The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-01

action on the Anderson resolution referring
the question OF investigating the Reading
railroad strikes TO the interstate commerce
commission, mt a meeting this morning
and adopted n resolution by vote Of Z to
6 requesting the interstate commerce COM
mission TO investigate those strikes. The
resolution TO be reported was drawn by
Mr. Davis, and differs from that originally
introduced by Mr. Anderson by request
ing an investigation at the hands OF the
interstate commerce commission instead of
leaving the question with the commission
without any recommendation.
The report of the minority Of the COM
mittce which was today presented TO the
House by Mr.. Rayner is signed by him
sell, and Alessrs. Anderson OF Kansas,
Tarsney Of Michigan, Anderson of Iowa,
and l.agan OF Louisiana. Estates that the
effect OF the majority report will be to lay
the original resolution ON the table.
Congress has a right TO investigate this
| subject, because the Reading Railroad
company is common carrier transporting
commerce between the States. Conceding
the right OF the interstate commerce COM
mission to make an investigation, that fact
does not deprive Congress OF its jurisdic-
ton in the premises, and the evils COM
| planned OF will have reached their culmi-
nation before the interstate commerce
commission can take definite action in the
matter. The railroad company, the re-
port says, has formed an ostensibly indie
| pendent company TO carry on its mining
operations, but that company is substan-
italy the railroad company, controlled by
its directors and managed by its officers
and agents. The vital questions underly-
ing this controversy are whether the rail-
road company is shielding itself under the
charter OF the coal and iron company to
! produce a coal famine and raise the price
Of coal, aud is there a combination or con-
| spiracy between the two companies, actu-
ally one and the same, TO enable the rail-
road company, indirectly, to escape its
duties as n common carrier, and is the
railroad company, in pursuance OF sys-
! TEN OF allotment made by the anthracite
board OF trade, discriminating against in
! diyidual operators in the mining regions.
Congress has power TO expose the con-
| spiracy, If there be one. The fact that
labor has been struck down and that ruin
and distress pcryades the Lchigh and
| Schuylkill regions is only one incident of
| this trouble.
The report concludes as follows: eve
believe that the contract made between
/ the railroad company and its employees is
misleading, and we believe that the miners
were deceived rs 10 the proper construc-
ton to he placed upon this agreement AT
the time they entered into IT, We make
this statement upon the contract itself,
which has been given to the public by the
president OF the road, and which is equiv
Deal and suspicious upon its face. II the
road has a right TO say that the contract is
at an end because new organization is in
charge OF its affairs, then the miners have
a right 10 say that their contract has also
terminated, and the road has no right TO
insist that the miners must continue TO
work under the old contract. Whatever
is TO be done must be done speedily. The
interstate commerce commission is not in
the habit OF taking up matters Of this sort
mere motu, and a mere request amounts
TO nothing The adoption OF the majority
4 report would he justification of the posi-
ton assumed by the railroad company,
and the interests OF all concerned would
be best served by prompt action and de-
cisive measures, II the Investigation justi-
| nCs the same ~