The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-05-25

ing these men to pay income and eX-
cess-profits taxes, and thus aid in fl
nancing this war. We ought to pro-
tect their investment and the honest
deserving people who work for them.
We ought not at this time or at any
time-for there is no real necessity
for it--inaugurate vicious system
which commits the American Con-
gress to the encouragement of COM
petition between convict labor and
honest free labor.
This House has been practically
unanimous on all war legislation;
but draw the line against this UNI
patriotic legislation, for it is not war
legislation. 1t is proposed legisla-
ton which was attempted here in
times of peace. 1t is not necessary,
and while there has been a united
Congress in favor Of war legislation,
/ believe there ought to be united ac-
ton against committing our govern
ment to this vicious system of bring
ing convict labor in competition
with the labor of our own constitu-
ents, and hope the Republican and
Democratic Members will do what
they have done in the past when SIM
liar legislation was brought forward,
and will defeat it for the honor of
the American Congress, defeat it for
the welfare of organized and unor-
gained labor, defeat it in interest of
invested capital and in behalf of 10y
al and patriotic employees who are
doing their full share in the vigorous
and successful prosecution of this
war. (Applause.)
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment offered by Mr.. AUS
TIN: Strike out all after line 3, page
l, and insert in lieu thereof the fol-
lowing:
"That the United States convicts
shall be used as follows: In the con-
struction of such military roads as
shall be designated by the Secretary
of War, or on the redemption of
swamp lands to be designated by the
Secretary of the Interior, or on levee
work on rivers to be named by the
Secretary Of War"
Mr.. AUSTIN. Mr.. Chairman. !
| am surprised that any opposition
| should be made to my substitute, be-
cause it provides for and takes care
of this humanitarian feature of this
bill by working the convicts in the
open and not in competition with
| paid or free labor.
In the discussion here this after
noon, when the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr FORDNEY) was op-
posing this measure, he was asked
by the gentleman from Colorado
| (Mr KEATING) about the value OF
the exports of cotton goods and the
imports. have the figures here fol
normal or peace times. For the fis-
cal year ending June 80, 1914, we
purchased from abroad manufactur.
ed cotton goods to the value OF
$70,704,823 and we exported Amer.
lean manufactured cotton goods to
foreign countries to the value of
$51 ,467,233, showing a balance in
favor of the foreign manufacturers
of cotton goods of $19,237,95
Mr.. WEBB. Will not the gentle.
man be frank enough to state that
those imports of cotton goods were
composed of the finest kind of laces
and things Of that kind that we do
mot make in this country?
Mr.. AUSTIN. Oh, we are max.
ing those fine cotton goods in this
country in American mills. am
surprised that a gentleman represent.
ing 1873 cotton mills located in his
district should not know it. This
was in normal times, prior to the
war. Last year we purchased
4,144,5O0 more of foreign manu-
featured goods abroad than we did
prior to the WARRIOR the year end.
ing June 80, 1914. What is this
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