New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
WORK ON CODE REVISION
Republicans Muster Full Strength
an Fight an the House.
FFrom The Tribune Bureau.l


Washington Jan. 1.-THE House to-day again
took up the codiflcation and revision of the laws
and succeeded in passing two more sections
after three hours debate. Phe amendment to
Section 49, proposed yesterday by Representa-
tive Smith, of Missouri first taken up. 1t
provides, in effect that in the matter of civil
rights the code shall not embrace agreements
made by labor unions peacefully to declare
strikes and boycotts A substitute proposed by
Mr.. Hughes, of New Jersey, covered practically
the same ground and both evoked great opposi-
ton on the majority side.
Representative Moon of Pennsylvania, chair
of the Committee Revision; Represen-
tative Sherley, of Kentucky. ranking minority
member, and Representative Littlefeld Of
Maine, bore the brunt of the Democratic attack
and defended the section as 1t stands on the
statutes, while Representatives Smith and
Booher, of Missouri; Cochran, of New York;
Hughes OF New Jersey; James, of Kentucky
and Sims, of Tennessee, were the leaders Of the
opposition.
After much general debate. during which Rep
reseutative Sherey took occasion to express the
conviction that many men espouse the cause Of
the laboring for entirely interested pur-
poses, the amendments were voted down, the
vote being practically party one, Representa-
tives Sheriey and Legare voting in the mega
tive.
In speaking on his amendment Mr.. Smith said
he believed labor unions had the lawful right to
make contracts declaring strikes, but 1t had been
the experience that whenever they did they
were barred by some court of equity on some
legislative enactment for fear they might cause
some Inconvenience and annoyance to the pub
lie Therefore, the efforts of strikers are often
suppressed by some court process. The power
of capital, he said, so great to minimize
and impair every effort made by labor In that
direction
Mr. Sherley declared, amid Republican ap-
plause, that any right guaranteed under the
Constitution any law which is violated by
conspiracy otherwise should be punished.
What we need in America" he said, lis to
teach the people to obey the law and not to
disregard it."
The laboring man. he said, was entitled to his
rights but" he added, amid loud applause, "the
time has not come in this country when any |
class of men are entitled to special rights over |
any other class" He willing to defend |
men and had done so. but he was not |
willing to be demagOgic about it to make the |
amendment the instrument of legislation that |
was crude and had not been considered by the
committee.
Mr.. Sherley became involved in brief COL
loquy with his colleague, Mr.. James, who said |
against the labor unions.
And circuit courts of appeal have reversed
district judges" responded Mr.. Sherley.
And laboring kept in jail until those
courts are reversed" retorted Mr. James amid
Democratic applause.
Derisive laughter came from the Republican
side when Mr.. Sims, of Tennessee, inquired of
Mr. SherIey how it happened that he was talk
ng on the Democratic side and getting applause
N the Republican side Mr.. Sherley repudiated
he suggestion that he antagonistic to the
ma jority on his own side of the house. He de-
dared that investigation would disclose that
lie was in accord with the Democratic party
upon those matters that relate to the real rights
f the 1aboring man."
An amendment offered by Mr.. De Almond to
trike out Section 20 because it conferred on
sderal courts in furnishing felonies and misde-
leanors committed under Section 19 the author
~ given to the courts of the state in which the
cts committed also killed The only
successfully to pass the gantlet
as one by Mr. Clark of Missouri, striking out
nat portion of Section 10 which provides for
Fenders the additional punishment of ineligi-
ility to hold any office of honor. trust or profit
nder the government. In anticipation of the
ebate and the necessity for votes the Repub-
can leaders mustered their full strength and
hereby were enabled TO vote down all amend ,
tents which they deemed undesirable.
The exceeding earnestness of the debate led to
lie charge that there had been a prearrange- {
tent, but this denied The Democratic
aders declared that they had intention of
filibuster./ The fact that many of
lie votes taken during the somewhat stormy de-
ate were almost strictly party votes was de-
ared by Democratic leaders to be incidental | :
nd not significant of any preconcerted plan
is likely that discussion of the bill on points ! .
law will be indulged in from time to time for !
everal weeks {
| .