The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-19
KILLED BY AMENDMENTS
Friends of Labor Vote Against the
Anti-Conspiracy Bill.
The Changes Made by the Committee
the Purpose of the Measure - 4
Somewhat Bitter Debate in the
Housc-FaiIs to Pass by 90 to 1f5.

Representatives of labor organizations
crowded the lobbies and galleries of the
House yesterday, awaiting with anxiety
the announcement Of the vote on the Anti
Conspiracy bill introduced by Representa-
tive Ridgely and expected to so limit the
meaning of the word conspiracy as to
make it not applicable to acts of labor
organizations. The bill as introduced by
the member from Kansas was in the form
adopted in England. When it was in COM
mittee two amendments were added which.
in the estimation OF the labor leaders,
practically robbed it Of its force.
In its original form the bill directed
that no agreements between persons in
contemplation of the furtherance of any
trade disputes shall be deemed criminal
and that the persons taking part shall not
be indictable If they would not be pun
ishable for similar acts committed by
them as individuals.
Nor shall such agreement or contract
be considered in restraint of trade or
commerce" is a clause that was stricken
out of the bill by the majority of the
committee. This step, according to the
argument of the labor advocates would
make trades unions subject to the Sher-
man Antitrust law. The contention of
the majority of the committee was that
such would not be the result.
The second committee amendment was
as follows:
Provided, That the provisions of this
act shall not apply to threats to injure
the person or the property, business, Oh
occupation of any person, firm, assocta-
tion, or corporation, to intimidation or
coercion, or to any acts causing or in
tended to cause an illegal interference,
by overt acts, with the rights of others"
The labor leaders held that it was not
just that the members of labor unions
should be deprived of the right of an in
dividual TO protest against injustice.
The special feature of the fight over
the bill was the attempt on the part of
those signing the minority report to get
a separate vote on the amendments. This
was emphatically and obstinately denied
them by Mr.. Littlefield who said he could
do nothing but follow the instructions of
his committee, which were, to report
favorably for passage of the bill as
amended. The bill was lost BY vote
OF Sc to 145.
Consideration of the bill was taken up
on the motion of MIR. Littlefield, under
suspension of the rules. Mr.. Flem-
ing asked for second, and controlled the
time for the opposition.
Mr.. Terry rose to argue against the two
amendments recommended by the commit
tee, saying that they would have an effect
exactly opposite to that desired by the
laboring man.
'The bill as now framed he continued
"is calculated to destroy the effect of the
amendment to the Sherman Antitrust
law. for which all the Republican mem
bers voted"
Mr.. Corliss had read by the Clerk tele-
grams from several organizations OF rail-
road employees asking that the amend
ments be stricken out and that all the
friends Of labor rally against the altera-
tions of the original bill.
Mr. Ridgely, father of the bill, speak
ing in its defence, said that he could not
ask anyone TO vote for the amendments.
The alterations were unwarranted, as the
measure originally introduced had been
found satisfactory in its working III other
countries.
Mr.. Green of Pennsylvania read COM
munications from railroad employees or
ganizations in his State objecting TO the
amendments.
Mr.. Ray. Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee defended the amendment pro-
viding that the immunity from conviction
of conspiracy granted labor organizations
in the bill be not extended TO threats and
intimidating practices.
MIR Fleming called the attention OF the
House to the fact that the bill as pre-
scented in duplicate to both houses of
Congress had been reported back to the
Senate without amendment. He thought
the judgment of the able lawyers of the
Senate should be given some considera-
ton He deplored the fact that Mr..
Littlefield would not allow a separate
vote on the amendments and thus the
relative merits of the majority and mi
nority reports be tried. He said he would
put rhe responsibility of passing the
mutilated bill upon the shoulders of the
majority. He added: The chairman of
the committee has in his hands fully
fifty communications from labor organi-
cations asking that the bill as amended
should be voted down"
Concluding ne pointed out that several
inaccuracies were patiently noticeable in
the body OF the bill. and he intimated
that such errors were made purpOsely by
the majority.
Mr. LittIefeld said that the amend
ments were added in order to keep the
bill from having the effect OF discrimi-
mating in favor OF lahoring men. and al
lowing them TO do things in restraint OF
trade. when such was denied to other or
ganizations and individuals. He quoted
the sherman Antitrust act, and said ne
did not think that it applied to such cases
as that under consideration.
Ia closing The argument for those op-
posed to the bill, Mr.. Fleming read let
ters from President Gompers and Hugh
r. Fuller, saying that they desired the
bill 20 be voted down, If its amendments
could not be eliminated.
Mr. Iittlefield said that the committee
had not been able to grant all the re-
quests Of the laboring men, but had gone
as far as it could.
THE RIVER AND HAPROR. RITZ |