The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-02

Company are seeking to prevent this iuvestiga-
tion. / say for one, they are not
Mr.. Ragnor-Thsn why not allow the investi-
gation2 Why not adopt the resolution
Mr. O'Neill-We will ADOPT it
Mr. Raynor-If you will adopt il. am done.
loud and long tinued calls of vote, p
Mr.. Raynor-I wish to add but word. This
reference to the Interstatecommerce Commits
sion amounts to nothing. You might we'll re-
fer it to the Chinese embassy or to the Public
Printer. You will get il back just soon.
Loud laughter and applausel What il the use
OF knocking at the door of the Interstate-com-
merce Commission You do not direct it to do
anything; you merely request il. By the time
1t investigates the question the men will have
all starved to death. Let track this subject
TO the fountain head, and let rs discover,
believe We will, that this Is a conspiracy of CAPT.
tai and not CT 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 shadowlpg the prosperous
homes and busineas centers OF the country.
l know it is hard fight.
know that monopoly, unscrupuious
rible to encounter. But, In my humble expert
ence. have never yet seen the day in the halls
OF legislation when honor, which has nc price.
or manhood, which has no fear, could drive it
like a skulkiDg coward from the field of battle.
lApplause.l
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts,. commented on
the fact that the petition of these 81, 600 miners
was presented on the same day that the report
of the committee on commerce was presented.
While he did not charge that 1T had been sug-
Rested by any member, it was reasonable in
ference that it had been produced rather by
parliamentary than by business methods. He
advocated the report of the majority OF the
committed, believing that Congress was too
much of political body properly to investigate
a purely business matter. and because he did
not believe that any investigation by con-
gressional committee would be productive Of
any good results. To strengthen this assertion,
he instanced what he termed the failure of the
Missouri Pacific investigating committee to pro-
duce any good results reach any conclusion
Mr. Burns of Missouri, reminded the gentle
man that within twenty four hours after the
rival of that committee in ST. Louis peace had
been restored and commerce had been resumed,
Iapplausel. and he further reminded the gentle
men that the committee had recon mended that
every railroad employe should be placed under
the control of the government just the en-
ployes OF steamboats, carrying interstate COM
merce were placed.
Mr.. Davis denied any recollection of such a
recommendation having been made by the COM
mttee and thought it could not be found any
where in the report.
Mr.. Clardy of Missouri said that as it appeared
to be the desire of the House to investigate the
question, he would withdraw any opposition
the original Anderson resolution. provided it was
amended so as to create special committee.
Some discussion then ensued to the proper
form of the resolution, in the course of which
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, said that the con-
troversy between the railroad company and its
employees was but one branch of the investlga-
ton. The most important branch that
relating to the controversies existing between
the coal combinations and miners In his judg-
ment the miners case was vast deal stronger
than was that of the employees of the railroad,
and he therefore suggested an amendment
tending the investigation into the existing diff
ferences in the Lehigh and Schuylkill coal
region between the mining corporations and the
miners.
Mr.. Tarsney, of Michigan, thought the House
was getting into a little confusion, as he did
not believe it had the authority to investigate
institutions in the State of Pennsylvania. He
wanted to know whether the Reading Railroad
company was defying the law and whether the
strike was not a lockout forced by the railroad
corporations, whereby thousands of men were
thrown out of employment for the purpose of
raising the price of coal If these immense
corporations, built up by Congress, were chok-
ing the very life blood out of the Nation, Con-
gress ought to know it.
Mr.. White, of New York. suggested an
amendment extending the inquiry into the
question as to whether there has been any un-
lawful combination of large bodies of men to in
terrupt the business of the Reading Railroad
Company, and to deprive it of freight destined
for evaporation to points outside of Pennsyl-
vauia, and, If such com binatlon is found to
list, the committee is directed to report what leg
islation is necessary to prevent and punish such
com binations in the future
Mr. Brumm-I don't object to that. want a
broad investigation.
Mr. Anderson, of KaLsas-I do; there is too
much Wall street about it.
After some delay the various propositions
were consolidated into the following resolution,
which was adopted without division:
Resolved That special committee of five members
be appointed to investigate forthwith the extent,
and effect upon interstate of the
tinued failure by the Reading Railroad Company to
transport such commerce. and to report to the House.
by bill otherwise, for consideration any time,
such legislation necessary to the public
the regular and complete execution by railroad COM
pany of its obligations to serve common carrier
ences existing in the Lehgh and Schuylk region of
Pennsylvania between the corporations mining coal
and the miners; and further investigate all facts
relating to mining corporations and individual miners
of anthracite coal in connection Herewith and re-
port the to the House. with such recommends
tions the committee may agree upon.
The House then adjourned
Mr. Cox. the Speaker pro tenn. states that the
committee will probably be appointed by Mr.
Carlisle but he will confer with that gentleman
this evening for the purpose of learning his
wishes.