The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-23
Discussing Convict Labor.

= WASHINGTON. May 22-The floor was &C.
corded to the committee on labor, and Mr.
ONsil, Of Missouri, chairman Of that committee,
called up the bill to con6ne the sale of the prod
ucts Of convict labor to the State in which they
are produced.
Mr.. ONeil endeavored to have an arrange
ment effected whereby debate on the bill should
be limited to two hours. but opposition was
made on the ground that the principle involved
In the bill was too important to be established
without full discussion and consideration. The
majority and minority reports were read at
length, and an hour was thus consumed.
MIR. ONeil explained that the measure oriei-
mated in Q visit to this city of manufacturers
from New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City. Phila-
delphia and other cities, who appeared before
that stared them in the face from the COM
petition Of convict labor. One in
dustry after another was attacked
by this convictlabor system; and in each case
the industry was obliged to lower the rates Of
wages or 60 out of business. Men who were
paying 50 and S. 80 q day to their employees,
found themselves face to face with competitors
who paid only 8 cents an hour. The labor or
CARNATIONS Of the country. through their rep
resentatives, had urged upon tho committee the
ucC0Soit5 tVE taC poccokO VI tuo Ollls 1Qo tarlu
bill sank into insignifcance when it was realized
that there was . cancer at home eating the
heart out OF every trade and industry.
Mr.. Plumb. of Illinois, q member Of the labor
COMMITTEES, opposed the bill, on the ground that
it was unconstitutional and interfered with
interstate He said thar the commit
tee had not properly investigated the subject
before acting upon the bill; that it had not
awaited itself Of the opinions and experience of
experts, but had based its action upon petitions
.t.->l hv ponvfafuRopo uhn - r~~~,
sold in this country the products of English
prisons. He held that prison labor was ueces-
sary TO the reformation Of ~convicts, az il pre-
pared them to re-enter society equipped with
useful trades.
Mr.. Rogers. of Arkansas. addressed himself
to the constitutional principles involved in the
measure. and arguedkhat Congress had not the
power TO lay an embargo and pass a law which
provided for non-intercourse between the States
Of the Union.
not the first time whom the name of labor was
outraged upon this floor. A pebble that was
dropped into the ocean disturbed every atom of
water in the ocean, and in the same way, q dis
turbance IN the ranks of labor anywhere dis
turbed every portion of society from the highest
to the lowest The highest interest Of the
House " as to promote the well-bsinR Of all; and
the man who intimated that anyone on this
floor was uufriendly to labor was a Ounce. o
knave, or an unabridged ass The main hackers
" sato IA nOb tio iobokAok 4nlS
was the first time he had ever known monopoly
to join hands with labor in order to make the
criminals Of the country gentlemen of elegant
leisure. Some gentlemen seemed TO feel sym
pathy for criminal& He felt . little anxious
about the men who bore the burden OF caring
for and supporting those criminals.
Mr.. ONeil inquired what labor the gentleman
sought In his tariff speech.
Mr.. B~utterworth replied that he was trying to
protect American labor against foreign labor.
Ha Waa NOT aetamntin0 fo tar labor At homo in
order TO support labor on the other side in idle
ness.
Mr.. O'Nsil inquired which the gentlemen pre-
ferred to remain idle-the honest working man
or the felonl
MIR. Butterworth remarked that the gentle
man spoke with all the confidence Of knowledge
and All the assurance of Ignorance. The trouble
with the gentlemen Was that be Assumed his
facts.
Mr.. OfNeil asserted that he assumed what he
knsw. and that was that The workinemsn wsre
demanding this bill.
Mr. B~utieEworth declared that there Was no