Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-13
AN 1--WE TlGATIO N
The President to Appoint Cen ,ittee on
the Strike.
A Delegation of Labor Leaders Made
Happy by the Promise of
MIR. Cleveland.

Knights Of Labor who called upon him by
arrangement yesterday afternoon at 8
o'clock. The committee consisted of j. w.
Hayes, general secretary of the Knights OF
Labor; Thomas B. Mcclure and c. A. French
of the executive board K. Of L., ]. G. Schon-
farber of the Knights of Labor Journal.
Senator Kyle of South Dakota accompanied
the delegation and presented them individu-
ally to the President. The committee made
formal application to the President for the
appointment of a board of investigation,
under the O'Neil law of 1883. The Presi-
dent Informed them that a commission
would be appointed to investigate the causes
and condition of the labor troubles and re-
port its conclusions to the President and
Congress.
The following is an official statement Of
the conference:
Senator Kyle introduced to the President
by appointment a committee representing
various labor organizations who applied TO
him fer the appointment of a commission
to investigate the causes of the late strike
and the occasion of the controversy between
certain railroads which were affected there
by and their employees. The law passed on
the LIST Of October. 1888, especially author
ICES the appointment Of such a commission
and defines its duties. 1t provides that the
commissioner OF labor shall be chairman,
and that two other commissioners shall be
appointed by the President. 1t appearing
tc the President that the parties were en-
titled to such a commission under the law
he determined to organize ii for the pur-
pose OF investigation. The commissioners
to be appointed by him have not been Sc
lected, and II will probably be a number of
days before the appointments are an
nounced.
Leaders Pleased.
The labor committee were very much
pleased at the result of their interview with
the President. Their views on the subject
are expressed by General Secretary j. w.
Hayes follows:
THE President seemed pleased to receive
u.s. and Immediately opened the subject by
referring to the law which the parties in
terested desired to see enforced. An hour
was spent in discussing the various provi-
sions of the act which authorized the Presi-
dent on his own motion to appoint two
bitrators, together with the United States
labor commissioner, Carroll ID. Wright, to
act as commission of arbitration, and in
vestigate and decide what should be done
by either party to settle the controversy.
The commission has all the powers neces-
sary to administer oaths, subpoena wit
Eesses, etc. The President finally decided
to appoint the commission. and at once so
Informed us. at the same time stating that
he would name the arbitrstors either to-
day or Saturday.
I'VE expect to secure much more from
.
the present difficulty in Chicago. While ii
is in itself a great victory for labor organi-
cations, and everything that the American
Railway Union has fought for. it gives off,
cial recognition to the justice of their de-
mard for arbitration, and ii will lead much
further, for, in the calmer moments Of the
future, when the defects Of the pre- sent ar
bitration law have been made apparent by
actual trial. prompt steps will be taken TO
amend the same"
Mr.. Hayes also said that he was strongly
opposed to the investigation Of the Pullman
boycott proposed by the House committee
on interstate commerce. or all the inves-
legations, he said. that had been conducted
by congressional committees, not one OF
them had ever resulted in any benefit to
labor organizations. They had always help
ed to defeat the objects of the strike which
they investigated, and never did any one
any good. The arbitration commission to
be appointed by President Cleveland would.
in his opinion, be much more effective and
satisfactory in every way.
That commission would recommend to the
President what should be done, and in that
way labor may hope to get proper recogni-
ton and some benefit. The proposed con-
gressional investigation would, in his judg
ment, amount to rothing. Mr.. Hayes also
said that he would at once request all
Knights Of Labor organizations to hereafter
hold their annual conventions or lines OF
roads not using Pullman cars.
The Enabling Act.
The act under which the President will
appoint the commission was passed October
l, 1888. 1t is a long measure but the sec
tons which bear directly upon this point
are contained in sections to IL, inclusive.
They are as follows:
Section g. That the President may select
two commissioners, of whom one at least
shall be a resident of the state or terri
tSry in which the controversy arises, who.
together with the commissioner of labor.
hah tam av,afr es.,
for the purpose of examining the causes
of the controversy, the conditions accom-
panying and the best means of adjusting
it; 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 commission
ers shall cease.
The services Of the commission 10 be or
dercd ct the time by the President and corr
situted as herein provided, may he rendered
by the President for the purpose of set
Ting controversy such as contemplated.
described in the first section of the act as
differences or controversies between rail
road and other transportation companies
engaged in the transportation of property
or passengers between two or more states of
the United States; between a territory end
state. within the territories of the United
States. or within the District Of Columbia,
and the employees of said railroad compa-
MES which differences or controversies may
hinder. impede, obstruct, interrupt or af-
feet such transportation of property or pas
sengers," either upon his own motion or
uron the application of an executive of a
state.
Sec 7. That the commissioners provided
in the preceding section shall be entitled to
receive so each per day for each days ser
vice rendered, and the expenses absolutely
incurred in the performance of their du-
ties; ard the expenses of the commissioner
Of labor, acting as one of the commission
shall also be reimbursed to him. Such
compensation and expenses shall be paid
by the treasurer of the United States on
proper vouchers, certified to by the com
missioner of labor, and approved by the
secretary of the Interior.
Sec. S. That upon the direction of the
President as hereinbefore provided, the
commission shall visit the locality of the
pending dispute, and shall have all the
covers and authority given in section to
| board of arbitration, and shall make care
III inquiry into the cause thereof, hear al
ersons interested therein who may CONF
Defore 1t, advise the respective parties what
f anything, ought to be done or submitted
20 by either or both to adjust such dispute
and make a written decision thereof.