. Some discussion then
tlor tl't a. 10 the proper form of the resolu-
saJ an tue course of which Mr. Randall
rsir,eeiIat mat the controversy between the
bpt - o,1 company and its employees was
ma. ,Is ls branch Of the investigation. The
oon,-dIl IN poit"nt branch was that relating to
rtDyeIsies existing between the coal
,b1,,g,I llons and miners. In his Judgment
tbst 49, .TS n. case was vastly stronger than was
'bsr,,l me employees Of the railroad. and he
.ng ,t,4 suggested an amendment extend
erces ir .itYe,tigation into the existing differ
gio1s b.til tlis Lehigh and Schuylliill coal re-