The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-06
AN AMENDED BILL PROVIDING FOR
ARBITRATION.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 3.-The
amended labor arbitration bill agreed on by
the house committee labor, after
ferences with representative of the or
CARNATIONS of locomotive engineers, train
men, firemen and conductors, has been re-
ported to the house by Mr.. Erdman, of
Pennsylvania. incorporated in the re-
port accompanying the bill are two letters
addressed to Chairman Mccain, approving
the bill; one from Hon. Carroll d. Wright,
commissioner of labor, and the other from
the labor representatives above referred
to. The bill agreed upon by the committee,
Mr.. Wright sets forth in his letter, con-
tains all the vital principals included in the
bill presented by himself and Mr. Herman
outcome of the investigation Of the
Chicago strike.
st is BILL he says, (which, in it's pro-
visions, seeks to place labor on a more
thorough basis than it now occupies. 1t
also, in it's most material sections, es-
pecially T. s and 9, brings to labor organiza-
lions the opportunity for really perfecting
their work and for cooperating with the
managers of railroads in proven ting
strikes and all order of violence in avoid
ing threats and in eliminating intimidations
1t also gives employees opportunity to
be heard when receivers are in control of
railroads upon the question Of the reduc-
ton of their wages and the conditions OF
their employment, should changes therein
be sought by the receivers The bill pro-
for immediate action, first to secure con-
Citation or mediation and failing in that
the constitution of a board of arbitration,
the awards of which may be final If the
parties coming before 1T agree that they
shall be. The rights, privileges and pre-
negatives of both labor and capital, as
represented in the operation Of interstate
railroads, thoroughly secured and pro-
tected by the bill, and it so nearly COM
prehends all the features of the bill which
was drawn by the majority of the recent
strike commission that / see no reason
whatever for criticizing it adversely. On
the other hand, while it will not solve
the labor problem, nor prevent strikes en-
tirely, it will, in my opinion. do much to
steady the forces involved and afford
powerful and even effective
BALANCE WHEEL
in interstate controversies. In the interest
of successful railroad operation, which
must be preserved in order to have our in
dustries properly carried on, 1 trust that
congress may approve the unanimous &C
ton of your committee, which has SO
promptly responded to the call made upon
it..
The other letter is signed by E. E. Clark,
Order of Railway Conductors; Frank P.
Sargent, and F. NJ. Arnold, brotherhood Of
Locomotive Firemen; 2. NJ. Arthur, Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers; d. L.
Cease and w. G. Edans, Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, and w. V. Powell
order of Railroad Telegraphers.
This letter sets forth that the organiza-
lions of railway employees represented are
| in hearty accord with the general senti-
ment in favor of arbitration, and a
means for settling disputes, and favor the
enactment of laws by the ma tional congress
as preferable to any that might be enacted
| by the legislatures of different states.
Our position, the letter says, lis based
on the fact that these organizations are
| composed of reasonable and law abiding
men, who ask especial favors and de-
| sire nothing but what is right and fair.
We are not disposed to allow any personal
preference in matters of detail to stand in