Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-08
CONGRESS TAKES a HAND.
y Resolves on All Investigations Into the
Causes of the keadinR Strike

- "a 4
~ Resolves on All Investigations Into tile
Causes of the Reading Strike.
WASHINGTON. Feb 2--In the House YES.
terday ~ O'Clock the report OF the Com
merce Committee on the resolution to in
vestiga'e the Reading strike WIS taken up
Mr. Clardy (Mo.), in presenting tho ma
1ority report referring the whole matter to
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
spoke briefly.
Mr. Ruyner (Md) did not believe in
halfway measures on the subject. When
monopolies combined to drive the ranks of
labor to the starvation point, that labor
had an equal right, by every natural law of
justice, TO combine and strike for living
wages He was the mortal foe Of
violence in oil It's forms. but he
was the friend OF labor, and its
sovereign power should be exorted
in every peaceful way to assert and vindL
cate it's rlghls. The Reading road had
broken and violated solemn compact it
had made with its employees and now
1t commanded them to surrender un-
der threat of proclaiming to the
American people that this great tr.b-
utAry OF commerce should be closed
and that not ton OF traffic should be
frcighted over its road. Should this be
done? He, for one, said never Congress
had the power beyond that which belonged
to the Interstate Commerce Commission
to bring this great monopoly to bay Mr.
Rayner, continuing, quoted from the argu-
ment made by Mr.. Gowan, counsel for tue
Reading railroad, before the Supreme
Court in the case OF the State OF Penn
sylvania against the Reading, Company, in
which he took the ground that the State
had no right to tax it's freight. AMI that
solcvo tn Stc
merca Now, said Mr.. Kayner. when Con-
gress was seeslng to investigate it's traffic
The company said that Congress had not
that power, because it YVES q State corpora
ton.
Mr.. O'Nein Pa)-sDoes the gentleman
know that any OF these corporations are
seeking to prevent this inves .1gation?"
Mr.. Kayner-@Yes, slE We have the evil
d~nce here OF SO, 600 starving men turned
out IN tine dead OF winter with dependent
families" [Appl.use.] He continues:
What is the use Of knocking at the door of
the Interstate Commerce Commission! 1t
never takes up case mere motu. You do not
di ect it to do any thing; you merely request it.
By the time it investigates The question the
mon will have starved to death. Lot
US track the subject to the fountain and let
us disoover-as believe we wAll-that this i, a
conspiracy OF capital and not OF labor; and let
Us apply the most heroic remedies legislation
can devise to break up these Internal systems
which under the name of trusts are shadow .ng
the prosperous homes and business centers of
the country. know it is a hard fight. know
that monopoly, INSCRIPTIONS as to the methods
it employs, is an enemy terrible to encounter.
But, in my humble experience, I have never
yet seen the day in the halls OF leg.slat on
when honor, which has no price. or manhood,
Which knows no fear, could not dr. We it like
Skulklng coward from The field of battlen IAN.
piause.I
Alter sor delay the var obs propositions
W te consL ldat IA o 40 ING 1eso-
n N, which adopted V nth ut wis on:
''E so!oed, That special op4u - Zee of FIVE
members be appointed to investigate 1orln-
with the extent. causes and effect upon
interstate commerce of the continued
failure by the Reading Railroad C.m.
pany to transact such commerce,
and to report to the House, by bill or
otherwise, for consideration 1T any time such
Legislation as is necessary to sec u-s to the
public the regular and complete execution py
railroad company Of its obligation to
serve as common carrier of inter. State
commerce; and to investigate the diff
ferences existing in the Lehigh and Schuyi-
kill regions Of Pennsylvania between tho
corporations mining coal ana the miners: and,
further, to investigate all facts relating to
mining corporations, and individual miners OF
anthracite coal in connection Herewith, and
ROT crt the same to the House with such recon.
mendauons as the committee may agree upon"