Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-04-23
WASHINGTON LHTrRR.
wAsurnaror. April 18th. 1891.

Olger:
"Whereas, Ithas come to the knowi
edge of the Federation of Labor that
two foreigners named Olsen and jan
sen, lately employed in England,
came to the United States several
months ago with letter of recon-
mendation from an English official
to Commodore Folger, and within
less than a week after landing in this
country were employed as fourth
class machinists in the Washington
Navy Yard; and,
Whereas, The employment of ali
ems by the Government of the United
States in the navy yards and other
branches of the public service in pref
erence to its own citizens, many of
whom are vainly seeking employment
is contrary to the professed policy of
"Protection to American Labor" and
is in the opinion of this body, a fla
grant violation of the spirit of the
contract labor law, and in the case of
Olsen and Jansen a violation of the
letter of said law; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of
of the Navy is respectfully requested
to issue an order prohibiting the en-
ployment of aliens in navy yards or
bureaux under the Navy Department
IN preference to American citizens,
unless it can be shown that that the
latter are incompetent to properly
discharge the duties of the positions
to be filed; and that the Secretary of
the Treasury be respectfully reques-
ted to order an investigation of the
circumstances attending the employ
ment of said Olsen and Jansen in the
Washington Navy Yard for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether or not
the contract labor law has been vio-
lated by their employment"
Secretary Foster is in New York,
but he Is expected back tomorrow or
Monday, and his attention will be i'm
mediately called to this matter, which
has awakened great interest among
the wlorkin9men, and I am told that
if the Secretary refuses to act, the
matter will be brought to the atten-
ton Of Congress by Senator PETER.
Mr.. Blaine has finished and de-
livered to Marquis Imperiali. who
was left in charge of the italian lega-
ton by Baron Fava, the reply of the
United States to the last dispatch of
the italian government. It if very
long and elaborate document, but its
import is practically the same as that
of the answer to Baron Fava's origi-
demand. This country comedies
nothing and will not interfere with
the administration of justice by the
regularly constituted authorities of a
State, but if it can be proven that any
of the men lynched were italian citi-
zens, which has not yet been done, it
will consider the payment of an in
demnity to their families or heirs.
As soon as he had put copy of his
letter in the hands of the represen-
tative of Italy Mr.. Blame left town
for several days, presumably to es-
cape being questioned by the newspa-
per mel.
Secretary Tracy's private brand of
reform, which appears to be mighty
good thing, is to be given an immedi-
ate trial in the two navy yards-at
New York and at Norfolk, he having
issued an order declaring all posi-
tons of foremen and master mechan-
les at the first named yard vacant
June l, and at the last July 1, and
converting a board of naval officers to
meet at the first place May IL, and
at the last June 3, for the purpose of
examining applicants for the vacan-
cies, the examinations to refer exclu-
sively to the requirements of the
positions to be filed. The expert
ment will be watched with interest,
both by the people who wish to see
politics entirely eliminated from our
navy yards and by the politicians who
do not.
The extension of the civil service
law to include about six hundred en-
ployes of the Indian Service has ex-
cited no interest here outside of off
cial circles, and very little there,
The very men who are charged with
being responsible for nearly al - -,
Indian troubles-the 90 -,
affected by r. 4o..-e. - o.,
-..,sIoner Roosevelt says: RELATES
mainly to the Indian school work, and
touches none of the agency employs
proper except the physician" Mr.
Roosevelt also thinks that this meth
cd will result in an absolutely non
partisan Indian service. Perhaps
will.
|. Mrs. Halford, wife of Mr.. Harri
sons private secretary, died her
Wednesday morning. 1t was her i'll
q ness that prevented Mr.. Halford &C
compa1ying the Presidential tourinl
a party.
The remains of the late represer
tative, Spinola, left here for Me-
York in charge of a Congressiont
committee. Wednesday morning.