The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-22
TARIFF BILL FIRST
EVERYTHING SUBORDINATE TO 1T
SAYS THE GEAR OF THE
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-Speaker
Reed gave an interesting talk upon
the present policy of the house, and,
incidentally, declared mis- views upon
labor organizations, today, in the
course of one of the conferences which
are Of daily occurrence in the speak
er's room. A delegation from the
American Federation of Labor, headed
by Samuel Gompers, the chief of the
order, called to request action by the
speaker and the house on matters in
which the federation is interested.
They presented a memorial asking the
appointment Of Representative Gardi-
ner, of New Jersey, tC the committee
on labor, and also suggested amend
ments to the eight-hour law
Mr.. Gompers said there was great
distress throughout the country and
many unemployed and expressed the
hope that congress would do all in it's
power to alleviate the distress. He re-
marked that there had not been as
much legislation in the interest of
labor by the last congress as the labor
Ing men wished. They did not want
to be put in the light of making de-
mands upon congress; they merely de-
sired to express their wishes. They
regretted that the efght-hour law was
not more strictly enforced in its ap-
phcation to government works Thy
desired it to be understood however.
that they were anttg 3r.fs.c
ionary leaders and believed in = Il
and orderly agitation ard : ~ ~
NJ
legislation. g ~
Speaker Reed. in reply exn ~
appreciation of the moderate - e.
sonable attitude Of the Is or ~ Sc.
The labor organization. he sai@ was
necessary conc0mitant OF i ne factory
system. While, in the old dave, is ~
eIs mad been individually independent.
the growth of the factory cystem i
forced them to organize for the r,re j.
walton of their rights and II tor5zts. He
belleVed that results beneficial to hu-
manly were coming from use orfra,--
lzatonS. While reforms OF TIE e. ,ss
they spoke of moved slowly tfev al
move. Public sentiment was now much
more tolerant of the eignt-hour law
than 1t had been ten years AGO He
could remember when eVCry l23oriu o
man was expected to work twe,ye
hours. Public sentiment had much 20
DO with the enforcement of the EIGHT
hour law. and he had no doubt tat
under its impulse, conditions We're COR
tlnualy improving.
referring to congressional action the
speaker said that only one thing could
De done at a time, and he was certain,
all would agree that the first thire
10 De done by congress now was TO
arrive at a decision on the pending
tarl1 bill, one way, or another The
tarlH question once disposed of, the 9
would be opportunity for consideration
OF the other interests asking legi~-
latlon. As to the SPECIAL request for
the appointment Of Mr.. Gardiner. the
speaker said that weul1 be taken Tn
der consideration. as an requests FOR
committee assignments were.
In response to the complaint that the
last congress had not done enough
for labor Mr.. Reed EsaEl that remo.e-
strances had been received by him.
complaining that cengFess had been
too much under the domination of the
federation of labor This fact would
Illustrate that there was conflicting
Mr., Reed expressed APPROVAL of the
policy adopted by. the federation. A
continual and constant Pressure within
the law was much more effective lii
securing reforms than violent method,
ne said. Violence always brought
reaction and the reforms sought were
likely to be lost In the turmoil of the
outbreak