Speech #520040604

Returning to the State of Michigan. he became official stenographer to several of the courts. meantime studying law. He was in the year 1878 admitted to the bar. but did not practice law until a short time before his death. but continued the profession of stenography. In the year 1885 he was elected a member of the State]Legislature for the term of two years. and was then elected a member of the Fiftieth Congress. and in that Congress served with fidelity upon the Committee on Territories and on Military Affairs. and as chairman of the Select Committee on Contract Labor. This committee was created to inquire into the violations of the laws prohibiting the importation of contract laborers. and it was in this work that he attained prominence. The character of the immigration from all the countries of Europe to this country had become one of universal comment. The cities of the country. both East and West. were being rapidly filled with paupers and criminal classes of the countries of the Old World. becoming an unbearable burden upon the people of our land. They filled the charitable institutions of the different communities.