The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-27
p. VI. ARRlNGrON,
post-Dfiice Inspector
lie Tells why lie Voted Anainst me ir'"'s
Councils Bills.

Editor OF The Times. ,,. s,.. 6,d
Sir.-In your paper Of TINS udte IONS ,l,,.
quoted a part OF stl Vl .'rJ Thor
Council of this city last night conuT ,,,io
tory of nv action in connection WIN WI
bills drawn by that body and iniIou"eov
into the House OF Delegates DA il'' az
M frst impression upon reading the
resolutions was that no notice shoulu ~,
taken of them. but upon fehecloh
think the public should hahe lHe 4'0'''
hence ask you 90 publish this' 49,.
In December representatives OF lne
above-named organization handed me lns
bills mentioned. stating thdt w ~
enacted into laws. would ieneu9 ~ 'ii'a
evils which seriously affected ana lli-
iured those who have TO labor daily TOT
4 livelihood. and prevent the competition
Of convict labor with honest laDCf
readily expressed my nearly desire 10
accomplish such 4 result, ana presence
the bills I'm the HOuse. Alter tnal on!
city delegation met the committee ot
the said organization who had chang
Of these bills several times 80
to the committee on every occasion tii@l
discussed before the House Commit ices
10 which they were referred. that lh'l
tvould NOT uass we should make the best
COMPROMISE We could. ana 80 as lhI 'o
ward helping those WhOm lht! tl"' i,i'..
10 represent as was possible al TINS liiht'
Tho House Committee held special SEES
sion. at my request, i'm the nan OF lnc
House of Delegates, ana every coui l'.s
was extended those VINO Wishei 10 S,,ul'
the massage of the bills. qNlle a. NUN
her of whom appeared and addressed the
committee After this | became con-
WINGED, as was every one WIN VIM
conferred. that there was not lir
mofast chance Of passing either OF the
buIs and accordingly applied myself 20
See what We're the next best steps 10 ut
taken made a thorough examination
into similar movements ln olnci Slal'7,
and as result prepared ana lhlIouuc'u
into the House q joint resolution 70 pIV-
vide for the creation Of a lanor kelvih
Commission. with authority 10 examine
persons and papers. 10 luFe-il=dlr lll'
system of letting ont 10 private con
tractors the labor OF cOnNcts, &c.. anu re
port i'm print to the next Le-lslalui'.
I then went before the Central TRACES
ana Labor Council and told them can
didly and empnaucaly that the nliia
proposed by them could not pe pasSeu'
and that 1 had adopted the above course
which was convinced was the wisest
one To- pursue and advised them 10 irc"A-
nize the facts and consent 10 the "9oi'-
ton of this resolution lhsiedu on tlr"
bills. They approved thr I'7vlu1' o.i'
but informed me that they desired 10
pef a recorded vote ON their hills nrloi'
fhe resolution was taken up, the Ltsl.-
Iofi,a Committee of the Trades Council
which had charge OF the DIS leliht ~
that they simply wished 10 nav w."
hills discussed upon the floor OF the House.
lnasmuch as a similar committee had
been censured by their Council because
they hadn't gotten some bills which were
offered i'm the last Legislature out OF the
committee of that body. such tactics
would have resulted IN the accomplish
ment of nothing. so ] disreearded thelr
request and finally succeeded IN having
The House adopt the joint resolution
above mentioned. and then secured
favorable report on same from the Senate
Committee. the resolution now being ON
the Senate calendar. This was done.
however without any representation by
me 10 the effect that the resolution 'had
the sanction Of the Trades Council
The bills prepared by the Trades Ccuh-
eli were reported 10 the House and dis
cussed at length on the floor and re
corded vote had upon them. IN view
Of the above facts. / voted against the
bills. 49,,
hurriedly. but think stated an ne ia a.r
Richmond. Va, Feb %, 1896.