The herald., 1895-02-27
pOSTOFFICES AND ROADS
The Lower Branch of Congress Puts in Dull
nau

Day
Washington, Feb 26.-The House met
at IL O'Clock today. Mr.. Henderson,
Democrat of North Carolina, chairman of
the Committee on Postoffices and Post
roads, Immediately called up the confer
ence report on the postoffice appropriation
bill, much to the disappointment of the
members who were clamoring for unan-
imous consent to consider their bills.
The Senate amendment providing that
hereafter mail clerks should live some-
where along the route to which they are
assigned, but clerks heretofore appointed
should not be required to change their
residence, was the only question in dis
pute between the two houses. The amend
ment was designed to destroy the effect
of the general order No. 379 issued by the
Postmaster-G General, requiring clerks to
live on the line of their. route. When the
order was issued some 1900 clerks lived
off their lines. Since then 800 have changed
their residence.
Mr.. Henderson had read letter from
the Postmaster-General protesting against
the Senate amendment. But as it was
evident the amendment would occasion
some debate, Mr.. Henderson withdrew
the conference report in order to give Mr..
Catchings an opportunity to present the
special order, giving today until O'Clock
to the Committee on Labor, and tomor-
row to the Committee on Public Buildings
adopted without division, and Mr.. McGann
of the Labor Commission called up the
national arbitration bill entitled "a bill
concerning carriers engaged in interstate
commerce and their employees"
The purpose of the bill is to provide a
board of conciliation consisting of the
Commissioner of Labor and the chairman
fla Int tafa
whose duty it should be when contro
versy concerning wages, hours of labor or
conditions of employment arose between
a carrier under this act and the employees
of such carrier seriously interrupting or
threatening to interrupt the business OF
said carrier, to put themselves in com
munication with the parties to such con-
troversy, and shall use their best efforts,
by mediation and conciliation, to ami
cably settle the same, and if such efforts
should be unsuccessful should at once en-
deavor to bring about an arbitration of
said controversy by subm itting the same
to board consisting of three persons,
one to be chosen by the employees, one
by the employer and these two select
third.
. Mr.. Erdman, Democrat of Pennsylvania,
explained the provisions of the bill which,
he said, was originally drawn by the At
torney- General, and being carefully con-
on Labor, today had the support of all the
chiefs of labor organizations involved and
of the Commission of Labor.
''Does the bill provide a compulsory
arbitration?' asked Mr.. Simpson.
by no means" " replied Mr.. Erdman.
"The railroads favor it. The laboring
men have considered it in all its phases
and their representatives are here today
anxiously urging it. The bill has behind
it'the unanimous support of our commit
tee"
when a difference is submitted to ar
bitration under the provisions of this
bill, interrupted Mr.. Dingley, 'and the
to be enforced?'
The decrees are to be enforced by the
courts" replied Mr.. Erdman. 1.-The
courts can enforce decree or award
against railroad company which owns
property" suggested Mr.. Dingley, but
how can it enforce it as against en-
ployees?"
The employees are to be treated as far
as possible as incorporated bodies" re-
sponded Mr.. Erdman.
McCleary of Minnesota called attention
to the section of the bill which provided
all labor organizations claiming benefits
under it should have in their articles of
incorporation a clause providing that
members should forfeit their membership
if they failed to comply with an arbitra-
tion award.
Mr.. Fithian, Democrat of Illinois, took
occasion to make a bitter speech de-
nouncing the action of the President in
sending troops to Chicago last year to
suppress the strike. He declared Mr..
Cleveland action was unconstitutional
and then when the full facts were known
Governor Altgeld position would be COM
mended everywhere.
81 predict" said he, 'the name of
Altgeld will live in history as one in the
great crisis in the events OF our common
who stood for lawful and con-
stitutional government against govern
ment by injunction, government by force
and government in violation of the law,
which is anarchy of the worst and most
violent sort"
Speeches favoring the bill were made by
Mr.. lkert, Democrat of Ohio, Henderson,
crat of New Jerey.
On motion of Mr.. Tawney, Republican
Of Minnesota, an amendment was adopted
in the shape of proviso to the effect that
an employee should be punished for failure
to comply with an arbitration, as by
of court. Several other unim-
portant amendments, together with those
offered by the committee, were agreed to,
and without division the bill was passed.
Mr.. McGann then called up the Joint
resolution 20 raise the rate of wages of
printers and bookbinders in the Govern
ment printing office from 40 to 80 per
hour. After some debate the bill was |
A bill was passed for the publication of
the bulletins of the Department of Labor |
The remainder of the day was devoted
TO euloges on the life and public SER
vices OF the late Sydney Post of Illinois.