The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-08
SENATOR'S DISCUSS THE RIOT
MEssRs PALMER AND VOORHEES, TALK
ON THE HOMESTEAD AFFAIR.

Tho Diinois Senator Somewhat sscsslistic
In His Views on the Rights OF the la
boriaG Men-The Indinn. senator De-
nounces the Carnegie Leaders and the
Eepublicnn System Of Protection.
WASHINGTON. July 1.-THE Homestead riot
was the chief topic Of discussion in the Senate
to-day. provoking long and at times partisan
debate Tho discussion came up over the res
olutions introduced yesterday by Senators
Gallinger and PETER Senator Gallinge r's read
Whereas. Tho newspaper press brings intelligence OF
deadly conflict between workmen and the Pinkerto on
| detectives at Homestead Pa; and
Whven All good citizens Irrespective OF party deprs-
| cate violence and bloodshed; therefore be IL
Re'oiref That the Committee on Education and Labor
| be Instructed to make Immediate and careful In
quiry Into all the circumstances connected with the
matter and report the facts to the Senate at its
| convenience.
| Mr.. PETERS resolution read:
Whuen. At many times ami places within the United
States In recent years the public peace has con dis
tubed and life and property endangered by the private
| employment OF armed men, commonly known A
| "Pnkerton men" and "Pinkerton detectives" and
BhonI', 1t 10 currently reported that bloody con.
Met occurred the eth day Of tho present month At
or y ar Homestead village near the city OF Pitts
burgh in the State OF Pennsylvania body OF
tad Pinkerton mon and the citizens said village OF
| Homestead; and
| Whsreas. The existence and employment Of such .
body OF men without authority of law contrary to
the genius of American institutions and subversvs Of
| liberty; therefore, be n
Reso'red That select committee OF three m smbers OF
tho Senate, belonging to different political parties he
appointed BY the President OF the Senate whose duty
shall be to investigate and report the Senate the
facts ir relation to the existence ara EN- oymen Of
said PinkertOn men,. or Pinke rton nee
| ths In, y IN
ent timo The investigation shall extend to the ob,ec
| OF such existence and employment, how organized
| when. for what purpose, and by whom employed tho
work performed BY them pays them for their ser.
vices. and how much. and by what ofcers of the law
II any and by what statute or other authority said
| finsertons have at any time been employed In adii
ten to the testimoay and conclusions OF fact the COM
mittee will consider and report by BILL or otherwise,
what legislation II any. 10 necessary to prevent fur
| ther unlawful use or employment OF said Tinkerton
men. other similar bodies OF armed men for private
| purposes.
MIR. Quay tRep.. Pa moved to refer both res.
olutions to the Committee on Contingent Ex-
| penses OF the Senate. Mr. Hale tRep. Me- \
| seconded the motion on the ground that It was
| necessary to provide means to undertake tho
Investigation. He hoped the ommittee would
| report tomorrow. so that the investigation
might be entered upon at once.
| Mr.. Stewart rep. Nev.l condemned In I'M
measured terms the employment Of armed
bodies OF men outside the law. designating the
Pinkertons as "murdcrous gang" and as
armed assassins."
Mr.. Palmer Dem. ILL said Pinkerton men
had been employed In New York and had shed
blood: they had been employed in Illinois and
had shed blood: and now these armed mer.
cenaries had been taken into Penn sylvania for
the purpose OF battle. with armed and fortified
| boats. and had taken human life there It
mattered not to his mind who had fred first.
Tho manner in which they had been taten r.
the spot by me carnegie Company was men,
ace ana an ins W 3 tne people q Homestead.
ana ask the attention OF the Committee on
aa1 ia"Ur II ,nat committee shall
heae etzens 70 weTe rrbt 'ls mainsn
| coruiilg ~ me law OF me iand. not AS the law
Is GehsTany uhatrstoou' but according to the
these men had the right to be there. That
makes a II necessary tor me to- assert that these
men men had a r,ght TO employment there.
hney hau eatnea we risnt 10 iiGe tnefe. These
hsrss,ter be- Mpderstood 10 bs nmbs must
expai1 in moment and the owners Of tnese
noidlhg ,helr prolef;ty suhJGes TO the correla-
tive right OF fa9se Wih2u! Who's. services the
Al. The only concession l make comedies to
them tne risnt 70 reasonable profit on the
Sapit-ai a.. $3.50 III 'ie., eu'f,i ptiSes' H!hIH-
| tain Iurtnetmore mat these laoore's. having
spent rI;e their .lVes b In this peeIlar line Of
perm fIermappe er. OF their employment. and
! on rehsonaele comIcnsatlon for. their
services. we taik about the Clvil Service
| law a. applicable 10 Government employment.
assert that there is !aw wider and broader
| than that; %hlcn gives TO; these men who have
been bred IN these SPECIAL pursuits. as for ex-
aipG, IN ,ir serHce oi or OF these
| vast manufacturing establishments. right 10
demand enrloyment. right which can only
| be. defeated ny misconduct on their part:
A., MAINTAIN. thtEei"rc that at The time Of
| the assau't upon thtss Eeoiie at Homestead
| they We're where tney mao rlsht TO be; they
were upon ground they had right to defend.
| DO you ask M u these men may by force take
%l dne n9tSSy 9" another No.
| Of their rights. as ! understand them. Bust
| ness was suspended. and these men were
| Simply awaiting settlement o. the disputed
questions between them and their employers.
| MARX ne. i.aintaln tne right Of owners
| OF property TO operate II AT theT Will main
tain the right OF ihe operative to assist in it's
! operation. MAINTAIN me Tlgnt OF both Iar-
ties I" reasonanie t3mLnnsatlon for their ser
| wees. J maintain fne rlgnt Of these laborors
70 c3ntln wv, rihpoylnehl az! endent not up