Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-03
OF CONVICT LABOR.
Proposed Restrictive Liquidation.
RKPoRr OF THE House LABOR COMMITTEE on A
PENDING BILL

Mr.. ONefll, the chairman OF the House labor
committee, has reported a bill to the House pro-
posing TO bring the conv1ct-labor question under
lnterstate-commerce regulations. Heretofore they
have been unable to find any means by which the
Government could interfere with the trade In COM
modities produced IN state penitentiaries by con-
victs. The committee has been investigating the
matter, and has come TO the conclusion that Con-
gresS has the right TO prohibit the sale OF these
commodities outside OF the state wherein they
were produced. Judge Christy made an argument
before the committee some days ago, sustaining
the cOnstitutOnality OF such an act.
In his report upon the bill Mr.. O'Neill SAYS that
large number OF citizens OF the United States
engaged In certain productive Industries injuri-
ously affected, as they claim, by the present sys-
tens OF employment OF convict labor prevailing in
many or the states appeared before the commit
Tee Including the accredited representatives OF the
labor organizations OF the United States, ON be-
hai OF the bill Statements were made, docu-
Inenrs produced and ar uments submitted by
them They were permitted to be heard by coun-
yolved. Petitions numerously signed by leading
manufacturers OF the country, have been prt-
sented 10 congress and referred TO the committee
III Is not the purpose OF the promoters OF the bill
he says 10 encrOach upon the right or any state 20
employ Its conyicts In any manner that TO IL may
seem best nor even to seek TO correct the evils re-
sulting from such employment so far as the
states own citizens are concerned, but TO prevent
such evils from extending TO and involving the cit
liens OF other states.
The report continues:
yet we do not believe that IL was the intent OF
the Trainers OF the Federal Constitution nor OF
the states ratifying it, that any OF the states
should become great manufacturing corporations
ggan,G srpsss 50 70 speaL carving on produc
OF It's citizens. IL viii be observed that the
House at the present session has declared that the
NATIONAL Government shall not give either counte-
nance or aid TO convict labor by prohibiting its
employment on public buildings and the pur-
chase OF conyict-made goods for the use OF any OF
the Departments OF the General Government The
pending bill Is In the same Judicious line Of egts-
lation- The right OF Congress TO prohibit the In.
tract or agreement 10 perform labor into the
United states has not been questioned. Congress
has not nesitated To protect domestic industries,
and free labor employed therein by Ievying heavy
customs duties upon the products OF the
cheap labor OF Europe when Imported into
this country-a feature Of the tartr
that eommends itself to all Congress
dfsregarded state lines when It passed the
stock affected with any conIag1ou disease from
one state 10 another Congress wisely arrested the
acts Because the interests Of free labor
fn1uriOuSly therefrOIa. Congress protected the
farming interests by taxing oieOmaTgarine and It's
eongeners ana suO)ecling Its production and sale
10 the burdens OF the internaI-revenue system
Federal laws vigorously expel foreign paupers ana
convlcts from the Federal Union The act TO reyu
late commerce, approved February A. Iss7 rem
lates the charges OF interstate commentaries
crates miscrneanors, imposes fines, establishes a
commission and clothes IL with seml-1udicial now
ers speeds causes Ia the ordinary civil courts ana
In numerous other ways displays the measurelexs
HJ"tios cAPtcoo AAuPAfu- VI LEXIS
Iafure.
These several acts derive their validity. as does
the Dill under consideration, from those Clauses in
the CONSTITUTION, together with the necessary ana
proper implications therelron. that confer me
power and impose the duty upon Congress 10 regu.
late commerce, foreign anu interstate establish
justice, and promote the general welfare Ybe
supreme Court OF the United states has repeatedly
decided that this power 70 regulate commerce l.,
exclusively vested In Congress, and that no re-
siduun, however small, resides In the states since
the adoption OF the Federal Constitution: that the
grant OF the whole 70 the General Government IA
Incompatible win grant 10 the states OF a part !:
That the supremacy OF the laws OF Congress- I'm
cases OF collision with state lava Is secured IN the
article which declares that the laws OF Congress-
passea ID pursuance OF the powers granted, shall
De the supreme law.
FINALLY, your committee base the authority of
congress 10 pass this bill not only upon the right
N me national legislature TO regulate commerce.
Detwceh tne states 10 establish Justice 70 promote
INC general welfare, as expressly conferred In the
ConsGlulon but IN that fundamental princfple
upon wnleh all legitimate sovereignty rests that
The welfare OF the people Is the supreme law The
petiuoners nave brought TO the notice OF Congress
tne existence OF great evil-widespread, eyer-in-
cteasins-an eyil beyond the control or state evfs
Iatlon; and IL Is inconceivable that under these
Sncomstances, Congress Is without power 10 nro
yect American labor and domestic industries. thar
Is not possible that this Is the only WRONG VIII
out remedy" "'NAs "i'u-