davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Convict Labor Bills.

10 the Editor OF IuE ZINES:
Two bills have been lately introduced In the
House-one "a bill for the protection of honest
industries from unjust and ruinous competition
of cOnvict-made goods transported from one
state or territory into another the other, "a
bill 10 protect free labor and the Industries in
which it is employed from the injurious effect OF
convict labor by condning the wares aud mer-
chandise manufactured by convict labor to the
state in which they are produced"
Permit me TO express the opinion that neither
OF these bills will have the slightest effect in
protecting free or honest labor Labor can
not be protected" by such methods 1he sooner
working people realize this fact, the sooner will
they learn how labor can really be protected" "
The only protection labor really needs Is
opportunity 10 produce all wealth 1t Is capable
of producing. and the right to keep the wealth
1t does produce, without being compelled to
share it with some one who has done nothing to
aid its production Any other protection" it
has no right TO and should not receive, and 1t is
senseiess to demand any other. The attempt to
furnish any other Invariably results to the in
Jury Of the great body of laborers.
Convicts are supported by taxation, the great
burden of which falls on labor. Taxation should
be readiusied so that none Of It would fall on
labor. Then convicts should be required to sup
port themselves by their own labor.
l vii, go further i propose that convicts be
allowed reasonable compensation for the labor
they perform. ] know OF nothing thst would do
more Ia really reform cunvicts than this lfthey
have families dependent on them, they could
then contribute 10 theif support If not, then they
could accumulate their earnings until tho ends
of their terms. and would then leave tho prisons
able to start right and would not be compelled
by poverty to resort to crime TO secure susie
nance. You may observe that believe that pov.
erty is the most potent factor in inducing crime
Out of Difference to certain honest laborers
that would be thereby displaced, it might be well
to not employ convjc;s in producing goods for
sale. But there are lines in which they could be
employed where sucb competition would not be
felt For instance, in developing public high
ways or in mining
Instead OF the bills above cited, 1t would be
better to psss bill providing that all convicts
should be employed on public works, that they
should be allowed good wages for their labor,
tenance.
conclusion, desire to add that it is probable
that neither Of said bills is constitutional, as
either would restrict commerce between the
states in direct violation Of q provision Of the
Constitution. c. B. HEMINGWAY
The Washington times., 1894-05-20

referred to the Ways and Means Committee,
and by these gentlemen it was torn to pieces,
and In its stead an entirely different bill was
constituted. In the course of time it got over
to the Senate, and after the Finance Commit
tee got through with it it was unacceptable
Then the Senate itself did a little more tinker
ing, after which the inevitable conference
I finished the job, the result being that the
product was not the bill of the tariff commits
sion, nor that of the Ways and Means Com
mirtee, nor of the Senate itself. Many OF the
principal features of the measure were en-
tirely the work OF the conference.
The history of the Mckinley act Of 1880 is
still fresh in the public mind. The appear
ance of the late Secretary Blaine before the
Senate Finance Committee, and the amend
ments suggested and so earnestly urged by
him and their adoption, in the main, by the
committee, will not soon be forgotten. When
the Senate got through with the bill there
were not so many amendments as are now
proposed by the Finance Committee to the
Wilson bill; but some of the changes made
were fully as radical and far-reaching. The
final disposition of the question is another
pointed instance of legislation by conference
committee.
But the practice has not been confined to
appropriation and revenue bills. The system
has been so extended that it now practically
embraces all measures Of a semi-public char
acter, and in several instances Insignificant
private pension bills did not escape. An ex-
member OF Congress is authority for the state
ment that the laie Senator Plumb was the
first to introduce this plan for securing the
passage of private and semi-private bills. 1t
operates something after this fashion: A bill
passes the House and goes TO the Senate, is
amended, and then some Senator interested
in it moves for the appointment of a confer
ence committee without referring the bill
back to the House for concurrence in the
Senate amendments. We are informed that
In this way number of measures of an en-
tirely different scope from those passed by
the House became the law of the land.
This is not legislation by the two Houses OF
Congress. 1t is not legislation by the COM
mittees charged with examination and report
on the matters submitted to them. It is SIM
ply legislation by conference committee.
Senator Hale knows all about these things.
He has occupied a seat at one end or the
other of the Capitol since and including the
Forty-irst Congress, except the Forty-sixth,
when in 1878 he went down before Green
hacker and Stonecutter Murch.
Legislation by conference committee has
become full-grown abuse. Now is a good
time to put stop to it. Is Senator Hale
ready to take the lead in a movement for re-
forn2
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
THE BRIBERY INVESTIGATION.

