Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-02
RAYNER TO THE RESCUE.
A MARYLAND MAN LEADS THE FIGHT
FOR THE STRIKERS

| with Tremendous Onslaught Upon the
MonopolIstie Host-SpITited Debate In
the House Over the Reading Trouble
| RiddIeberger Supprsssed-A Cent Day
| for Veterana-Dakota Discussed.
| WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 2.-Rayner, OF
| Maryland, made himself a name with the
| workingmsn's combin ations throughout the
country Wednesday, when he took up the
cause Of the Reading strikers and got the
house to sit down on the report in favor of
| RELOCATING the investigation OF the strike to
| the interstate commission. Rayner gave
| evidence OF being man OF very vigorous
eloquehce, and was warmly congratulated
| by a score or the Of the members. Helaid
about him right manfully in a decidedly
| warm denunciation of monopolies, etc, and
| is generally given the credit OF carrying tho
| day for a congressional Investigation.
Clardy of Missouri, the chairman Of the
| house committee on commerce, in present.
ing the majurity report on the house resou-
ton to investigate the Reading strike which
was that the whole matter be referred to the
inter state commerce, said that it was en-
tirely within the province of the commission
TO investigate il. Rayner, a member Of the
dissenting Majority of the committee, fixed
the attention Of the house and galleries in
his opening phrase Bursts of applause
greeted his every period. 81 know that
monopoly is an enemy terrible to encounter"
he concluded, "buL | have never seen the day
in the halls of legislation when honor with
out price and manhood without fear could
not drive it like skulkng coward from the
field of battle" Round after round of APP
plause echopd and reechoed throughout the
chamber and the speakers gsvel could not
bring the house to order for five minutes.
Ray nor had his hand grasped by forty men.
and the request Of the majority of the COM
MERGE committee was doomed beyond ptrad
venture
Grosvenor of Ohio inquired why, il the
railroad company was chartered under the
laws of Pennsy lvania, and had deyiated from
the business authorized by its charter, pro-
ceedlngs in the nature of quo warranto could
not he instituted against it in the state
courts.
Rayner [sarcasticallyl courts Of
Pennsylvania are in the habit of granting
writs of quo warranto.
O'Neill of Pennsylvania declared that
the first complaint quo warranto ever
heard in n state had heeu heard in the courts
of Pennsylvania.
Rayner continuing, quoted from the argu-
ment made by Mr.. Gowen, counsel for the
Reading railroad before the supreme court
against the Reading Railroad company, in
which he took the ground that the state had
no right to tax its freight. and that con-
gress alone could regulate its commerce..
Now, said Rayuer, when congress was seek
ing to investigate its traffic, the company
said that congress had not that power, be-
cause it was state corporation.
O'Naill of Pennsylvania-Does the gentle.
man know that any of these corporations are
seeking to prevent this Investigations
Rayner-Yes, sir. We have the evidence
hero of s. 900 starving men, turned out in the
dead of winter with dependent families.
Applause
O'NeiI-I did not ask as TO that. l asked
whether you knew that the Reading Railroad
company and the Philadelphia Coal and Iron
company seeking to prevent this investi-
CATION. | say, for one, they are not
Rayner-1hen why not allow the investga.
tionf Why not adopt the resolution
O'Neil-We will adopt it. [Appause.l
Rayner-lf you will adopt it. am done.
loud and long continued call of Vote"
"Vote."l | wish to add but word This
reference to the commerce commission
amounts to nothing. You might as well re-
fer it to the Chinese embassy or to the pub
lie printer. You will get it back just as
soon loud laughter and applause What
is the use of knocking at the door of the
commerce commissioua 1t never takes up a
case mere motu You do not direct it to do
anything-yOu merely request it. BY the
time it investigates the question the men will
have all starved to death. Let us track the |
subject to the fountain head and let us dis |
cover-as | believe wll-that this is a
conspiracy of capital and not Of labor, and |
let us apply the most heroic remedies legisa
ton can de wise to break up these internal
: -
are shadowing the prosperous homes and bus
mess centers of the country.
White of New York suggested an amend
ment extending the inquiry into the question
as to whether there has been any unlawful |
combination of large bodies of men to inter
rupt the business of the Reading Railroad |
company, aud to deprive il of freight de- |
stined for transportation to points outside of
Pennsylvania, and, if such combination is
found to exist, the committee be directed to
report what legislation is necessary to pre-
vent and punish such combination in the
future.
Brumm--I don't object to that. | want
broad investigation
Anderson of Kansas do; there is too
much Wall street about it.
After some delay the various propositions
we're consolidated into the following resolu-
ton which was adopted without division:
Resolved, That a special committee Of five
members be appointed 20 investigate forthwith
the extent causes and effect upon inter state
commerce of the continued failure OF the Read
ing Railroad company to transport such com
merce and to report to the house, by bill or
otherwise, for consideration at any time, such
legislation is necessary to secure to the public
the regular and complete execution by a railroad
company of its obligations to serve as com
mon carrier of Interstate commerce. and to in
vestigate the differences existing in the Lehigh
and Schuykl region of Pennsylvania, between
the corporations mining coal and the miners, and
further to investigate all facts relating to mining
corporations and individual miners OF anthracite
coal in connection Herewith, and all facts in re-
lation to the matter, and report the same to the
house with such recommendations as the com
mittee may agree upon.