The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-19
MEN TO SETTLE STRIKES.
THE HOUSE PASSES THE ARBITRA-
TION BILL.

~
Eunuch.
WASHINGTON, April 1S-In the House
this evening the floor was accorded to the
Committee on Labor, and the House re-
sumed consideration of the bill to establish
department of labor. The bill was
passed.
The bill provides that there shall
be at the seat Of government a
department of labor, the general
design and duties of which shall be to ac-
quire and diffuse among the people of the
United States useful information on sub
jects connected with labor in the most gem
eral and comprehensive sense of that word,
and especially upon its relation to capital,
hours of labor. earnings of laborng men
and women and the means of promoting
their material, social, intellectual and
moral prosperity. The department shall be
in charge of a commissioner of labor, who
shall be appointed by the President, and
hold his office for four years. The
Commissioner of Labor is specially
charged to ascertain, at as
early date as possible, whenever indus
trial changes shall make it essential, the
cost of producing articles, at the time dutia-
BILE in the United'States, in the leading conn
tries in which such articles are produced,
by fully specified units OF production and
under classification showing the different
elements of cost, or approximate cost, of
such articles of production, including the
wages paid in such industries per day,
week, month or year, or by the
piece, hours employed per day, and
the profits of manufacturers and producers
of such articles, aud the comparative cost
of living. 1t shall be the duty of the Com
missioner also to ascertain and report as to
the effects of the tariff, on the state of the
| currency, on agricultural industry, and
| especially its effect on the mOrtgaged in
| debtedness Of farmers He shall ascertain
what articles are now controlled by trusts,
and what effect such trusts have had in
limiting production and keeping up prices.
| He shall also establish a system
of reports by which, at intervals of not less
| than two years, he can report the general
condition, so far as production is concerned,
of the leading industries of the country.
The Commissioner of Labor is also specially
charged to investigate the causes of, and
facts relating to, all controversies and dis
putes between employers and employees as
| they may occur, and which may tend to in
terfere with the welfare of the people of
the different States, and report thereon to
| Congress.
| The next bill called up was that to create
boards of arbitration for the settlement of
controversies and differences between inter
state commerce carriers and their employees,
and it was considered in committee of the
whole.
Mr. O'Neil briefly explained the pro-
visions of the measure, stating that it was
substantially the same bill which passed the
last Congress, but at too late day to re-
ceive the Presidential approval The only
difference was that the pending bill pro-
vided for special boards of arbitration to be
appointed by the President to inquire into
the causes of strikes and report to Congress
Mr.. Tillman hoped the House would not
allow this fraud to pass. He referred to the
recent Reading railroad investigation by a
committee of which he was chairman, and
he was interrupted by Mr. O'Neill with a
question as to when that committee would
report
RAP AT THE IRISH.
Mr.. Tillman replied that he was coming
to that and suggested that Mr.. O'Neill, like
all Irishmen, was too iInpetuous. He said
the witnesses were busy revising their testi-
mony and that a report would soon be
made. If his colleagues would stand by him
he would report some legislation which
would prevent the business of the country
from being paralyzed by railroad managers
and employees.
Mr.. farsney, of Michigan, favored the
bill rs a step in the right direction. Re
ferriug to Mr.. Tillman's remark as to Irish
men being impetuous, be said that the gen
tleman from Missouri mir. O'NeilD was an
American first. and complied with all the
requirements of the constitution and laws
of the United States, and the dome of tho
capitol was his dome, and his (Tarsney's)
dome; and where their second love might
he was no mans business They were
Americans, and they simply asked that un-
der the laws there should be equal Justice
done to all.
BLoUNT FAvoRs THE BILL.
Mr.. Blount said that while the pending
bill was criticised, he did not believe that
there was gentleman present who had in
his mind any proposition that would. be
better. He defended the bill and argued
that il was something for the government
to appoint commission when great strike
was in progress and the peace of society
threatened to go to tho place of trouble and
investigate all the facts connected with it,
The presence of a commission would exert
good moral influence, and it was possible
| that it might bring peace to the contro-
versy.
Mr.. Springer advocated the bill on the
theory that half loaf was better than no
bread.
Mr.. Foran characterized the bill as a leg
islative eunuch.
On motion Of Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois, the
sixth section, which provides for the ap-
pointment by the President of boards Of ar
btration was amended by substituting the
words commissioner for 'arbitrators"
and decision" for award"
The committee then rose and the bill was
passed, and the House at o'clock ad-
journed.
HISTORY OF THE BILL.
The bill was introduced by Mr.. ONeill.
of Missouri, and Is substantially similar in
its provisions 20 the bin passed during the
last Congress, and simply provides machin-
cry by which difficulties arising between in
terstate commerce carriers aud their ern-
ployes may be settled by voluntary arbtra-
tion. The sixth section, however, is "A new
feature, and authorizes the President to
select two special commissioners,
one of whom 1T least shall
be resident OF the State or Territory in
which the controversy arises, VINO, together
with the Commissioner OF Labor, shall con-
stitute a temporary commissi on for the pur-
pose of examining the causes OF the con-
troveTsy, the conditions accompanying and
the best means for adjusting Il; the result
OF which examination shall be- immediately
reported to the President and Congress, and
on the rendering of such report the services
of the two special commissioners shall cease.
The services Of a commission 10 be ordered
at the time by the President and
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