The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-11

courts had gone heretofore. He under
| stood that that was the subject OF In
| quiry proposed in the resolution offered
| some days ago by the Senator from In
| diana (Mr. Voorhees,.
Mr.. Bryce inquired more particularly
| as to what Mr.. Vest understood 10 be
| Judge Speer's decision. and was told that
| Mr. Vest simply understood 1t TO be an
exercise OF the ordinary Jurisdiction of a
court over the actions of receiver APP
| pointed by It.
Mr.. Voorhees, said that his attention
had been called a few mornings ago "a
the recent decisions Of Judge Taft and
Judge Kicks, and that these decisions
mad prom pied the resolution which he
had offered He was satisfied that the
interstate commerce act went farther
than any one supposed it did at the tine
Of its passage. He had read Judge Speers'
decision In the newspapers He thought,
however. tfat the fault was I'm the law,
and perhaps in the willingness and eager
ness OF Federal judges TO cOnstrue the
law in favor of corporate rover and
against the labor OF the country. The
most dangerous question that the coun-
try was facing to-day was the encroach-
ments or corporate power Of colossal
wealth aEairst those who were help
lessly in its power and whom II wanted
70 have chair cd 10 their labor as com
pleiely as the galley slave was chained 10
MS oar This power claimed that the
railroad emplOye was enlisted as a pri-
vate soldier; and n he left his post he
was TO be punished as a deserter. When
an issue OF that kind was presented the
country had reached a point where ii be-
came senator's TO halt lie heartily re-
sponded TO the sentiment Of the senator
from Maryland (Mr. Gorman) as TO the
grasping power OF the Federal judiciary
but he thought the Senate ought first to
clear It's own skirts. and ought TO see TO
II that no law remained on the statute
DOCKS which punished an individual
iab0fer for leaving the employment OF a
corporation whenever he chose TO DO so.
lie had, therefore. felt II his duty TO in
troduce resolution directing an inquiry
as 10 what action might be necessary
for the better protection Of the laboring
people OF the United States in their
natural and inalienable rights. and for
their greater security from the encroach-
ment Of corporation powers. Nobody
pretended that a railroad engineer could
leave his engine. endangering a train OF
cars and endangering the lives of its
passengers. But that was not all that
was contemplated I'm the Interstate com
merce law. That law said. in plain
terms, that he could not. az once and in
an orderly way, severe his connection
from corporation. that he was enlisted
to stay and was TO be punished as a de-
serter If he did not stay
He voorhees, had only this 10 say IN
regard 10 the judiciary. that when bad
laws were enacted. when mistakes were
made some judges are glad to mitigate
those laws. and 10 show no pleasure in
their enforcement; but there were other
Judges who grasped after power. who
loved power for its own sake. and en-
forced II rigidly. Jefferson. the great
apostle Of popular liberty in this country.
fOreseeing the danger, had once said that
the Federal judiciary were the sappers
and miners Of constitutional liberty
And. Mr.. Voorhees, added. so they are
such Of them as have with a greedy thirst
and hunger enforced laws OF this kind
20 their utmost limit / think that the
Committee on Interstate Commerce can
not be better employed than in inquiring
into this dangerous question.
Mr.. Platt did nOi feel that the criti-
cisms passed upon the judicial decisions
referred 10 were wei! taken. They seemed
10 be eminently reasonable and In plain
purpose Of good law and common sense.
The real. true labOring man of this
country desired 10 CtFage In no organiza-
ton or association or 10 be guilty Of any
rations OF trade. And no greater injury
could be done 70 him and 10 his cause
than by incorporate appeals 10 him 10
defend any fancied right 70 engage in as
sOciations or organizations calculated 10
do public injury.
II was not wise. Mr Platt went on 70
say. 70 attack the judiciary Of the United
States II was not wise 10 charge the
judiciary with desiring 10 usurp power.
II was not wise TO intimate that judges
were Cars. II was not wise 70 talk about
the disposition Of the judiciary 70 reduce
lab0rers 20 the condition Of serfs; TO talk
about laborers being chained 10 their
oars.
The laboring man had confidence in the
courts. and he would be protected I'm all
his legal rights. But he (Air. Platu did
not believe. and the laboring man did not
believe. that while engaged in the employ
ment Of common carriers he could choose
his own time 10 leave that employment.
Mr.. Platt apprehended that no laboring
man. whether he belonged 10 a labor
organization or not would set up that
right. and therefore II was not true. as "A
matter Of law. that the employe could al
WAYS quit the service Of the coGmOn
carrier. Just when and how he might
Quit that service. and under what circum-
stances. he would not undertake 10 say.
That might safely be left 70 the courts.
If the courts had made any mistake In
The recent decisions. the Supreme Court
~ the United States would set 1t right.
The debate was continued by Messsrs.
Butler. H0ar. Cuilom. Call and Chandler.
and then the question went over till to-
morrow Mr. Palmer will have the floor
to speak upon IL.
Mr.. German moved to go into executive
session.
Mr.. Hoar antagonized the motion. and
called for a division. The vote stood.
Yeas. q: nays. %. No quorum. and the
Senate adjourned.