The Senate bribery investigating committee
got down to business yesterday. The public
will regret to learn that it has been decided
to conduct the inquiry behind closed doors,
even though 1t be the intention. as stated,
to print the record of the proceedings at the
conclusion of the case.
The allegation that "the inquiry could be
made more thorough and more complete
justice done to all by holding private hear
lngs may well be doubted.
1t is announced that the committee will
first inquire into the alleged attempt to bribe
Senators Hunton aud Kyle. and after finish
ing that branch of the business will then look
into the operations Of the sugar trust and its
agents.
One reason given for holding secret ses-
sions is that the questions the committee will
have to ask and discuss are Of a very delicate
and personal nature, possibly affecting the
private characters Of number ofSenators and
other people.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
THE CLASSES AGAINST THE MASSES.

The masses are learning, with certainty
never before attained, that they are In the
midst of a vital contest with the aggressive
class influence of the country. That honest
courage, broad conception, and absolute faith
in the people that marked the public services
of the Jeffersons the Jacksons. and the Madi-
sons seem wholly lacking in congressional
measures at the present time, and particularly
SO in the Senate, since that body has had the
tariff bill under consideration.
1t can be said. without doing violence to the
truth, that these lords of legislation. instead
of trusting the people actually distrust them.
Such condition Of affairs is menacing to a
proper growth and development ofrepublican
institutions. The people know more about
the economic questions of the day than they
are credited with knowing, and they empha-
sized that knowledge by the majority sent to
the lower house of Congress in favor OF re-
form. Upon the lines of taxation that ma
jority did its duty promptly and well, but
what can be said OF the Senator In the Amer
lean house of lords there seems to be no ques-
tion of party politics or political principle, but
rather an issue of the classes against the
masses.
One OF the most meritorious provisions OF
the tariff bill is the one taxing incomes, and
yet this provision is the one that has provoked
the most bitter opposition, and that. too, from
men who assume to speak for Democratic
constituencies
Man in his natural state, without the pos
session of property, needs but little legisla-
tion. 1t is the property rights that call for
the multiplicity OF laws and that engender
the great conflicts of civilization, not only in
the halls of legislation, but also in the courts.
and it is the property rights that have brought
into operation and developed to its highest
degree all the machinery of civil government.
Is it not just, then, that the taxing power re-
quire that property and its legitimate product
bear its portion of the burdens Of taxation?
The people are fully informed of the fact
that the principal opposition to this system OF
taxation comes from those, whose greed and
avarice are sorely expressing the toiling
masses of this country.
The people are determined to have favor
able hearing on this question, and if they fail
to get it through one Of the old parties. they
will get it through some new party that has
the courage and honesty to stand for equal
rights and justice to all.
The American people are intelligent, in
dustuous, patient and long-suffering, and
are only moved to action against the existing
order of Things after long and grievous
wrongs, and their present uprising cannot be
turned aside by Indifference or rdicule.
Congress will act the part of wisdom if it
recognizes the danger, acts promptly, and
averts fercer conflict that will surely come
unless the industrial liberties of the people
are restored to them by wise and just legis-
lation.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
HITS-OR MISSES.

1t may be confidently predicted that the
sweet girl graduate will have several remark
able essays to deliver soon on important and
abstruse subjects.
The mean men Of the western press are
circulating the story that Mrs. Lease carries
razor. AS it is not probable that she uses
it for the razor's usual function, it might be
well for these western editors to look out.
Wheels were used in the tenth century B.
c., leaving out of account those that re-
volved in the heads of the early politicians
and woman's rights people.
The rapid introduction Of the electric light
is reducing the use of gas tremendously, but
it has no effect on the fow at the Senate.
The deadly cigarette habit fails to kill in a
great many deserving cases.
There is an excellent new Hy-paper on thu
market. Manager Schmelz has not yet ex-
amined into its merits.
He who runs may be Reed.
DR.. Parkhurst has been dramatized. The
result is e farce, OF course.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
LEGISLATION BY CONFERENCE.

