The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-21
MEN WHO LIVE BY TOLL
MR.. O'NEILL POSING AS THEIR
CHAMPION IN THE HOUSE.

He Starts the Ball Rolling for the Day
by Introducing Bill to Restrict the
Sale of the Products of Convict
Labor to the State in Which They
Are Made.
WASHINGTON, March 20.--In the House
to-day Mr.. O'Neill introduced a bill to pro-
tect free labor and the industries in which it
is employed from the injurious effects of
convict labor by contiaing the sale of goods,
wares and merchandise manufactured by
convict labor to the State in which they are
produced A penalty of a fine and i'm
priSonment and forfeiture OF the goods is
imposed for any violation of the law. The
bill was referred
Mr.. ONeill, from the Committee on
Labor, reported a bill to establish a depart
ment of labor 1t was referred to commit
tee of the whole He also reported a bill to
prevent the product of convict labor from
being furnished to, or for use in, any de-
partment of the government. This was put
on the House calendar.
Mr.. Tarsney, of Michigan, from the Com
mlttee on Labor, reported a bill to prevent
the employment of convict and alien labor
on the public works. 1t was put on the
House calendar.
DAYS FOR LABOR BILLS.
In the morning hour to-day the House
resumed consideration of the resolution as
signing days for the transaction of business
reported by the Committee on Labor.
OBSTRUCTIVE MEASURES.
The opponents of the resolution, led by
Mr.. Rogers of Arkansas, proceeded to OBJ
structive methods TO prevent action. After
one roll call Mr. O'Neill stated that he was
willing TO amend the resolution by striking
out the clause limiting the time of the de
bate on each measure called up. He would
do this, he said, in order to remove the pre-
text under which the gentlemen were re-
sorting to filibustering tactics.
Mr.. Rogers said the gentlemen had no
right to lmpugn the motive of any gentle
man by charging that he was acting under
pretext The charge made by the gentle
man from Missouri was not true. So far
from acting under pretext he was acting
in good faith and endeavoring to do the
country a benefit
GROUND OF HIS OBSTRUCTION.
The reason he was Offering obstruction
to this bill was that the COMMITTEES on La
Dor, with four bills on the calendar, was
asking to have four days assigned to it,
when appropriation bills remained undis-
posed of and when the Committee on WAYS
and Means was maturing a bill affecting
the interests of honest labor hundred times
more than any conceivable proposition
over which the Committee on Labor had
jurisdiction.
Mr.. O'Neill mentioned seven important
bills upon the calendar under the report of
the Committee on Labor II will tell these
gentlemen" he said, that you Indicating
Mr.. Rogers have talked out this morning
hour, that you have accomplished your
purpose, and you have simply been a tool
that had been used for that purpose"
Mr.. Rogers demanded that the words be
taken down, which was done, and they
were read at the Clerks desk.
o'NEILL APPLAUDED.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, moved that the
gentleman from Missouri be allowed to pro-
ceed in order, and the motion being agreed
to, Mr.. O'Neill resumed the floor amid ap-
plause. He said that the duties of the mem
bers of the Committee ON Labor were very
arduous, and that the gentlemen of that
committee were placed in a very peculiar
position, being liable to be denounced as
demagogues, and as catering to working
men whenever they brought in bill in the
interest of labor. As chairman, of that
committee, he had been obliged to stand
here for four days in an effort to secure con-
sideration of number of important labor
bills and see time frittered away by men
who as leaders of the House, should be the
first to respond to the demands of the work
ingmen for the right to be heard Zap
plause,1
FOUR DAYS NAMED.
Mr.. Buchanan, of New Jersey, in behalf
of the Committee on Labor proposed an
elimination of the Objectionable clause, and
this having been agreed TO. Mr.. Rogers
withdrew his opposition, and the resolution
was adopted. 1t setsIaside March 20 and 81,
April Is, and May 10, for the purpose
stated
Mr.. O'Neill withdrew any remarks of a
personal and offensive character, being. he
said, willing to forgive everybody and any
body. In pursuance of the terms of the
resolution just adopted the floor was
accorded to the Committee on Labor,
and bills were passed for the
protection in their wages of
mechanics, laborers and servants in the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Territories, and
extending the provisions of the eight-hour
law to letter carriers. The bill referring to
the Court of Claims for adjustment the ac-
counts of laborers, workmen and mechanics
arising under the eight-hour law, was dis
cLSsed, without action, until the House ad-