Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-11

sfIrNeroN, =. c., April 10.-The
recent decisions Of 5Gdges Taft and
Kicks in Ohio, and Speer In Georgia IN
relation to the rights and duties Of rail-
road employees calls up in the Senate TO-
morrow a resolution instructing the
Committee on Inter State Commerce TO
INQUIRE into that and other subjects;
and quite long and interesting debate
resulted, which had not closed when
the Senate adjourned.
A resolution for q committee 70 walt
on the President and inform him that
tho Senate is ready 70 adjourn sine die
was offered and agreed 70 without
question, but subsequently a motion 70
reconsider was made by Mr.. Hoar, and
entered 10 be called up hereafter. MI.
Hoar's reason for moving TO reconsider
was understood TO be his determination
n possible, 70 force the Senate TO take
action In the way Of investigating Sen
ator Roach, OF North Dakota. Resolu-
tions 70 investigate Mr.. ROach's case
and that OF Mr.. Power, OF Montana,
were offered by Senators Hoar and
Chandler, and went over without action,
Mr.. Butler reported from the Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce reS0-
lution authorizing that committee TO In
.ouire whether or not the methods pre-
.yailing In the transportation OF freight
and Messengers on the great railway
lines OF the country and the conditions
and necessities of travellers and ship
pers and transportation companies JUS
tify or require a repeal or modi-
fcation OF section OF the
Interstate Commerce Act, which pro-
hiblts pooling. under any circumstances.
Also TO inquire whether the system OF
closing and sealing cars engaged IN
transportation OF merchandise from one
State 10 another, through foreign ter
ritory, and from such foreign territory
into the United States need 70 be modi-
fed; also whether any notifications
should be made in the law concerning
the relations between common carriers
and their employees.
Mr.. PETER thought that Judge Kicks
recent decision, which had been good
deal criticised by labor organizations,
\Would be approved by them when they
ame 70 understand better It's scope and
view IL in all its fullness. IL was the
first great judicial declaration Of prin-
chile concerning the relations between
emolovers and employees. IL was
declaration that the railroad employe
was as much a common carrier as the
railroad president or the railroad COM
pany. Judge Kicks decision, Peifer
believed. would lead 20 q final adjust
ment Of all difficulties between employ
ers and employees OF carrying com
panies. The resolution was referred.
Mr.. Harris offered a resolution for
the appointment Of committee OF two
Senators 10 wait on the President Of the
Tpited States, and inform him that
pnless he may have some further COM
mupication TO make the Senate Is
ready TO adjourn without day.
Mr.. Hoar looked In the direction OF
Mr.. Sherman's seat with an expression
of surprise on his cOuntenanee that no
objection was interpOsed. He made no
obiectlon himself, however, and the
resolution was agreed 70. Subsequent
" Mr.. Hoar moved 70 reconsider the
..Eote. and that motion was entered.
Jones offered q resolution In
rnctipQ the Committee on lndiSn
Affairs to continue Investigations here
tofore ordered, with power to visit In
dian reservations and the Indian terri
tory.
Mr.. sherman remarked that investi-
cations which had been ordered two
Years ago should have terminated by
tbis TINA. Ii seemed TO him that there
sbonld be an end to such Investigations.
RE asked that the resolution should go
over.
Mr.. Sherman's remarks were replied
10. and the resolution was advocated by
Senators Jones, Call, Butler, Higgins,
Cullom and Hawley, and finally the de-
hate drifted into a discussion Of the re-
cent judicial decisions as 20 the rela-
lions between railroad corporations and
employees.
Mr.. German took the lead in this dis
cnssion. He said that one matter TO be
Incurred into was the recent decisions
of the United States Judges, and wheth-
ar. in view OF the Interstate Commerce
law and OF the Antitrust Law, Judges
had riEht to determine not only what
arnilroad employe should do, but what
ne should not do, Those decisions was
the first great step on the part Of the
judiciary TO make Serfs OF the men
who were employed by railroad
corporations. The recent judicial
decision that railroad employees might be
restrained by an order Of the court and
might be fined and imprisoned II they
resigned their positions, was a most ex-
traordinary decision, and one that had
10 be met at the very threshold Of the
next Congress. Ii ought to be inquired
into carefully BY men who had but one
motive, and that was to see, while pro-
teeting the interests OF commerce, that
na Injustice was done TO individuals
and that the courts Of the United States
should not be armed with powers as
arbitrary as those OF the Gar OF Russia.
Mr.. Platt said that he had not yet
seen in the decision referred 70 anything
that looked like usurpation Of the power
nv the courts or looked like degrading
tbe workingmen OF the country TO the
condition OF serfs. BE believed that the
amnloyes OF railroads had no more
riOht TO engage in Determinations Of
commerce than their employees had,
and be did not believe that there was
ANYTHING either Ia the Inter State Com
merce on In the Antitrust Act that
Vas not an affirmation pf we'll c0nsid-
cred and well established common law.
Mr. Vest said that Judge Speers in
his decision had only atSSped what
ererv lawyer knew 70 be common
law. II any Judge hsd dec such q
dsolslpn o. tho Senator fronlA lland,