A few days ago Senator Hale, of Maine. in
speech on the tariff, tauntingly informed the
Democratic majority of the Senate that they
had no hope or expectation of crystallizing
into law the Wilson bill as it came from the
House or with the addition of the four hun
dred odd amendments which the Senate
Finance Committee has appended, but that
the real tariff bill, if any were passed, would
be the work OF a conference committee.
Senator Hale probably knew what he was
talking about. He has been long in public
life, having served a somewhat lengthy ap-
premiership in the House before his promo
ton to the Senate. While in the former
body he was member of the Appropriations
Committee in more than one Congress, and
as such served on numerous conference COM
mittees and assisted in reconciling several ap-
paren.ly insurmountable differences between
the two Houses.
Therefore when Mr.. Hale jeered his Demo-
cratic opponents he was well aware that the
practice of legislation by conference COM
mittee was not a new one. It has existed for
long time, and it has grown to such an ex-
tent during the last fifteen or twenty years
that it is getting to be, if it is not already, an
abuse Of the legitimate legislative functions
and prerogatives OF the representatives Of the
people.
As We remember, the practice of referring
to conference differences between the two
Houses originally pertained almost exclu-
sively TO appropriation bills, and was neces-
STATED by the pretty uniform habit Of the
Senate to increase the amounts carried by
nearly all the bills which came from the
House. In the beginning the conference
committee was sort Of split-the-difference
affair, the conferees of each House giving
and taking little. The system had much
to commend it during the short sessions, par
ticularly as it saved time and enabled the
two bodies to proceed with other business.
Now, however, nearly everything is thrown
into conference. Not only the great money
bills for the carrying on of the government;
the revenue bills, by which the ways and
means are provided, but also even insignif1-
cant private pension bills, have either to be
completed in this way or not at all.
1t is entirely safe to say that there has not
been an important measure enacted into law
during the last dozen years that has not been
effected in conference. In addition to the
appropriation bills, nearly all of which at
every session has to run the gauntlet, the
system now includes almost everything in the
shape Of legislation.
In 1888, in response to the demands OF the
country as expressed in the elections of the
preceding year, Congress decided to revise
the tariff. After long and exhaustive debates
IS to the best methods of procedure, a COM
mission was appointed to perform the work.
This commission visited many of the princi.
pal industrial centers likely to be affected by
changes, gave extended hearings. and accu-
mulated large masses of testimony, and finally
prepared and submitted bill. This bill was
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Special Sessions of Congress to Consider
Reform Measures.

Reform Measures.
To the Editor of THE TINES:
The present Situation, bad as 1t is, might be
worse 1t is reasonable to assert that It will be,
unless q remedy adequate to the case is found.
This requires serious and deliberate study by
power give relief and establish prosperity. but
there is no time in regular sessions for reform
measures TO be considered fairly. Routine busi-
ness and the '.iobs' take ALL when these are
through with, the Congressman hurries home to
"mepd his fences" Then the legislative author
ity of the nation goes into the Presidents pocket
and sleeps there, awaiting his sovereigns will on
the return of the regular session. to go through
the same sensely routine and such again, Thus
there Is political or economic progress
for fifty years that has been going on, and the
people in their conceit and besotted ignorance
imagine this to be good government. The frst
step towards relief is that Congress should be
made TO consider the measures on which there
is Il general agreement by intelligent organized
American labor. For this they should stay in
session or meet specially in extra session, when
routine legislation Is closed. In fact, once met,
as soon as possible after election, Congress
should not adjourn at all, but take brief recess
for rest as is needed. The legislative power
should always be alive and awake, free from
executive discretion a Congressman is q
salsried officer and his time belongs TO the
people.
= First Of all then let organized labor ask
special hearing in session devoted solely TO
consider measures Of relief
This Is the first step toward better times
Demand this persistently, and it will come.
ED
IL aIf fv,fvA Nav
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Washington, D. c., May Il.
Valuable Harps Burned

