Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-03-05
NATIONAL: SOIONS.

NATIONAL: S0L0NS. .:-
NOW THEY APPEAR IN THE TWILIGHT
OF THE FIFTvTHlRD CONGRESS.
lawrence Mc(sann's Pet Measure-Cleve-
land In the Lowest Depths What Il
Costs tho People to Run Their Govern
meat why bryan Wa. Excited.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Feb 25.-Hon Law.
renee McGann has living hope that
the arbitration bill reported from his
committee will become law. and if
perseverance could command success it
certainly would. lquestion. ii any bill
brought into this congress Is the result Of
longer and more earnest work, and it is
the product of many of the most earnest
mon and clearest thinkers in this coun-
try 1t has also bad out rare advantage.
There could be no question about the
facts bearing on it and no partisan quib-
bles as to the necessity for some action.
Work OH it began-for the present bill
Is but the condensed essence Of many
propositions introduced in the house la.
Dor ommittee-while the panic of 1893
was at its worst. It continued through
all the trying months Of. 1894, and tho
committee had as an object lesson tho
Chicago struggle. and for witnesses the
men interested or actually participating
thevein. Or course the measure has some
defects, as the first bills on all impor.
tant questions have, but the great point
IL to make start to the end that expe.
rience may the sooner cure defects.
Il provides that whenever there Is an
important strike or other disturbance
concerning wages, hours Of labor or con.
ditjon Of employment, seriously inter-
rupting or threatening to interrupt the
business Of common carrier, the CON-
missioner Of labor and the chairman Of
the interstate commerce commission
shall at once com munioate with the
parties. and if possible bring about an
arbitration of such controversy.
The arbitration board shall consist Of
ono person chosen by the common car
rier or employer directly interested, one
chosen by the labor organization to
which the employees belong and third
chosen by those two II two or more
labor organizations are involved. they
are to act conourrently in choosing their
arbitrator. Employers and the officials
Of organizations representing the en-
ployees are to set forth in writing the
matters to be decided aud stipulate:
First, that pending the arbitration the
existing status shall not be changed;
second, that the award shall he fled
with the clerk of the federal court Of
the district and be conclusive unless set
aside for errors of law; third, that the
agreement may be enforced in equity so
far as the powers Of an equity court
permit; fourth, that employees dissatis~
fed with the award must give 80 days
notice III writing of their intention to
quit and employers the same Of their
intention to discharge, and. fifth, that
the award shall continue in force one
year. There are many minor provisions.
all of which have been carefully scru-
tinized aud approved by representatives
Of several labor organizations and espe.
cially those of railway employees. If it
be possible to draft bill satisfactory
to both parties in interest. this is that
bill At any rate, great good is possible
from it, and it is not easy to see how
any harm can result OF course COM
pulsory features are carefully avoided
The danger is that the uproar over
currency questions will obscure every
thing else. but l must say, though not
anxious to compliment either political
party, that the discussion on our finances
has improved OF late both in the ability
displayed and the plain statement Of
fundamental truth. Iwould hardly go
so far as to say that the president has
sunk to the lowest depth he can reach,
but if there is lower political depth
the experts have not yet located it, In
tho senate he has really but one apollo
gist and in the house practically nona
His surrender to Belmont, Rothschild
Il Co is universally admitted to be ut
terly without excuse. and all that his
best friends can say is that there are
facts unknown to the public which may
justify him. The debates have also
brought into strong light the difficulties
confronting the labor interests and
many not heretofore made prominent.
One of these is the enormously increased
cost of government and the almost Ger.
tainty that the increase will he still
more rapid in the near future. There
has indeed been a disgraceful waste Of
the public money, and when we compare
the increase with the decline in the
products of labor it is seen that the pro-
ducor is robbed both ways. The losses
in government aided railways and the
navy are known to all readers, but the
general loss when put in terms Of CON-
modities Is truly appalling.
In the administration of Franklin
Pierce-and it certainly never was &C.
cused of severe economy-the total cost
of the national government was not
quite 10000, 600 bushles Of wheat per
year For the fiscal year 1865, during
most Of which the government was ex-
pending $4,000. 900 per day. the total
cost was not quite 700, 900. 600 bushels
OF wheat. Last year it was more than
800, 600, 900 bushels. and what it will
10 for this fiscal year God alone knows,
for Oh the day write this the export
price of wheat in New York is So cents,
and the market is noted as dull - 1t
cannot fall below 900. 900, 600 bushels
in any event, or 30. per cent more than