The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-11
JUDICIAL DECISIONS.
They Become the Subject Of De-
bate in the National Senate.
RESOLUTIONS FAvoRING INQUIRY.

Senator voorhees, Expresses Belief That
the Interstate Commerce Law Is Danger
Gus to tho Wealth Producers, While Sem
ator Platt Takes Contrary View.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE recent de-
cision of Judges Taft and Ricks,-in Ohio.
and Ipeer, in Georgia, in relation to the
rights and duties of railroad employees
came up in the senate yesterday in connec-
tion with resolutions introduced by Sena-
tor Voorhees, instructing the committee
on interstate commerce to inquire into
that and other subjects, and quite long
and Interesting debate resulted, which had
not closed when the senate adjourned.
Messrs. German, Voorhees,, PETER, Call
and Chandler led the debate In favor OF
the resolutions. In the course of his re-
marks Senator Voorhees, said he was salts
fed that the interstate commerce net went
farther than anyone supposed it did at the
time of its passage. He had read Judge
Speers' decision. He thought, however,
that the fault was in the law, and perhaps
in the willingness and eagerness of federal
judges TO construe the law in favor of the
corporate power and against the labor of
the country. The most dangerous Ques-
tion that the country was facing today
of colossal wealth, against those who were
helplessly in its power. He heartily re-
sponded to the sentiment of the senator
from Maryland as to the grasping power
of the federal judiciary, but thought that
the senate ought first to clear its own
skirts, and ought to see'to 1t that no law
remained on the statute books which pun
ished an individual laborer for leaving the
employment of a corporation whenever he
chose to do 80.
Nobody pretended, Mr.. Voorhees, added,
that railroad engineer could leave his
engine, endangering train of cars and
the lives of his passengers. But that was
not all that was contemplated in the inter
state commerce law. That law said, in
plain terms, that he could not, alone and
In an orderly way, sever his connection
from a corporations; that he was enlisted
to stay and was to be punished as de-
serted If he did not stay.
Mr.. Platt did not feel that the criticisms
passed on the judicial decisions referred to
were well taken. They seemed to be en-
tirely reasonable and in conformity with
good law and common sense. The real,
true laboring man of this country desired
TO engage in no organization or associa-
tion, or to be tSlilly Of any act that would
destroy property and restrain trade. 1t
was not wise Mr.. Platt said, to attack the
judiciary OF the United States. 1t was not
wise to charge the judiciary with desiring
to usurp power. 1t was not wise to init
mate that judges were czars. 1t was not
to talk about the disposition of the Judi
ciary TO reduce laborers to the condition of
serfs to talk about laborers being chained
to their oars.
The laboring man had confidence in the
courts and he would be protected in all his
legal rights. But he [Mr. Platt) did not
believe, and the laboring man did not be-
lieve, that while engaged in the employ
ment of common carriers he could choose
his own time to leave that employment.
Mr. Platt apprehended that no laboring
man, whether he belonged to labor or
ganization or not, would set up that right
Just how and when he might quit that
service, and under what circumstances he
would not undertake to say. That might
safely be left with the courts. If the courts
had made any mistake in the recent de-
States would sst It irig6ff.' OF the limited
A resolution for n committee to wait on
the president and inform him that the
senate is ready to adjourn sine die was of
fered aud agreed to without questions; but
subsequently motion to reconsider was
made by Mr. Hoar and was entered to be
called up hereafter.