Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-29
CHILD LABOR
BILL BEFORE
SENATE
C0NVICTS TURNED LOOSE
WITHOUT A PENNY
Eighty-Four Military Prisoners
at LeavenWorth Recon-
mended for CIemency on Ac-
count of Good Behavior,
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.

lby morning journal special Leased Wire
Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Bev-
eridge occupied the attention of the
senate throughout the day with con-
tinuation of his argument in behalf of
his child labor bill. He had only
reached the legal and constitutional
phases of the question after speaking
for more than four hours, and arr
rangement was made whereby he will
conclude tomorrow. In taking the po-
sition that as to power congress could
exercise any restraint it saw fit in in
tefstate commerce. Mr.. Beveridge met
fusillade of questions by his coll
leagues and his progress in argument
was slow. While he said the power to
regulate was absolute he maintained
that the question of policy always
would restrain any hurtful regulations.
A spirited cOlloquy resulted between
Senators SDooner and Beveridge when
the former asked if 1t was the position
of the Indiana senator that congress
had power to enact, under the com-
merce clause of the constitution, atlaw
which would prevent child labor in the
states. Mr.. Beveridge replied that he
SO held. Mr.. Spooner indicated that
he should later have something to say
against that position whereupon Mr..
Beveridge retorted that the senator
could issue a fiat If he saw fit. indi-
eating at the same time that this fiat
would be from the senate judiciary
committee.
81 issue the fiat for myself" retorted
Mr. Spooner. "You did give fiat
yourself" continued Mr. Beveridge,
when you introduced a resolution di-
recting the judiciary committee toad
wise the senate on the constitutionality
of the questions involved" He then
said that the effect of the resolution
was to make Senator Spooner chair
man of the subcommittee which
would report on the matter.
Mr.. Spooner replied that he had
been member of the senate for some
time-somewhat longer than the SEN
ator from Indiana, but he added, he
did not expect to be a senator as long
as the senator from lndiana--and that
| 1t was not an unusual thing for the
senate to refer a mattef to the Judi
ciary committee for report as to the
power of congress to act on a given
matter.
THE fiat lay in the resolution"
Mr.. Beveridge then remarked that
he had not yielded to the senator and
had announced when the senator
was not in the chamber that he would
be glad to answer any questions. To
this Mr. Spooner replied that the COM
mittee would be glad to get Informal
ton from the senator on the question
and that he would be glad to do so.
I"Of course" retored Mr. Beveridge,
81 cannot give the senator Information
nor can anybody else He added:
well. l might but the senator doesn't
think so"
Mr.. Beveridge closed the incident by
remarking that 1t might be well TO
postpone action until the supreme
court had pronounced on the sub
ject.
But there seems to be here" he adj
ddd, "a junior supreme court with a
desire to relieve the supreme court Of
the United States Of constitutional
questions and the senate of all respon-
sibility and above all think this prac-
tice is extremely dangerous"
Senator Beveridge continued his re-
marks until o'clock, when he sus-
pended until tomorrow. His position
Is that the power of congress to enact
the legislation is ample, but when
asked by Mr. Rayner If this power
could be exercised absolutely to pro-
/ hibit commerce between the states. he
replied that the question was an inn
possible one.
The senate adopted a resolution di-
recting the interstate commerce COM
mission to report as to the position in
its employ held by C. S. Hanks who
recently stated before the Boston
chamber of commerce that railroad
rates could be reduced 10 per cent
without impairing dividends The res
olution also asks for the facts on
which the statement was based. Both
houses today adopted a joint resolu
ton continuing the joint postal com
mission until Its affairs can be wound
upn.
The senate today confirmed the
nomination of A. Ballinger of Seattle,
to be commissioner of the general land
office.
The House.
Washington. Jan. 2S-Twcnty bills
relating to the District of Columb bia
were passed today in the house, being
District day" A joint resolution was
passed granting permission to the sec
ret"---. of war to sell during the next
three months to the citizens Of Mon
tana at actual cost to the United
States at the place of sale, limited
quantities, Of hay, straw and grain for
domestic uses from the stock pro-
vided for the use of the garrison at
Fort Assinibolne, Mont
Representative Dixon, senator-elect
from Montana, explained that there
we're 20, 900 head Of cattle In the Yicin-
lty of Assinlboine threatened with
stdrVation by reason of the blizzard
now raging and in direct need of hay
straw and grain.
At $40 D. m. the house adjourned.
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