Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14
An Obnoxious System to Be
Thoroughly Investigated
By Congress.
THE RESOLUTIONS RIDER
To Ascertain How the Mckinley Bill
Has Affected Wages.
NATIONAL BANNING BILL PASSED.
Democratic Ways and Means Members Agree
on Springers Bill
TO CUT DOWN THE TARIFF ON Wool.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 13.-The 'sweat
ing" system, so much in vogue in the larg'
cities and about which so much has beer
written by the leading journals of the land
is to be thoroughly investigated by com
mittee of the House of Representatives
Hon. Sherman Hoar the young Democratic
Representative from Massachusetts, ha
been the chief agitator in the matter, and il
is understood he will head the sub-commit
tee, which will be required to visit severa
of the leading cities OF the country.
There is great difference of opinion in the
minds of members as TO whether. after al
the abuses have been unveiled, Congress
will have power to abate the sweating
system, as many hold that its regulation il
exclusively within the power of the Legis
iatures of the respective States and entirely
without the jurisdiction of Federal legisla
ton Re that as it may, there is no doubt
the Committee onManufactures will exercise
10 its fullest extent the authority of inves
tigation to-day conferred upon it bv the
House. to the end that whatever relief NAV
be found necessary will come from the legis
lative powers having jurisdiction over the
subject
Mr. Raum's Investigators Named.
Several executive communications were
laid before the House and appropria tely re-
ferred TODAY The Speaker announced the
appointment Of the following committee to
investigate the Pension office: Messrs.
Wheeler, of Michigan; Little, of New
York: Dugan, of Ohio; Lind of Minnesota,
and Brosius, of Pennsylvania.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts,,
the resolution was next taken up directing
the Committee on Manufactures TO investi-
gate the so-ealled sweating" system of
tenement labor The committee is given
authority to send subcommittee to various
cities in carving on the inquiry. The ex-
pense is to be deferred from the contingent
fund of the House. After some debate the
amount OF expenditure, or motion of Mr.
Holman was limited to s., 00O On motion
of Mr.. Chipman, of Michigan, an amend
ment was adopted directing the committee
to inquire how much increase the Nc
Kinlev act has caused in the wages of work
men employed in industries protected by
The terms Of that act. The resolution was
adopted.
In the morning hour the House resumed
consideration of the bill for the better con-
troll of and to promote the safety of national
banks.
Mr. Lockwood. of New York, objected to
the bill because he believed it to be detri-
mental to the banking interests and to the
general interests of the country, to be con-
stantlv changing and modifying the laws
relating to national banks The laws on
that question to-day had become well set
tied. He believed the pending measure
would work detrimentally to the national
banks There had not been failure of
national bank in this country where the Of
fcers had not violated the law, as it existed
today, and where they could not have been
punished under that law.
Mr.. Reed wished to ask Mr.. Bacon Gin
charge of the billy question, and upon
being accorded permission, asked the mean
ing of the words in the bill accepted and
approved by q majority of these present
constituting quorum. Laughter.
The gentleman from Maine," replied
Mr. Bacon, ''is so much better qualified
than to answer the inquiry, that L will
not occupy the time to reply" Laughter.
''The point L wish to make, - resumed Mr.,
Reed, ''is that seem better qualified not
only than the gentleman, but than all his
colleagues collected together"
4 do not know" returned Mr. Bacon,
"of anybody on this side of the House who
desires TO dispute the qualifications of the
quorums
Mr.. Lockwood Not Backed Up.
Mr. Lockwood moved to- refer the bill to
the Committee on Judiciary. The motion
was lost-yeas 30, nays 164 Then Mr..
lockwood moved an adjournment, which
motion was lost without division. The
hill was then passed, Mr. Lockwood be-
ing unable to muster enough force to order
the yeas and nays.
The House, By vote of 81 yeas to III
nays, defeated motion to adjourn made by
Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri. The motion was
made in good faith and without any fill
clustering motive. 1
Mr.. Peel, of Arkansas. from the Commit
tee on Indian Affairs, reported the Indian
appropriation bill, and il was referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
On motion of Mr.. Outhwaiie, of Ohio, a
bill was passed authorizing the Board of
Managers Of National Soldiers Homes to
appoint their officers from soldiers who
served In the late war without regard to
rank.
On motion of Mr. Caminetti, of Cali
fornia, a joint resolution was passed re-
questing the Secretary of War to report
what amount Of money can be proftably
expended IN carving out the recommenda-
tiOn of the commission to investigate the
mining debris question in California.
The House then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the House calendar, the first bill
being that amending the internal revenue
laws BY abolishing the minimum punish
ment for violation thereof 1t was passed
without division, and the House adjourned.
A Wool Bill Decided Upon.
The Democratic members of Wars and
Means Committee held another prolonged
conference on the Springer wool bill TODAY.
The result was an agreement on the rates of /
duty to be imposed by the bill on manu- !
facturers of wool. The Democratic MEM |
hers have always been agreed on the propo- |
EirIon that wool should be admitted tree of |
dutr. but differed TO some extent as to the |
rates which should be imposed upon manu- |
fa.turers of wool. The result OF the con- |
ference is favorable to the low tariff men, |
h4rs. the committee reducing all duties be-
loyr. 40 per cent under the present law as
we'll as those above 40 per cent. The agree
usnt reached has vet to be voted on as a
whole. the action to-day being on each para
rranh Of the wool and wooden schedules
S cparately.
The greatest rate of duty provided for is
45 per cent on readv-made clothing, dol
mans. Jackets. ulsters and wearing apparel
on which, under the present law, GO per
cent DUTY is imposed These are the articles
in which the greatest amount OF labor is ex-
pended, and are the only articles left above
10 per cent, which was the uniform rate
bv the Mills bill on woolen man.