The Portland daily press., 1886-04-03
XLlXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, April 2

MI. Harmer of Pennsylvania presented a me-
morialof shipwrights and caulkers, Knights OF
Labor, of Philadelphia, protesting against the
on motion. of Mr. O'Nell Of Missouri private
business waSl dispensed with and the House
went into committee of the whole ON the labor ar
bitration bill debate on the hrst secuon pelhg
limited to thirty minutes.
Mr. Dibble of South Carolina offered an amend
ment providing that the commissioner OF labor,
on the request Of either party to the controversy,
shall order an investigation to be made; The
bureau of labor, he said had been Ignored at a
great emergency and the purport OF ms amend
ment was to make the commissioner OF labor
factor in gathering this information.
ment proSidfng that the board Of arbitration shall
inquire into the practice of certain railroad COM
panies of maintaining company system OF lie M
Insurance to eVade the payment OF damages IOr
loss of life through negligence or otherwise.
Mr.. Phelps had no doubt that the laborng men
would get their rights II was only qqeStlon 81
He only dreaded the processes, and he would DO
what he could to make those processes more ef-
rights they lacked as they had got those they
possessed. Through public opinion they would
attract, they would persuade, they would con
vince the public, but the process must OF neces-
sity be WaSteful and diSorderly and turbulent be-
cause they secured their rights only by showing
MIR. Willis of Kentucky expected to vote for the
bill. He favored it, not because it was harmless,
but because it took forward step in setting the
greatest problem of the age. II the iaDorers or
sanized and asked Congress for the poor privilege
Of being heard by peaceful arbitration, in the
name OF justice and in the name OF equal rights
let their complaints be heard and pubic opinion
Mr. O'Neil of Missouri declared the Knights of
Labor were in favor OF arbitration ne ne $1,000 sto6a
for today the country was almost on the verge OF
violence. People we're standing idle and suner-
ing for food in the west on account OF the Strlke
while constitutional cranks stood qu1bbling on the
floor of the House. He appealed to the members
to stand by the committee on labor, 10 vote oown S
1I,,1a ,,fca tn mt
of men who could suggest nothing, who were mere
obstructionists and barnacles on the party and
who ought to have better sense. The amendments
were ali voted down, but the first section of the
bill was modified in several particulars
The committee then passed on to consideration
of the second section.
Mr. MCKINLEY of Ohio believed in the principle
of the bill. 1t conferred no rights or privileges
touching arbitration, which were not now enloyed y
l,y common carriers and thnSe engaged i'll their
service. 1t left them where it found them, with
the right of voluntary arbitration to Settle tnelr
differences through peaceful and orderly trlDu-
nal of their own selection. 1t only undertook 10
furnish to them machinery for carrying on that
arbitration.
Mr. Lawer of Illinois declared that, without wish
ing to become communistlc in his utterances, he
was free to say that if Jay Gould was hung 10
lamp post in New York it would be blessing TO
the community known as the United States.
(Laughter). The action Of Jay Gould might cost
hundreds and thousands of lives throughout the
Western States. and the death of man ike this
was nothing compared with what might occur II
the QlI1CulLleS were nOG SeIbltu bllOoo obhbCo.
There was no sentimental basis in this matter; 1t
was just to the wOrkmen; there was no harm IN
this BILL and the discussion of it had had healthy
effect upon the country
Mr.. Kelley of Pennsylvania offered an amend
ment appropriating $4,000 for the payment OF
the expenses of arbitration. Rejected
On motion of Mr.. Lowery of Indiana, an amend
.ment adopted, providing that in no case snail
any witness be compelled to disclose the secrets
or produce the records of any labor organization
of which he might be an officer or member.
Mr.. Warner of Ohio would vote for the bill, but
with many miSgivingS as to whether it would ben
eft the laboring classes of the country; and i'll
this connection he quoted from a communication
to Mr.. Curtin of Pennsylvania from Mr.. Powder
ly in which the latter gentleman says: by all
the means in your power endeavor to have the
light of congressional investigation thrown on
these men, who owe SO much to the American
people, who oppress their workmen in
deal to accomplish in this investigation, and it
will do a great deal of good to the people,"
The second section of the bill was agreed 20
with certain amendments recommended by the
committee on labor, and the third and fourth
sections were agreed to without change.
While the fifth section was under CONSIDERATION
for the purpose of limiting debate, and before
motion to that end could be submitted, at 4.55 a
motion to take recess until 7.30 was agreed to,
the evening session being for the consideration OF
pension bills.
Mr. O'Neill of Missouri gave notice that he
would tomorrow ask the House to set aside the
special order for the day consideration OF report
from the coinage committee)
The House, at the evening session, passed 80
pension bills, and at $40 adjourned