The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-02
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-
Riddleberger Tries to Have the British
Treaty Considered in Open Session.
The Reading Strike Comes Up in the House,
and After Spirited Debate the Appoint
ment of a Committee Is Decided Upon.

wAsHISGroN Feb 1-Mr. Coke presented a
memorial signed by mercantile men OF III Paso,
Tex, representing the extensive amount OF
snugpiine done between the border towns of
Mexico and those of the United States under
the Mexican free zone law, and asking that a
reciprocity treaty be entered into with Mexico
In order to prevent such smuggling
Mr.. Morgan remarked that if Congress would
pass a law to carry into effect the provisions of
the treaty with Mexico, which was ratified two
or three wears ago. the purpose OF the memorial
would be substantially accomplished
Mr. Coke concurred in this opinion, and added
that nothing could help the commerce of this
country with Mexico more than the execution
and enforcement of that treaty. The memorial
was referred to the committee foreign rela-
tions.
Mr. Frye. from the committee on foreign rela-
tions, reported back adversely, the bill to facil-
isate the settlement and develop the resources
of Alaska and to open an overland route be-
tween the United States, Asiatic Russia and
Japan Indefinitely postponed.
Among other bills reported from committees
and placed on the calendar the following:
For inspection OF meat for expectation;
prohibiting the Importation OF adulterated arti-
cles of food or drink; authorizing proclamations
by the President in certain cases, and increasing
pensions OF soldiers and sailors who have lost
both hands.
among the OlllS introduced ana referred were
the following:
BY Mr.. Cameron: To place on the pension roll
all officers and enlisted men who have served in
the army of the navy between the 4th of March,
1861, and the 1st of February, 1866, at the rate
of l cent per month for each days service-this
to be q service pension bill" and IAN addition
70 invalid pensions Tor disability"
Mr.. Frye asked unanimous consent to call up
his resolution, offered on Monday calling for
statement as to the resources of the Dominion
of Canada, but objection was made by Mr. hid
dleberger.
The Senate then took MP the resolution offered
yesterday by Mr.. Call, lnstructing the judiciary
committee to report legislation necessary to
prevent United States courts managing railroads
through receivers from depriving creditors of
their liens through receivers certificates, and
was addressed by Mr. Call He declared 1t to be
q disgraceful state of the law and a dsgraceful
execution of it by the Interior Departments,
which permitted citizens Of the United States
TO be deprived of their homes on the public
lands on false pretenses. No action was taken
on the resolution.
Mir. Riddlebereer made unsuccessful effort
to get action on his resolution to change the
rule so as to have the pending treaty with Great
Britain considered in open session. He incl
dentally remarked, concerning the Blair educa-
tional bill, that II it were taken up now the Sem
ate would be entertained with the views Of
"school- marms," and he was as much opposed to
letting "school marms" instruct the Senate
about that bill rs be was to letting British
commissioner instruct it about the treaty
The Blair educational bill was then taken mp,
aud Mr. Pueh spoke in its favor. at the con-
CluSlOu OF DIS ADDRESS Inc S0nhLo went l0LO e4-
pcutive session and soon adjourned.
The Reading Strike To Be Investigated.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1-Mr. Burnes, of Mis-
souri,, from the committee on appropriations re-
ported the urgent deficiency bill, and it was re-
ferred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Ryan, of Kansas, from the committee ON
appropriations, reported resolution calling on
the Attorney-eeneral for the of all as
-
being paid out of the appropriation of 100000
made in the last sundry civil appropriation bill.
Adopted
MIR. Glass. of Tennessee, from the committee
on agriculture. reported bill to promote agri-
culture. Committee of the whole.
The morning hour having expired, the House
proceeded. in accordance with previous order, to
consideration of the report of the committee on
commerce relative to the proposed investig alton
of the Reading strike.
Mr.. Clardy. of Missouri. chairman OF the COM
mittee OF commerce, said that after careful
examination OF the matter the majority OF the
committee had been satisfied that the original
resolution offered by Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas,
for q Congressional inquiry, ought not to be
adopted. He briefly sketched the origin of the
railroad strike and the subsequent strike by the
employees of the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal and Iron Company, whose stock,
he said, was held mainly by the
stockholders of the Reading Company.
There had been no testimony before the com
mittee showing that interstate traffic had been
interfered with on the Reading road a week or
an hour, with the exception of brief Interrupt
ton at Port Richmond, on account of the refusal
of the men TO obey the lawful orders of the su-
perrin On the contrary, he thought it
appeared affirmatively that there had been no
sort of interference with interruption of inter-
state commerce. 1t had been stated that the
Reading company. in making allotments of
to mining companies, Disseminated in favor of
some companies and against others. This was
matter which entirely within the jurisdic-
ton of the Interstate-commerce Commission.
Any person who was aggrieved could secure
audience by knocking at the door of that COM
mission. It also stated that the Reading
company ard the PHILADELPHIA Coal and Iron
Company were practically one and the same,
and this was in violation of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania IT this were true, the remedy
was to be found in the State courts of Pennsyl
vania.
Mr. Ray nor. of Maryland. did not believe in
halfway measures this subject. When
monopolies combined TO drive the ranks of labor
to the starvation point, he believed that labor
tiee. to combine and strike for living wages. He
said this not in the spirit of demagogism, for he
had neither the arts nor the aspirations of a
demagogue, but because he believed it to be the
living truth. Applause. He the mortal
foe of violence in all its forms, but he the
friend of labor, and its sovereign power should
10 oAoEClSeu III every peaceIul way 10 assert auO
viudicate its rights The Reading ROAD
had broken aud violated a solemn COM
pact it had made with. its en-
ployes; and now it commanded them to |
surrender, under threat OF proclaiming to the |
American peopls that this great tributary of
commerce should be closed and that not ton of |
traffic should be freighted over its road Should
this be donel He. for one said never Con-
gress had the power-beyoud that which be-
longed to the Interstate Commission |
to bring this great monopoly to bay The |
Reading company had incorporated a legal fic- |
tion. known as the Philadelphia g. Reading Coal |
and Iron Company. officered by the same Off
GERS, controlled by the same agents as the Read.
ING Railroad Company, and under the mask of |
this legal fiction the railroad company was now
violating the constitutional provision of the |
State that chartered and created it.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, inquiring why, il the
railroad company was chartered under the laws |
OF Pennsylvania and had deyiated from the |
business authorized by it's charter. proceedings |