The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-04-24
Current Events.

On Thursday the President sent spe-
cial message 10 the senate relative to the
continued labor difficulties through which
the country is passing, suggesting that rs
strikes Of the magnitude Of the present
tend to disturb the business interests Of
the whole country, the general govern
ment ought 10 take such steps as will make
them less serious and less frequent in the
future. TO that end he advocates the es.
adjustment of a labor commission OF three,
who shall constitute a board OF voluntary
arbitration-the members of il to be per
manent officers of the government, "Charg
ed, among other duties, with the COnsdera
tiDn and settlement, when possible, of all
controversies between labor and capital
Under the plan proposed by the President
the commission would be a part of the La
Dor Bureau established by the act of 1884,
and to the bureau would be given IA larger
scope of authority than hitherto possessed.
The Curtin special committee appointed
under the resolution of Mr.. Morrison, TO
investigate the strikes and labor difficulties,
have been engab' j throughout the past week
eSaming witnesses subpTn~d relative to
the cause Of the same. Both Grand Mas
ter Workman Powderly and Jay Gould
have appeared before the committee and
testified at length as TO their connection
with the Southern Pacific strike and the
difficulties between them. Mr.. Gould
stated. in the course of his evidence, which
lasted five hours, that while he was in
favor of arbitration he was not now willing
to arbirate with the knights of Labor He
believed that there ought to be peremptory
arbitration on the part of the government
The statement made by Jay Gould be
fore the Curtin committee that he has not
invested dollar in stocks since last Janu-
airy will hardly be believed by those who
know Gould's methods of doing business,
and readiness to take advantage of the stock
markets whenever there IS any decline in
the value of railroad securities. II is more
than probable that he did not state the en-
tire truth before the committee
The senate has under consideration Soma.
ter Cullom s inter state commerce bill which
has called forth an active debate. In many
respects II Is similar to the bill introduced
by him at the last session of congress. The
notable feature of 1t Is its provision for a
national railway commission that shall have
powers similar TO those granted by the rail-
way and warehouse laws of Illinois to the
Illinois railway board. If the bill passes
the senate it will probably meet with de.
feat.in the house, that body having already
passed the Reagan inter state bill which Is
essentially different from the measure of
the Illinois Senator.
The senate has thrown aside all pretense
of observing the Edmunds' resolutions, and
throughout the week has not only confirmed
nominations wherein no papers were fur.
nished, but those where active opposition
was made. Senator .Edmunds has on
several occasions attempted to prevent such
action, but in every instance he has been
unsuccessful. Whatever influence Senator
ElmundS had with his fellow senrtors at
the opening of TIE present session he has
lost through his foolish and faCtious oppo.
ition to the President,
The majority members of the ways and
means committee have been very active in
their endeavors TO have favorable action
taken by the house on the Morrison Hewitt
tariff bill, which has been introduced and
which reduces the revenues of the govern
ment S2t,000,000 It places lumber, salt
and wool upon the free list, together with
a great number of raw materials used In
manufacturing. The opposition to its pas
sage comes from the republican members
under the lead Of Congressman Mckinlay
of Ohio, and few dishonest democrat!
under charge OF Sam. Randall, who is Il
present more active In republican circles
than he Is In democratic ones.
Secretary Manning has SO far recovered
as to be able TO see his friends and TO rid,
out little. IL is now stated at Washington
that he will not resign his position rs Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury, but will soon re, as
sumo his official duties Since his entrance
upon the duties ot the office he has so 50
cured the confidence OF the business In
terests of the country a. TO make il Quit,
Important tor the President to have him IL
the cabinet.
While the strike al East ST Louis Is still
on and business in great measure Is SuS
pended and the militia yet on guard, il |.
not 50 serious as IL was week since
There have been but few attempts at VIC
lence during the past week, and no njur,
10 property has been done. The most seri
Gus strike now on in Illinois is that Of tn
Lake Shore switchmen at Chicago, who ar
all out and have been during the week
Gov Oglesby visited the scene of actio
ON Tuesday, but nothing was accomplish
ed. He has thus far refused to call ou
the state militia, and the sheriff of Cool
county has sworn in 200 extra deputie.
under an order Of court toprotect the prop
erty of the road. All efforts thus far mad,
10 move trains OF the company nave failed