BosroS, May 19.-It has just been dis
covered that six Of the most valuable harps
ever brought to this country were destroyed
in the United States warehouse fire on Thurs
day. They were part Of the exhibition OF s.
/ P. Errard. of London, ct the Worlds
FAIR. Three Of them were of Louis XVI de-
sign and were valued at $4,000 each, while
the handsomest of the lot, called Prince of
Wales. was valued at $4,000. They were to
be shipped back to England, but four of them
were sold here the day before the fire.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20

OF any alleged contract that may exist, The
TIMES asserts that the people ut any time
have a right to refuse to continue to any
parties permission to use the public streets
for any purpose when such use has become
o menace to the peace and welfare Of the
people and constant source Of danger.
Let the people of northeast Washington
take up the fight for the removal OF this rail-
road from the city, and THE TIMES can be
relied on to aid the cause at all times.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Hard Times"
To the Editor of THE TINES:

10 tLe EultUr Ul he T. INES.
The high prices of the things We want, caused
by the failure to tax one subject, land, and BY
the taxation of all other subjects, is the one
great underlying cause of hard times
The remedy is the abolition of all existing tax
alton ON those other things, the result of which
would be to lower their prices, and the raising Of
all public revenues by the taxation Of land, the
result of which would be to lower (abolish) its
price.
With the price of land greatly reduced Il
would be easier for any ono to succeed In any
line of production, and all could have work
at good wages; and with lower prices of the COM
mcdifies needed, the wages received would pur.
chase more.
Those who desire to abolish hard times should
insist en- the repeal of taxes on commodities and
the tncre-s Sc Of the tax on land c.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
peop,e,s Church Young people Meet.

The Young Peoples Union of the Peoples
church held their regular bi-monthly meet
ing at the residence eff the Misses Daisy and
Mamie Hickox, 459 G street northwest. on
last Friday night. After the regular business
was transacted the meeting adjourned for a
social time. Dancing was enjoyed by large
ent were:
Rev. and Mrs. Alexander Kent, Mr.. and Mrs
MAXWELL Mrs. Reyburn, Mr.. and Mrs. Bisbec.
Mr.. and Mrs. a. j. Stabler, Mrs. Morris, Misses
II. May johnson, Beulah and Violet Reeves,
Clear Ruby Crowell, Reyburn, Gertrude Fair
child, Bright, Holmes, II. Morrison, Alice and
Maud Morris, Messrs. Horace Mann, George
Warren, Russell Abbott, Davis, Foster, Stewart,
hammond. Phillip Tindall, George hassleman,
W. S. Heith, Hurley, sullivan, Stokes. Elliott,
Monroe Louis H. Stabler, and DR.. Stewart
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
ABOUT HAWAIIAN DECORATIONS
Senate Bill Introduced 10 Allow American
Officers TO Receive Them.

cliiSSiS ~ iNSScNe inSIu.
Senator Turpie yesterday introduced bill
to authorize several American citizens to ac,
cept decorations and testimonials from the
Hawaiian government. The decorations the
acceptance of which is authorized. are: One
to Rear Admiral George Brown. of the navy,
that of knight grand officer of the royal
order of kalakaua. conferred upon him by
King Kalakaua Dec. 5, 1890; one to Ensign
George P. Blow. of the navy. of the royal
order of of kalakaua conferred upon him by
the queen; one 10 Lieut.. George L. Dyer, that
of knight companion of the royal order of
Kalakaua; one to Capt. George C. Remey, of
knight commander OF the royal order OF
Kaiakaua. conferred by the king: one to
Medical Inspector George W. Woods, OF the
royal order OF Kalakaua; medal OF honor
to Frank Lanier, OF the Charleston, conferred
by Queen Liluokalana for services to the late
king. These decorations are all awarded on
account OF cou-teses extended to the late
King Kalasaua during his visit to California
just prior to his death, and the recipients are
all connected with the United States navy.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Unknown Man Drowned.

The body of an unknown white man was
found floating in the river last nigh. at about
6o'clock near the Virginia end of the Long
bridge. Charles Campbell found the body
which had apparently been in the water three
days, and tied it to the bushes ON the bank.
He informed the police at No. 4 station, but
the body being found outside their jurisdic-
ton, the matter was left for the Virginia
authorities at Alexandria to investigate.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Social Mention.

