The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-19
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
MIR. Coke Points Out Weak Spots in the
House Strike Arbitration Measure.
Discussion of the SIS and 81 Month Pension
Questionable House Talks of Steamship
Subsidies and Commercial Interests.


the Senate letter from the Secretary of the
Treasury, transmitting in compliance with a
: eenate resolution, information as to the
claims allowed by the Treasury Department
under appropriations, the balance of which have
been exhausted or carried to the surplus fund.
Also, a letter from the Postmaster general trans
hitting, in like compliance, information as to
the reimbursement of postmasters' salaries under
the act Of March 3. 1883.
Mr. Hale presented a memorial Of the United
States and Brazil Steamship Company, the Pa
cifc Mail Steamship Company. the New York
and Cuba Mail Steamship Company, the Red D
line of steamers, and the New York and Havana
and Mexican Mail Steamship Company. In pre-
senting the memorial Mr. Hale remarked that it
denied squarely what had been stated in certain
newspapers. namely that attempts had been
made to improperly influence Congress in favor
of what were called subsidies. Mr.. Hale wished
to say, in connection with the recent action of
the Senate in regard to foreign mails, that if
this great effort to revive American commerce
ever prevailed in Congress. it would not be by
the influence of any lobby. It could only come
about because the American people were grow
and, sooner or later, Congress would have to
respond to the popular demand.
Mr.. Hoar presented the petition of the New
England NJ. E. Conference urging the United
States to enforce the terms of the Chinese
treaty so as to protect the lives and property of
Chinese subjects in the United States.
Mr. Gibson reported favorably. from the COM
mittee on commerce, and on his motion the Sen
ate at once passed. a House bill supplying de-
"a hc
june 1886, the examinations and survey regard.
ing the depth of water. etc., at the South pass,
Mississippi river
On motion of Mr. Doph, the Senate passed a
bill extending the limits of the port of Portland.
Ore. so as TO include the east bank of the
Willamette river, opposite that city for one
mile in width, and from the south boundary line
of the city down the east bank or the river to a
point opposite the lower end of Sand island.
A motion to proceed with the consideration of
the Staten Island bridge bill was lost % to "a
The bill retains its place on the calendar.
AT o'clock the pension bill was placed before
the Senate, bnt was temporarily laid aside to
permit Mr.. Coke to address the Senate on the
House labor arbitration bill. Mr.. Coke said he
would vote for that bill after one or two amend
ments should have been made to it, He believed
it provided the best practicable remedy for the
difficulties with which the bill dealt That
remedy was voluntary arbitration. to be ap-
pealed to by the parties Immediately concerned
thing the serious differences that from time to
time arose between corporations and their en-
ployes. The bill furnished, free of expense to
both parties, method that should be acceptable
to both. Neither side could afford to defy pub
lie opinion by refusing to avail itself of so bene-
fetal remedy. MIR Coke did not favor the es-
adjustment of permanent board of commits
sioners, such as had been recommended by the
Presidents message Such board, blr. Coke
believed, would inevitably become tribunal
fow To
be intended it should so become. The plan Of
voluntary arbitration provided by the House
bill, he contended, was much better. The
arbitrators under the bill would be chosen in
each case by the parties Immediately interested
and would be chosen because of special knowl
edge of the subject involved in the dispute.
The commissioners being voluntarily chosen by
the parties concerned, their decision would be
rcore acceptable to the parties involved than
that of any permanent board. AS to the respon-
sibility of railway companies for the operation
of their roads, Mr.. Coke said they should be
compelled co keep their roads in operation,
strike or no strike; and, on the other hand, any
one who interfered with that operation should
be treated with the utmost severity. The public
interest was the first consideration. Mr. Coke
recognized the absolute necessity of restraining
railroads. No one. he said could read the his
tory of railroad development without feeling
of profound Indignation and disgust that
a system which, like that of railroads,
had become so Indispensable a neces-
sity to civilization, should be an instru-
mentality in the hands of few individu-
ais for the systematic robbery of the people
1t was to paw dividends on warered stock
that wages railroads were squeezed down
The evil would never correct itself. The
State governments and the United States gov
eminent should unite to crush out the practice
which lays at their doors difficulty so serious
as to menace the common welfare The House
bill provided arbitration-but whenl After the
trouble had arisen and after the arbitration
should be appealed to. aud the decision rendered
there was no means of putting the decision into
effect. He would propose that commission, to
be called "a commission of arbitration" should
be selected by the President; that the men
should be selected, part Of them for their know-
edge of the law and part of them for their
knowledge of the laboring interests of the coun-
try and from among those interests, the commits
sioners to be five in number, and to have power
to examine witnesses, etc. He would provide
that, when the decision is made, it should be
filed in the United States District Court, placed
on record there and become decree of the court
That would secure a method of enforcement for
the decision. Under the House bill that could
it the duty of the commission
ers to examine all questions of controversy
arising between corporations and their employees
and make report to Congress- He would erect
the Bureau of Labor into Department of La
bor and require the Commissioner of Labor to
communicate with all corporations, to ascertain
particulars as to the number, character and com
pensation of employees, prices Of food rent ETC.,
and to submit comparative statements. so far as
practicable. of similar particulars relating to
labor in Europe. etc.
The pension bill was then laid before the SEN
ate. The pending amendment was that OF Mr..
Blair to that of Mr.. Van Wyck. Mr.. Van Wyck's
amendment is to add to the bill provision that
no soldier under the act should hereafter receive
less than SIS month. The amendment proposed
by Mr.. Blair is to provide, instead, that no pen
sion paid hereafter under any law to any soldier
should be less than 81 a month.
Mr.. Mcpherson said the Senate was not in
formed as to the amount the bill would take
from the Treasury. In order to get some in
formation to the approximate amount. he
moved that the bill be recommitJed to the COM
mittee on pensions.
Mr.. Blair said it would take from $40, 900, 900
to 1900, 600 year, so far as he had been able
to learn He saw no special advantage in re-
committing and opposed the motion. He men,
ad hav aad in wi ~,