Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-11
FOR A FULL INQUIRY,
Both Sides Will Attend the
Congressional Commit
tees Sessions.
CHAIRMAN FRICK READY.
The Carnegie Company's Claims Will
Be Fully Presented.
W0RKMEN WILL ALSO TESTIFY.
Questions Involving the Power Of the Na-
tional Government.
CHAIRMAN FRICK READY.
WORKMEN WILL ALSO TESTIFY.
Questions Involving the Power Of the Ea-
tional Government.
HOW PEOPLE VIEW THE INVESTIGATION

| HUW PEOPLE VIEW The lNfESTlGAI1UN
The Congressional Committee appointed
to investigate the causes and events of the
Homestead riot will sit in the United States
courtroom in this city at 10 o'clock to-mor.
row morning. The investigation promises
to be an interesting one, as both sides to the
great controversy say that they are ready to
attend the committees sessions and lend
their aid to make the investigation q fair
and thorough one.
The Washington dispatches say that the
| committee has mailed notes to various
officials and interested persons, requesting
| their attendance tomorrow. Such notices
had not been received yesterday BY the men
named in the kilograms. They will probably
come to hand to-day.
Mr.. H. C. Frick was asked yesterday if
he would attend the committees sessions.
He replied that he was ready to do so, if he
were called upon. He was then asked if he
thought any good could result from such an
inquiry. To that he replied, 'T do not
know"
Mr.. P. c. Knox, of the firm of Knox &
Reed, solicitors for the Carnegie Steel Com
pany, was asked if he would attend the in
vestigation. He said, 81 have had no no.
tice in regard to the meeting, except what
saw in THE DISPATCH. We have had no
conference on the subject If Mr.. Frick at
tends as a witness, we will doubtless be
present as his attorneys. For myself, am
ready to do all can to assist the committee
to secure a thorough understanding of the
controversy. The company only desires
Justice, and is willing to make its position
known to the community at large"
Sheriff McCIeary Will Be Present.
Sheriff McCleary will also attend the
sessions of the committee, and is ready to
give them any information in his possess
sion.
The investigation will also be attended by
President Weihe and other officials of the
Amalgamated Association, in company with
their attorney. w. j. Bremen. Hugh
O'Donnell and other leaders from Home
stead will be present to answer any call of
the committee for information.
Speaking yesterday of the powers and
privileges of Congressional committees Major
A. NJ Brown, the well-known attorney,
said: "Such committees exercise a pretty
strong power to compel witnesses to testify,
but think as general thing the commit
tees are courteous and not unfair. In many
cases they compel the production of papers,
documents, correspondence, etc. If q wit
ness should refuse to attend or to answer
reasonable questions, the committee would
have no power in itself to arrest. 1t would
report to the House and that body might,
in its discretion, order the arrest of the re-
luctant witness. An arrest would be made
under the Speakers warrant I do not
think a committee of Congress could COM
pei witness to answer questions that
would criminate himself any more than a
court could. 1t is rare that any question
arises as to arresting witness for refusing
to answer"
eff man should give testimony before
the committee showing that he fired shots at
Homestead, could that testimony be used
sgainst. him in a criminal prosecution"
Witness Must BE Cautious.
'The committee could not protect wit
ness who might give testimony that could
be used against him. If man should ap-
pear before this committee and under ex-
animation would state that he fired the first
shot, that would be an admission that could
be used against him if he were indicted for
an assault or homicide. The committee,
however, is not likely to call out such testi-
mony. They come to make general in
vestigation into the equities of the contest,
and they desire to hear all sides in order
that they may make an intelligent report"
''Do you think such an investigation will
result in any good?"
81 do not think such an inquiry will do q
particle of good, that it is mere waste of ef-
fort. They seize on these things at times
fror hod tYunc T hou Rrn Nf
no case of an investigation by Congress
that did any good. As rule Congress can
apply no corrective power. 1t can only re-
port to the country, and usually those re-
ports have the color of partisanship and are
used for political purposes. As the United
States Government is not taking any hand
in this trouble, and has not been asked to
take hand, this inquiry is voluntary.
Dealing with labor difficulties is not within
the purview of the National Government
They only come to its notice when the State
government is overthrown in its efforts to
preserve order"
''Might not such an inquiry lead to the
creation by Congress of a national court of
arbitration"
SIN my judgment Congress would not
have the power to compel workingmen and
manufacturers to submit to arbitration.
The creation of courts of arbitration must
be by the State Government, if at all
Invited to Attend the Inquest
Some people think the committee can do
no harm, at least, and nobody objects to an
investigation for the sake of the future
One man yesterday asked sarcastically If
these men are the coroners for Uncle Sam.
Coroner Mcdowell himself doesn't under
stand that the committee is designed to
usurp his Office He takes a broad view of
the situation, and invites the committee,
through THE DISPATCH, to attend the in
quest Tuesday afternoon. He thought they
could, get great deal of valuable informa-
tion from witnesses under oath. He added |
that he would issue an attachment for any
witness summoned who is not at the in
quest. The Coroner is willing to help the
committee all he can, and says his records
are at their disposal.
Judge Reed claims legitimate subject |
for investigation by the Government is the |
firing on the Little Bill on a navigable |
stream. The Judge refuses to talk for pub
location, but his views were OBJ |
tanned from a friend. The Judge insists that |
it is case for Uncle Sam and
time for the American eagle to scream. The
Little Bill, it appears, according to the |
badly injured, carried the American flag.
Not q firearm was on the boat, and it was
engaged in peaceful mission of conveying
two barges up the river. The crew, it ID
argued, were doing their duty when they
were fired upon from the shore. The fact
that the bsrges contained an armed band of
Pinkerton men is not a question fot consid-
Grafton, say those who take this view of the
difficulty.
Firing on a River Steamer.
A recent case is cited that was tried be.