The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-04-19
INTERESTING Sessions
OF Both the Houses Of Congress
Held Yesterday.
THE LABOR BILL DISCUSSED
In the House and the Election of
1870 Comes up in the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman Defends the
Republican Position.

WASHINGTON, D. G., April 1s.-1n the
House to-day the bill called up was that
to create boards of arbitration for the
settlement OF controversies and differ
ences between interstate common car
riers and their employees, and it was con-
sidered in Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. 0'Neil, Of Missouri, briefly explain
ed the provisions Of the measure that it
was substantially the same bill which
passed the last Congress, but at too late
a day to receive Presidential approval.
The only difference was that the pend
ing bill provided for special boards OF ar
bitration to be appointed by the Presi-
dent to inquire into the causes OF strikes
and report TO Congress.
Mr.. Parker, OF New York, regarded
the bill us being good for nothing. 1t
pointed nowhere, and went nowhere.
1t was a mere temporary make-shift, and
left all the great questions which we're
troubling the labor Of the country pre-
Cisely where they were before, with
mere pretense that Congress had done
something. II was sweetened wind. II
was cheat and fraud upon the peo-
pie OF the country. He favored law
upon the subject which would prevent
the commerce of the country from be-
ing paralyzed whenever q difference oc.
Cured between railroad management
and its employees.
Mr.. Buchanan, OF New Jersey, said
that the remark OF the gentleman from
New York Mr.. Parker] that the bill was
a cheat, was conspiCuously inaccurate.
The Committee on Labor did not claim
that there was anything in the bill, ex-
cept n provision.for voluntary arbitra-
ton. Great difficulties would beset the
American Congress when it attempted
to go further than that. Enforced arbi-
tration meant enforced award, and that
meant that the party against whom the
award was giyenEmust perform its terms
or go to JUL. 1t was this difficulty which |
impelled the committee to adhere to
that principle OF voluntary arbitration.
Mr.. Brumm, Of Pennsylvania, said |
that when labor bills came before the
House somebody always talked OF the
tariff and free trade, and the gentleman
from Michigan (Tarsney) had to-day
touched upon the tariff rs being respon-
sible for the labor troubles. II THE gen.
tleman would take pains to investigate
stock watering i'll Wall street and the
damnable whisky ring OF Kentucky he
would strike nearer the root OF the evil.
1t was simply whisky and water syn
dictate that was the evil under which the
country was suffering.
At this point the debate drifted away
from the Arbitration bill proper and
took the form OF n discussion upon the
tariff. Finally Mr.. Anderson, Of Kan
sas, offered an amendment which was
advocated by Mr.. Peters, of Kansas,
lOOliingto compulsory arbitration.
On motion OF Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois,
the sixth section which provides for the |
appointment by the President OF boards
OF arbitration washmended by substitute
ing the words Commissioner" for "Ar-
bitrators" and "deeisi0n" for award"
In speaking to the amendment he m.
nounced his support Of the bill, as lie
thought the commission provided for
woHld have a beneficial effect.
Mr.. Breckenridge, OF Kentucky, re.
garded the measure as unconstitutional
and unwise. The committee then rose,
the bill was passed and the House nd.
jouTned,