Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-01
NRTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 81

WASHINGTON, March 81.
Mr.. Edmunds presented in the Senate to.
day the petition of Frank W. Tubbering for
a pension, and had the petition read; re-
ferred to the committee on pensions.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Van
Wyck, requiring the commissioners of the
Dlstrlct of Columbia to inform the Senate
whether any one of them is a stockholder.
director or attorney of either of the street car
companies, national banks or gas light COM
pany of Washington, ID. C., and if not so now,
whether one of them has ever been and when
he ceased so to be. The resolution went over
until tomorrow.
The army bill was then placed before the
Senate,
Mr.. Logan said that he had hoped to get a
vote before this time. but it seemed there
was no way to do so. He didn't feel called
on to answer what Mr.. Teller said Yesterday
and contented himself with replying to one or
two remarks personal to himself.
Mr.. Allison gave notice that at the proper
time he would move to strike out the four
teenth section of the bill which authorized
army officers to make deposits of money with
army paymasters.
At two O'Clock the chair laid before the
Senate the Washington Territory bill, but
Mr. Dolph, who had the floor, yielded to Mr..
Vance who wished to speak in favor of his
bill to repeal the civil service law.
Mr. Vance bitterly assaied the civil SER
vice law and was frequently applauded by
the galleries in the course of his remarks.
Mr.. Dolph then addressed the Senate in
support of the bill for the admission of
Washington Territory
At 5.25 the Senate went into executive
session.
AT six o'clock the doors were re-opened
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. O'Neill of Missouri, from the COM
nittee on labor, reported bill to provide
for the speedy settlement of controversies
and differences between common carriers
engaged in Interstate and territorial trans
portation of property or passengers and their
employees.
On point of order, raised by Mr.. Dunn
of Arkansas, the bill was referred to COM
mittee of the whole and the House imme-
diately went into committee for the consid-
Grafton of the measure.
Mr.. O'Neill said that for the past two
months the committee on labor had been en-
gagged in draining every avenue where there
was a reasonable hope of securing informa
tion as to some feasible methods, consistent
with the constitution and laws, that would
provide mode of settlement of the disss-
trous disputes between capital and labor.
The committee had decided that the pending
measure was the best it could formulate. 1t
was simply elective arbitration. He knew
that this was disappointing to many members
of the House. He knew there was feeling
in the breasts of many men that this was not
rhot h,,t tIn
fleet, they would realize that the first thing to
consider is how far they can regulate the dis
putes by an appeal to public opinion. If
this method failed he could see but one other
and that was the strong arm of the govern
ment to take gian. corporations by the throat
and tell them that they must yield to arbtra-
ton, that they must submit the differences
between them and their workmen to some
peaceful agreement, that the government
could not have the condition of affairs that
today prevailed throughout five States of the
Union, a practical revolution, all business
suspended and the people of great cities suf-
fering from the increased cost of food and
fuel. He did not pretend to say who was to
blame. He simply knew that the workmen
had stated that they were willing to arbltrate
their grievances and he knew that the presi-
dent of the Missouri Pacific had not yet con-
sented to do it. In the meantime, thank
Heaven, the sober second thought of Ameri-
can workmen had kept the strike within
bounds and he was convinced that they would
prevent any disastrous consequences until the
termination of this issue. The committee on
labor was unanimously of the opinion that
the bill was the best that could be passed,
now, to invoke the public opinion of the
country and compel men in this case, as in
all other cases, to appeal to reason and not to
use brute force to invade human rights.
The labor arbitration bill was extensively
discussed, great interest being manifested in
the debate which was very general.
Mr.. Reed of Maine said this country seemed
to have come to the beginning of what might
be a failure or great expansion, which might
be the commencement of a great epoch, CIV
ing larger freedom and fairer treatment both
to tine humble and great. The problem was
full of all manner Of difficulties. If it should
prove that the present uprising on the part of
industrious people of the country should af-
ford better facilities for a comparison of the
views between employers and employees the
foundation would be laid for broad and fair
understanding. So far as the bill proclaimed
itself penacea it deserved the reputation
of his friend from Pennsylvania (Kelley),
but taking it for just what it was saying to
the community that, ''you yourselves have
not reasoned this out so thoroughly that you
know what's fair. We offer to legalize our
eunnciation so far as they have gone and we
will give you an opportunity to put the re-
suits of your arbitration before that great
tribunal, the common sense of the people,
which is finally to decide it." 1t may turn
out that this legislature will amount to little.
1t may turn out that it may amount to much.
Suppose we try it, and when we learn
more, do more
Pending further discussion the committee
rose and Mr.. O'NeiIl of Missouri gave notice
that he would try to have vote taken on the
measure tomorrow at three O'Clock.
Mr. Willis of Kentucky reported the river
and harbor appropriation bill and it was
ordered printed and recommitted.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania submitted the
ordinance report and il was placed on the