Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-19
TWO LABOR BILLS PASSED.
A BOARD OF ARBITRATION AND A
 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
The First Intended to Decide Differences Between Employer and Employed and the Other to be of Benefit to All-In the Senate.

Between Employer and Employed and
 the Other to be of Benefit to An-In
 the Senate.
 WASHINGTON, April 19-Labor had another great day in the house yesterday, and to-day Representative O'Neill, chairman of the labor committee, wears a broad smile Of satisfaction as he accepts congratulations upon the passage of two more important bills drawn in the interest of the laboring man. In the three days set apart by special order for the consideration of measures reported from the committee on labor six bills of the most vital importance to the workingmen of the whole country have been passed
 The first bill taken up yesterday was that establishing department of labor The gem eral design and duties of this department are defined i'll the bill to be to acquire and diffuse among the people of the United States useful information on subjects connected with labor ln the most general and comprehensive sense Of that word, and especially upon its relation to capital, the hours of labor, the earnings of laboring men and women, and the means of promoting their material, social, intellec- t1al and moral prosperity. The head of the department is to be known as the commis- sioner of labor, and is to be appointed by the president, by and with the advice and con- sent of the senate, to hold office for four years and receive a salary of S, 900 per an- mum. There is also to be an assistant com missioner of labor appointed by the president to hold office for four years; salary, 5000
 The commissioner of labor is specially charged to ascertain, whenever industrial changes shall make it essential, the cost of producing articles at the time dutiable in the United States in leading countries where such articles are produced under a classified ton, showing the different elements of cost of such articles of production. He is also to establish a system of reports by which, at in- tervals of not less than two years, he can re- port the general condition, so far as produc- tion is concerned, of the leading industries of the country. He is also to investigate all controversies and disputes between employers and employees which may tend to interfere with the welfare of the people and report thereon to congress The bill virtually ex- bands the present insignificant bureau of labor, which is but a small branch of the in terlor department, into a division of the government almost equal in importance to an executive department
 The second measure passed yesterday is known as the arbitration bill It provides that whenever differences arise between rail road companies engaged in interstate com merce and their employees, which obstruct or interrupt traffic, upon the written proposition or either party to the controversy to submit their differences to arbitration, the other party shall accept the proposition; then the railroad company is authorized to select one person, the employees to select another, and the two chosen to select third, all three of whom shall be citizens of the United States and wholly impartial and disinterested. The board thus constituted is to have power to arbltrate the existing differences and report to the commissioner of labor, who shall make public the awards of the board. The mem bers of the board are to receive $10 per day while employed.
 The president is also empowered at any time to select two special arbitrators, one of whom at least shall be resident of the state or territory in which the controversy arises, who, together with the commissioner of labor, shall constitute temporary board of arbitration to examine into the causes of the controversy and report the same to the presi- dent and congress. The services of the board may be rendered by the president for the purpose of settling a controversy, either upon his own motion or upon the application of the executive of a state. The enactment of the law, it is believed, will obviate all necessity for the appointment of special con- gressional committees to investigate labor troubles.
 In the senate yesterday there was a spir- argument on the bill to admit Dakota as a state, Senators Vest and Sherman being the participants. In the course of the discussion Senator Vest referred to the election of Pres ident Hayes, saying it was fraudulent Sen ator Sherman retorted, and the debate be- came very warm. Action on the bill was de ferred till to-day.