The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-04-11
ABOUT The WORKINGMAN
CLEVELAND BACK AT WORK
He Returns from His Visit to Am
oassador Bayard-Eokies' Ap-
pointment-The Senate
is Weary.

WASHINGTON. April 1O.-The recent do
cisions of Judges Taft and Kicks In Ohio,
and Speed In Georgia. In relation to the
rights and duties of railroad employees.
calne up to-day Ia the senate In connec-
ton with tho resolution instructing the
committee on interstate commerce. to in
quire into that and other subjects, and o
long debate resulted. PETER thought that
Judge Kicks decision. which had been q
good deal criticised by labor organiza-
ttons, would b approved by them when
they came to understand better its scope
and 10 view II In all its fullness. Il was
the first great judicial declaration of prln-
ciples concerning the relations between
employers and employees. 1t was declar-
alton that . railroad employe was as
much o common carrier rs q railroad
president or o railroad company. Judge
Kicks decision, Peifor believed. wou' d
lead to the final adjustment of all difilcul-
ties between the employees and employers
Of carrying corporations. The resolution
vas referred to the committee.
Jones offered . resolution, instructinR
the committee ON Indian affairs to con.
tinue the Investigations heretofore Or
dered with the power TO visit Indian reser-
vations and Indian territory. Sherman
remarked that the investigations ordered
two years ago should terminate by this
time. 1t seemed to him that there should
be an end to such investigations. Unless
there was . public demand for them and
solne public usefulness 70 to como out Of
them, popular opinion would condemn
them and say they were pleasure parties
organised at the expense OF the govern.
ment Of the United States.
The debate drifted to the check to the
discussion Of the recent judicial decisions.
Gormon said that one matter 10 be in
quired into was the recent decision of the
United States court and whether, in view
Of tho Interstate commerce law aud anti.
trust law, the judges had right to deter
mine not only what Q railroad employe
should do. but what he should not do.
on the part Of the Judiciary to make serfa
OF the men employed by railroad corpora.
tions.
Platt said that he had not yet seen In
tho decision referred to anything that
looked like usurpation Of power by the
courts or like degrading the workingmen
Of the country to the condition of serfs.
He believed that the employees
VI EotsIo8un uAo uo Tt&bt
to engage in determinations Of
commerce than their employers had and
no did not believe that thcre was any.
thing. either In the interstate commerce
act or In the antitrust law, that was not
an affirmation Of well considered and
we'll established common law.
Senator Vest said that Judge Speed In
his decision had only affirmed what every
lawyer knows 10 DO common Law. He de-
cided that any contract or regulation In
restraint Of the commerce Of the United
Statos was absolutely void; that any en-.
giuesr had q right TO give up his employ.
ment, but when the association Of loco
motive engineers, or any othor associa'
ton or corporation, undertook to make q
rule and enforce It In restraint Of COM
merce. that rule was absolutely void.
Voorhees, said that the most dangerous
question that the country Was facing 10.
day was the cncroachment Of corporate
power OF colossal wealth against those
who were helplsssly In its power. and
whom II wanted to have chained 10 the
oar. This power claimed that . railroad
employe was enlisted as private soldier,
and II he left his post he Was to Be pun.
ishcd as deserter. He, therefore. felt /,
his duty to introduce q resolution direct.
ing an inquiry as to what action might b
necessary for the better protection OF the
laboring people. aud their greater security
from the encroachment OF corporate
power.
Platt said that Il was not wise to attack
the judicialists of the United States. 1,
was not wise to intimate that the judges
were csars. II was not wise TO talk about
the disposition Of the judiciary to reduce