New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-05
OZING CONGRESSMEN
DDS AND PRACTICES OF LABOR MEN
IN WASHINGTON.
THEY ATTEMPT. AND SOMETIMES SUCCEED
} INFLUENCE LEGISLATIoN-THE SORT
OF BILLS THEY WANT PASSED-A
SPECIES OF TERRORISM IN

Washington. Jan. Al one-tenth Of the fearful
predictions made concerning the character Oh inc
next House is proved true the country Will pc
treated TO spectacle hitherto unknown In It's DIS
tory. For many years there has not oeen 10
large q number Of men elected 10 the House VINO
are without the slightest preliminary educauoh
in legislative matters. Some of the new men are
little fellows who nominated as the repre-
sentatives of forlorn hopes in strong RepuDncah
districts which the Democrats had no nope OF
carrying Some of these small men do not reach
even the dignity OF village Oracles. The enormous
change produced in the last fall election will
bring TO Congress class of men never seen there
before. These men have become transformed
through the awful responsibilities of new Offices.
They have said to themselves: We are heroes.
Our merits up to this time were unknown, but
through the potent influences of our personal char
acters we have pucked this particular district
from the very jaws of the Republican lion. And
now we must do something worthy Of ourselves
TO show in The halls of legislation that merit
the confidence reposcd in our abilities"
So every one of these little men will come
10 Washington next winter with at least 100
amendments to the Constitution, and from 400
to 500 bills for the relief of The country. Such
a crowd of newly made legislators would afford
subjects for rdcule if it were not for the fact
that their presence in the halls Of legislation may
he dangerous, through the dem9gogy of the
various organizations throughout the country
seeking to form a so-called peoples party The
small men are naturally easy converts TO every
form Of legislation which threatens property or
the downfall of natural leaders IL is the apparent
aim of the various alliances and trades unions
throughout the country. judged by their political
utteranccs. to reduce the affairs of life TO
cha ha n
or better than another.
The KNIGHTS of Labor, whose organization re-
ceived such setback on account of their failure
10 maintain themselves in an impossible position
during the last strike against the New-York Cen
trail Railroad, are now working upon a new line.
They aim TO control the leading administrative
offices of the country and TO secure legislation In
Congress so that the next time they seek To fight
some great corporation some hated combination
of the money power they will have back Of them
stringent laws which will give them an advan-
taoe People throughout the country cannot
realize how Members of Congress tcrrorized
by these labor organizations Walking delegates
come 10 Washington and select members from
districts where these labor organizations are the
strongest They will propose to them some labor
legislation, and threaten the member with the
boycott if he refuses TO approve It, In this way
measures have been carried through Congress al
most without discussion which a disgrace 10
modern times. One OF the most notable instances
of this craven yielding TO the improper dicta-
ton of trades uniOnism was in the passing
through Congress last year of a bill taking
out of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
the labor-savng machinery bought BY the Gov
ernment, and directing that all of the labor of
the future in this department should be done by
hand II was lust as reasonable and just as
proper legislation as it would have been 10 have
passed an act forbiddfag the use of reapers and
mowers sending farmers back TO the cradle and
the scythe, or Of any law wiping out the inven-
tons of modern times for the facilitation of labor
What has been the result Of such cowardly yield
ing upon the part Of Congress 10 a command OF
e. trades union which if carried out TO its utter
most spirit would return this country 10 the days
of the stage coach and comparative barbarlsm !?
The result has been TO increase the expense OF
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 100000
year and to put the work, up to the present time,
six months behind It is Inevitable that these labor
saving machines must come back into the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing. But the present Congress
will he reluctant to repeal the act passed under
the threats of the labor organizations. 1t was
only "A few weeks ago that the Superintendent OF
tic Bureau of Engraving and Printing dismissed
an incompetent ard nsolent employe who had
been forced upon him ny labor organization.
This most Incompetent and dciantly insoleut
subordinate when lie was discharged, wrote let
Ter Of complaint to Mr. Powderly Tins latter PER
son. without cOndeScenGing 10 inquire Of the Blu
Ycau OF Engraving ana Printing why this son OF
l1bor was DISCHARGED, has addressed an imperial
order directed TO Secretary Window commanding
iim-not requesting him-to restore this dis
charged serycht. This command is coupled with
The implied threat Of what the Knights of Labor
VIII 30 in of a refusal upon the part of the
Secretary. The rcappoiutmcnt Of such a man
would he in effect 70 destroy entirely the discipline
al mis- Bureau, which IS now badly enough de
morallzed by the NonSIcs :onal legislation that
has driven out the ldbof-saving machinery and
4 loI time has placed the Bureau under the dircc-
4 ton Of the walking delegates.
But this is not all that has been recently at
4 tempted in the halls Of Congress. Some twenty
wears ago, when the labor organizations were not
as strong ashley are nov, a law wa passed by
congress declaring that eight shOurs should con.
stItutc the legal day for ali work done for the
Government. This law was passed without any
particular consideration, ana ont Of respect 10 the
iab'r organizations, which had asked for such
legislation The Government an easy horse
4 10 stddl, this broad claim Of the aboring people
= upon The law was never more than mere col
q lection Of empty phrases II was never enforce /
4 any more than law declaring that Government
euTloyc, shoGd ceoSs Is" and dot "i'S">Mit.l
red ink would have been Work for the Govern
mcnt is provcI5ialy the easiest and the best paid
er"d during the twenty years to the fact that the
supcrntcndcnts OF the various yards and bureaus
throughout the country have made ten hours the
period Of Il daN < service Now the labor ORGANIZE
tGns have secured "0wers Of attorney from the
majority of the pe0pc who have been employed by
the Government during the last twenty wears and
have come 10 Congress with bill asking for the
compensation for tie extra two hours time for
the entire period Of twenty years. II will take
at least twenty millions Of dollars TO satisfy ahis
claim. The men who worked for the Government
q
blacksmith. carpenter. shipbuildcr. and the ike.
have always received the highest market price for
labor. and. in some instances, prices higher than
. the prrN ailng rates Yet this measure. instead Of
being laughed n and respectfully referred u some
W,lusty pgeon-holc has actually been passed by the
House ard may be passed by the senate. One
walking delegate made il his boast the other day
that the Senate would loot the public Treasury
rather than incur the wrath of the labor orsaniza-