Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-09
FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

Mr.. Harris, president pro TEN OF the
Senate, presided at to-day's session, in
the absence of Vice President Steven
son.
Mr.. Lodge, having presented peti.
ton asking for an inquiry as to the VIC
lation of the eight-hour law, was asked
by his colleague (NTr Hoar whether
he had any complaint from any work
men of Massachusetts, for being over
worked, and replied that he had not
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Al.
len and laid on the table for the pres
ent, calling on the Treasury Depart
ment for information as to the sources
from which the gold coin of the coun-
try Outside of the treasury was re-
ceived during the fiscal year lS93--to
the amount of 100000.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Chandler, instructing the judici-
| airy committee to inquire into the au-
thority tor the appointment OF Mr..
Blount as commissioner to Hawaii,
without the advice and consent OF the
Senate, was laid before the Senate.
Mr.. Vest moved to lay the resolution
on the table, stating that the whole
matter touching affairs in Hawaii was
now undergoing investigation by the
committee on foreign relations
Mr.. Sherman took the same view of
the question and suggested that it
would be disrespectful to the commit
tee on foreign relations to have another
committee instructed to inquire into
the same matter.
In view of these considerations, Mr..
Chandler withdrew his resolution-the
subject matter being within the scope
of the inquiry now going on before the
committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Gray gave notice that at p. m.
he would ask the Senate to proceed 10
the consideration of the House bill to
repeal the federal election law
The Senate then proceeded to the
consideration of bills on the calendar
and soon after went into an executive
session.
The doors were reopened at 2:20 and
the Senate after ordering that the fed
eral elections bill shall be the 'uniln-
ished business" from and after Monday
next, adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE.
When the House met to-day at |
o'clock there were Just forty members
present by actual count. The galleries,
too, were somewhat depleted, and there
was & general air of relief manifest thai
the House had overcome all obstacles
and had got well started OH It's tariff
journey.
After the call Of committees for re-
port; (Which was without RESULT the
House went into committee of the
w lole, with Mr.. Richardson in the
Chair, and Mr.. Wilson resumed his
speech, which was dropped yesterday
at five o'clock. He held that any in
dustry which was dependent upon the
protection of law, or leaned against the
taxation laid upon other Industries, re-
duced the rate OF wages. They re-
duced wages, if not in the main, at least
by reducing the purchasing power of
wages. The English ironworke-s paid
three or four times as much as the same
class of laborers in Russia, yet England
has been able to maintain her suprema-
cy against this competition of cheap
Russian labor. The United States had
exported last year over 100000 bales
of cotton to be held in the markets Of
the world, which was sold in competi
ton with the cotton Of Egypt and In
dia, even though the wages paid on
American plantations was ten times as
much as in Egypt and India. In refer
ring to the numerous petitions which
had been presented in Congress- pro-
testing against the passage of this bill,
Mr.. Wilson intimated that they bad
been signed under coercion. His mail
every day was filled with letters from
workingmen stating that those petitions
had been signed under duress, and
hoping that he Mr. Wilson, would not
be influenced by them.
Mr.. Doolittle asked Mr.. Wilson if ne
meant to compare the intelligence of
the American laborer with the intelli-
gence Of the slave.laborer of the South
before the war.
Mr.. Wilson replied that no one with
intelligence above that of the slave
laborer would ask such question.
Mr.. Wilson subsequently wirhrdew
his remarks.
When the applause which greeted
the close of Mr.. Wilson's speech had
subsidized, Mr.. Doolittle stated that he
attributed the remark of the gentleman
from West Virginia in reference to him
self as due to his (Mr. Wilson'S appre-
citation with slave-labor intelligence,
and he therefore accepted the apology.
Derisive cheers on democratic side.
Mr. Wilson replied that his apology
was due rather to the slave than TO the