Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-04-13

~ lheir tCCts'ons 10 NRke the Norh-
men the Slaves OF Their Employers
WASHINGTON, April l2,-The recent
decisions of Judges Taft and Kicks in
Chic and Spger in Georgia in relation
TO the rights and duties of railroad em-
ployes came up in the Senate ycster-
day in connection with resolution in-
structing the Committee ON Interstate
Commerce to inquire into that and
other subjects, and quite long aud
interesting debate resulted, which had
not closed when tho Senate adjourned.
Mr. Butler reported from the COM
mittcc On inter state commerce u reso,
tuition authorizing that committee TO
inquire whether or not the methods
prevailing in the transportation Of
freight and passengers on the great
railway lines Of The country, and the
conditions and necessities of travellers
and shippers and transportation COM
panics justify or require n repeal or
modification Of section of the inter
state commerce act, which prohibits
pooling under any circumstances also
whether any notifications should be
made concerning the relations between
common carriers and their employees.
Mr., PETER thought that Judge Ricks'
recent decision, which had been u good
deal criticised by labor organizations,
would he approved by them when
they came Ia understand better its
cope end view IL In all its fullncss 1t
was the first great judicial declaration
Of principle concerning the relations
between employers and employees. 1t
was a declaration that the railroad en-.
ployc was as much q common carrier
rs the railroad president or tho rail.
TOAD company. Judge Kicks decision,
Mr. PETER believed, would lead TO the
,,nnl adjustment of all the difficulties
between the employees and employers
of carrying corporations.
Mr.. German said that one matter to
10 inquired into was the recent docis-
ions OF United States judges and
whether, in view of the Interstate
Commerce law and Of the antitrust
law, judges had u right to determine
not only what n railroad employe
should do, but what he should not do.
These decisions were the first great
step on the part OF the Judiciary to
make serfS of tho men who were cm-
ployed by railroad corporations, The
recent judicial decision that railroad
employees might be restrained by an
order of court, and might be fined aud
imprisoned il they resigned their posi-
tons, was Il most extraordinary de-
cision, and one that had to be met on
the very Threshold of the next Con-
srcSs, II ought TO be inquired into
carefully by men who had but one
motive, and that to protect the inter
astS of commerce and see that no in
Justice was done TO individuals, anC
that the courts of the United state
should not be armed with powers ~
arbitrary as those OF the Car of
Russia.
Mr.. Platt said that he had not yet
Becn in the decision referred To any
thing that looked like uSurpution of
lower by the courts or that looked
like degrading the work.ngmcn Of
the country to the condition Of serfs.
lie believed that the employees of rail
roads had no more right TO engage In
discrimination Of commerce than their
employers hal. And he did not be-
lievc that there was anything, either
! in the Interstate Commerce net or in
the antitrust act that was not an af
iirmation of well-considcrcd and well.
established common law,
Mr.. Voorhees, sud that the most
dangerous question that the country
was asking to-day was In regard to the
rncrcachment of corporate power, of
colossal wealth against those who were
helplcssly in its power and whom 1t
wanted to have chained to their labor
ms completely MS the galley slave was
chained TO his oar. This power
claimed that the railroad employee was
enlisted as private soldier, and IL he
left his post he was to he punished as
u dcserter. lie had, therefore, felt It
his duty to introduce a resolution di-
recting an inquiry as 10 what
action might be necessary for
the better protection of tho
laboring people of the lfnitod
states in their rights, and for their
greater security from the cncroach-
ment of corporate power. Nobody
pretended, Mr.. Voorhees, added, that u
railroad engineer could leave his en-
rinc, cndangcring train of ears and
endanRcrinR the lives of its passcn-
gers. But that was not all that was
contemplated in the Interstate COM
merce law. That law said in plain
an orderly way, sever his connection
from corporation: that he was en-
listed to stay and was 10 be punished
as desertcr II he did not stay. He
thought that the committee on inter
state commerce could not be better
employed than in investigating this
dangerous question.
Mr.. Plat said il was not wise to az
tack the judiciary of the United
States. It was not wise to charge the
judiciary with desiring to usurp power
1t was not wise to- intimate that judges
were Cars. IL was not wise to talk
about the disposition Of the Judiciary
10 reduce laborcrs to the condition of
scrfs; to talk about laborcrs being
chained to their oars. The laboring
man had confidence in the courts and
he would be protc eted in all his legal
rights. But he tMr Plato did not be-
lieve and the laboringman did not be-
licve that while engaged in the en-
ployment Of common carriers be could
choose his own time to leave that EN-
ployment
After further debate the question
went over till to-day, when Mr.. Pal.
mer will have the floor to speak
upon 1t.
Big Guns ON the Way to Chicago.