Miss Katie Millard, Of Asheville, N, c.. is
visiting her sister, Mrs. George K. Denmark,
of 1918 Sixth street northwest.
Friday evening Miss Perdue entertained a
number of her friends, the occasion being in
honor Of Miss Wagner, OF Harrisburg, Pa,
who has been visiting the national capital
during the past week.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
AJudiciai ou,ine.

There was an air of loneliness in the City
Hall and vicinity yesterday in consequence Of
the annual shad bake given by the Bar Asso-
citation 1t Marshall Hall.
Nearly 20] members Of the District bench
and bar, piloted by Mr.. R. Ross Perry, attended
tie banquet down the river.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20

IT WILL be cheering news to the Treasury
clerks of those divisions affected by the Dock
cry reduction bill that places will be found
for most of them elsewhere. For several
months vacancies caused by death, resigna-
tions, and other causes have not been filed,
so that the people legislated out OF office can
be transferred to the vacancies.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
WASHINGTON, D. c., MAY 20. 1894.
The Weather To-day.

For District Of Columbia, Delaware, and
Maryland: Showers, probably followed by
fair; much cooler: wind shifting to North;
conditions favorable for frosts Sunday night.
For Virginia: Showers; much cooler; winds
shifting to Northwest, and becoming danger
GUS on the coast; conditions favorable for
frosts in interior Sunday night
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Distinguished People OFF for Europe.

New YORK, May 19.-On board the Cunard
liner Campania, which sailed for Liverpool
to-day, were Lord Ashburton, Lady Ashbur-
ton, Col. J. J. Upham, United States army,
Capt. Gull. and Cornelius Vanderbilt and
family.
On the French liner La Bretagne were Mrs.
Pierre Lorillard and w. II. Vanderbilt, jr.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Young Assanlter Caught.

Everett Winslow, sixteen-year-old negro,
attempted to assault Maggie Northridge, also
colored, in the Smithsonian Park near Seventh
street little before dark last night. The at
tempt failed, however, as the cries Of the
woman attracted Policeman Scbrader. who
captured the boy and took HIM to the Fourth
precinct station
The Washington times., 1894-05-20

THERE will be no early closing OF the de-
partments during the dog days this year. and
SO the clerks will have to put in full time.
And yet we are repeatedly told that there are
too many people employed for the work to be
done
The Washington times., 1894-05-20

IT BEGINS to look as if G. Il. J. Taylor, the
professional colored man from Kansas, may
be recorder of deeds of the District Of Co
lumbia after all.
The Washington times., 1894-05-20
Columbia Park.

DON'T spend 500 for lot, but WAIT until
You have read our extraordinary offer in sub
urban lots at Columbia Park, adjacent 70 WASH
ington, on page in next Sundays TIMES, where
you can buy lots from $25 to $50, On easy terms.
oall for circular and get in on the ground floor.
Of1ce 628 F st. NV
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-09

They sat cozily side by side at the theatcr,
enjoying to the top of their bent the miser
able fate of Desdemona, and dear George
told her that he would never be jealous of
her-no. not if she should give away / .000
pocket handkerchiefs-and then they had
squeezed each others hands under her lace
wrap, and they We're as happy as happy can
be Dear George" bought her box Of
bonbons and then ate them all up, for no
man was ever so much in love to be shy
in the matter of eating.
By and by it came to the end of the third
act, and after looking very restless and
wretched George said fondly, ''You won't
mind, dear will you, if just step out into
the vestibule to stretch my legs a bit will
you?''
If George had had half an eye, he would
have that she did mind very much.
No woman likes to be left alone in a theater.
but she only said coolly, ''Oh, not in the
least if you care to 60"
So George crawled over the laps of half a
dozen ladies, treading on their toes, scratch
ing their chips with his watch chain and
brushing the bloom off their laces and even
ing attire.
She waited about five minutes, and then,
swiftly bundling her wrap around her and
with her pretty face scarlet with indigna-
ton and embarrassment, she bravely left
the theater and went home.
And it served George right.-New Orle-
ans Picayune.