The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-19
FORTY.NTNTH CONGRESS.
TIE HOUSE LABOR BILL in THE
SENATE.
Debats on the General Pension BIZ
Contlnued-PrOceedings In
the House,

WASHINGTON, May is. - Scndie.-
The Chair laid before the Sen
ate A letter from the Secretary OF the
Treasury transmitting, in compliance
with a recent Sena'e resolution, IN
formation as TO the claims allowed by
the Treasury Department under APP
propriations, the balance OF which
have been exhausted or carried TO the
surplus iunt. 49,,
Also a letter from the Postmaster
General transmitting, in like compi-
ance, information as 10 the readlust
ment of pOstmasters' salaries under
the act of March 3, 1888.
Senator III lie pre- ented memorial
of the United st ties and Brazil Steam
ship Company, the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, the New York and
Cuba Mail Steamship Company, the
Red ID Line OF steaners and the New
York and Havana and Mexican Mail
Steamship Company.
In presenting the memorial, Senator
Hale remarked that il denied squarely
what had been stated in certain news
papers, namely, that attempts had
been made 20 improperly influence
Congress H. favor OF what were called
"subsidies." Senator Hale wished TO
saw. in connection with the recent ac'
ton of the Senate in regard TO foreign
mails, that IL this great effort TO re-
yive American commerce ever pre-
vailed in Congress it would not be
done by the influence OF any lobby.
Ii could only come about because the
American people were growing more
and more interested in the subject,
and. sooner or later, Congress would
have 10 respond to the popular de-
mand.
Senator Hoar presented the petition
OF the New England Methodist Episoo-
pal conit renee urging the United States
to or iorce the terms Of the Chinese
treaty 30 rs 10 protect the lives and
property OF Chinese subjects in the
United States. Referred.
Senator Gibfon reported favorably
from the Committee ON Commerce,
and on bis motion the Senste at once
passed House bill supplying def
cheney appropriation OF 1892 to carry
on to June, 1856, the examinations and
survey regarding the depth OF water,
etc, q, the south pass Mississippi
river.
On motion OF Senator Dolph the
Senate parsed bill extending the linn
lis OF the port Of Portland, Ore, 40 as
10 include the east bank Of the Villa
mette river opposite the city for one
mile In width, and from the south
boundary line Of the city down tho
east bank OF the river to point oppo-
site the lower end Of Swan Island.
A motion 10 proceed with consider
alton OF the Staten Island bridge bill
was lost-22 10 "a. The bill retains
its place on the calendar.
At2 O'Clock the pension bill was
placed before the Senate, but was tenn
porarily laid aside to permit Senator
Coke TO address the Senate on the
House labor or arbitration bill. Sen
ator Coke said he would vote for that
bill after one or two amendments
should have been made TO 1t. He be-
Heyed II provided the best practicable
remedy for the difficulties with which
the bill dealt. That remedy was vol
un,ary arbitration, to be appealed to
by the parties Immediately cor cerned
IL was peaceful and reasonable mode
Of settling the serious differences that
from time TO time arose between large
corporations and their employfs. The
bill furnished free Of expense to both
parties method that should be &C
ceptable 70 both. Neither side Cou d
afford TO defy public opinion by retus
ing TO avail itself OF 80 benehcent
remedy for serious public evil. Sen
ator Coke did not fRvcT the establish
ment Of q permanent boa'd OF com
missioners, such as had been recon
mer ded by the Presidents message
Such board, he believed, woult
inevitably borrow a trouble, become
tribunal favorable to corporations
however little il might be intended
should 30 become. The plan OF vol
untary arbitration provided by tn
House bill, he commended, was mucl
better. The arbitiators under the bill
would be- choten in each case by tn
parties Immediately interested, an
would be chosen because Of specia
knowledge Of the subject Involved 4
the dispute. The commissioners bt
ing voluntarily chosen by the partie
Concerned, their decision would O.
MORO acceptable to the parties involve
than that OF any permanent bont
As to the responsibility OF Iailroa
companies for the operation OF the
roads, Senator Coke eaid they shuHl
be compelled to keep their roads
operation strike or no strike, and o
the other baud, any one who inte
fered with that operation should !
treated with the utmost severii,
The public interest was the fir
consideration. Senator Coke recc
nizsd the absolute necessity OF restrsi
ing railroads. No one, he said, coul
read the history Of railroad develo
ments without feeling OF pro!our
indignation and disgust that syste
which, like that of railroads, had b
come so indispensable q niece ssity 20
civilization, should be an instrumen
atty in the hants Of a few individus
ior the systematic robbery OF the pc
pie. Ii was to pay dividends
wat T, d stock that wages on railroa
were squeezed down. The evil Won
never COlftCt lAstii lub p'uto w
e,nmenis aud the United States Ga
eminent, while uniting to protect ra
road pr 2perty, as they should prott
railroad property end the interests
tho public, from assault or damal
ehould also unite to crush out {
practice which led TO the labor di
calties, that had become 20 serious
feature Of ihe railroad problem
Senator Logan, without committi
himself to the auppcri or Other vice
the House hill, would Of the pTol
time submit g substitute ior IL. I
House bill provided arbitration,
when, after the trouble had arts
and sf.er the arbitration should be
psaled to and the decision reader
Ia 70 was no means OF putting the
cision into fl .ot. He would prop
that a commission to be called
C)mmiR ION Of Arbitration" should
ssleCtad by the Piesident; that
men should be selectt d, part OF tn
Tor their knowledge Of the law {
part for their knowledge OF the lat
ING interests Of tue county and ir
among those interests; the CONN
y L