Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-15
CONGRESS-.
House.

House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The speaker
announced special committee to in
vestigate the pension bureau.
A bill was passed granting an honor
able discharge to William W. Wedge
wood.
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts, asked
unanimous consent for the passage of a
resolution providing for an investigation
by the committee on manufactures of
the so-called sweating" system of tene-
ment house labor upon manufactures of
clothing and other manufactures and
upon wages and prices in such manufac-
lures.
Mr.. Holman, of Indians, moved to
limit the expense to 81 900.
Mr.. Hoar hoped this limitation would
not be made. The committee did not
intend to take any unnecessary trips out
of Washington. He expected that the
whole investigation would be made here.
This was a most important subject. 1t
involves the question of law and wages,
and the investigation might result in
recommendations to congress regarding
the restriction of immigration, and to
prevent the spread of contagious dis
eases.
Mr.. Oats, of Alabama thought the states
could settle this matter and doubted the
constitutionality of congress to make
laws regarding the sweating system.
Many Investigations were made, simply
for the manufacture of cheap claptrap
reputation. Congress had enough in
formation about immigration. We had
1sIpbt tn 111D Ia ON pontinn InyUS fThn
bureau of labor was the proper medium
to gather this information.
Mr.. Babbitt, of Wisconsin, said that
certain merchants in Boston had asked
that consideration of the resolution
order to give the house more informa
ton.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, was sur
prised that any postponement had been
requested. Massachusetts wanted an
investigation as soon as practicable. He
explained the sweating system.
Mr. Bynum, of Indiana, deplored the
custom of o~lering congressional inves-
tigation committees. He cited the cost
of several special committees in former
congresses. He would not oppose this
last, but gave notice that he would here
afterobject on principle to further inves-
tigating committees.
Mr.. Morse, of Massachusetts, sup
ported the commission and said that the
people of M ssachusetts were intensely
concerned about this matter. A legisla-
tive committee was now investigating
the subject.
Mr.. Harter, of Ohio, thought some
thing should be speedily done by con-
gress with this important matter.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, offered, and
the house adopted, an amendment linn
iting the expense to $4,000.
3 Mr.. Chapman, of Michigan, moved to
extend the inquiry to show chow much
the so-called Mckinley bill had increased
the wages of workmen employed in the
industries protected 10y that bill"
Adopted.
The resolution, as amended, passed.
In the morning hour the house pro-
ceeded to consider the bill for the better
control of and to promote the safety of
national banks. Mr.. Lockwood. of
New York, said the bill would be detri-
mental to the banking interests of the
country. Such tinkering with the
banking laws will be most injurious to
financial institutions.
Mr. Reed Of Maine, naively inquired
of Mr.. Bacon, of New York, what num-
Der would constitute a quorum of the
board of directors, as mentioned in the
bill. Laughter on both sides of the
hall.
Mr.. Bacon said, 81 will not attempt to
answer that question. No one on this
side of the house is disposed to dispute
the qualifications of the gentleman from
Maine on the discovery of 'quorums.'
| Laughter and applause on the Demo
cratic side.
Mr.. Lockwood, of New York, moved
to refer the bills to the committee on the
judiciary. Lost-yeas, 30: nays, 1854.
Mr.. Lockwood then moved to adjourn
lost.
He then demanded tellers on the yeas
and nays-lost.
The bill was then passed,
Mr.. Hatch, of Missouri moved that
the house adjourn. Lost-yeas 81, nays
III.
A bill allowing the board of managers
of national soldiers homes to appoint as
its officers soldiers without regard to
rank was passed,
A resolution was passed asking the
of war for an estimate of the
expense of investigating the mining
debris question in California.
A bill abolishing the minimum penalty
for internal revenue offenses was passed,
and the house adjourned until Monday.