Evening star., 1897-01-11
AIM OF THE ENGINEERS
The Purposes of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers.
Their Work for the Arbitration and
COntempt-Of-Court Bills BE.
fore Congress.

| Mr.. W. F. Hynes of Colorado. q promi-
nent member and officer of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive F1remen has reached
| Washington, and during the session of Con-
gress will devote himself to secure MS much
| legislation as possible for those whom he
represents.
| What the railway men of the country
| want can best be understood by reading a
| communication received in this city from
Mr.. E. E. Clark. grand chief of the Order
| of Railway Conductors, copy of which
| follows:
| "One of the most Interesting features Of
the work now being carried forward by
| men employed in the railroad train service
| is the holding of un1on meetings at cen
| tral points throughout the country. The
| engineers. fremen trainmen. telegraphers
| and conductors are federated for mutual
| advantage on many important railroads,
| and everywhere the similarity of their call
| lngs and the union of their interests band
| them closely together.
| These union meetings call the men to-
| sether, give them an opportunity to discuss
| questions of general interest from their
| varying points of view, and to determine
| upon a common line of action 10 secure
| the ends desired. Then the open meetings
| which are always held on such occasions,
bring the people generally to knowledge
| OF the upright motives behind cur actions,
ana furnish the best possible refutation
OF Ihe accusation that we seek any but
| lawful means for attaining our ends.
An Enxineers' Institute.
Il have recently visited Carbondalc. Pa.
| where we held one of the most successful
| of long series of similar gatherings. The
engineers. firemen, trainmen and conduct
ors were all represented by their grand
oHlcers, and there was an unusually large
attendance of the membership. The result
oi thls interchange of courtesies and of
IDEAS Will be a better mutual understand
ing, which must be helpful to ALL
As l said in the course of my brief ad-
dresS 10 the meeting, We have earned what
We nave secured by straightforward and
nohoraDie methods We want no class leg
lsiation or special privileges. There are no
uyhamlters In our organizations. and we
GO not wish our aims to be misunderstood
! We have never had any trouble excent
| When our 1nalienable rights were trans
gressed '
Arbitration has been indorsed by the
american people, and that Is what we ask
| We invite all to study our brotherhoods
and they will find nothing therein to hurt
them.
| The Arbitration Law.
Speaking of arbitration recalls another
! line of work upon which the same oreani-
cations are very actively engaged During
| the sessions of the Fifty-third Congress
and the first session of the Fifty-fourth
Congress We secured the presentation of
Who' are known as the arbitration and
the contempt-of-court bills. The former
was passed by the House of the Fifty-third
Congress and the latter by the Senate of
the F1fty-fourth. We intend to continue
our enorts to secure the enactment Of
these measures into law, believing there is
nothing IN them that can injure any one
While there Is almost certainty of their
proving highly beneficial.
Tnis arbitration has been spoken Of as
being compulsory. but such is not the case
Neither does 1t provide for standing COM
mission. Under Its provisions whenever a
controversy arises which interferes or
threa tens to interfere with interstate traffic
it will become the duty of the chairman
of the interstate commission and the ma
tional commissioner of labor to seek
through conciliation and mediation, just
and amiCable settlement. Failing III this it
then becomes their duty to suggest arbi-
tration.
Should this arbitration be agreed to
each party to the controversy names an
arbitrator, and these two name the third
provided that when they fail % agree
| within forty-eght hours the labor COM
missioner and chairman of the interstate
CONNER select q suitable pt r
son. This is to prevent voidng the pur-
pose of arbitration through obstinacy or de-
lay on the part of either contestant.
During the recent meeting of the execu-
| tive council of the American Fedaratio
Grated railroad bodies were invited TO meet
| with them and discuss this measure. After
we had given 1t a thorough presentation
from point of view they expressed the ir
confidence that 1t would be heartily in
| dorsed by their membership.
Contempt-Of-Court Bill.
"The contempt-of court bill does not at
| tack the courts, nor does 1t curtail in any
| unreasonable degree their present privi-
| Ieges or powers. Under our present laws
| there Is no appeal from the sentence of a
! federal judge in contempt cases, and we
| contend that a man under sentence for
| contempt of court should have the same
| right of appeal he would have when con-
victed of any other offense. The bill di-
! viies contempt into two classes, direct and
| indirect. Direct contempt is confined to
| acts committed in the presence OF the
| court WREN the judge may summon the
! offender, try and sentence him, but ap-
| peal shall lie from such sentences to the
Supreme Court.
| Indirect contempt applies to acts COM
mitted outside the presence of the court,
and in such thc accused may apply for a
| Jury trial with the same right of appeal
| from the finding of either judge or jury.
| These are the only material differences the
new law would make. the division of the
| offense the right to new trial by jury
| and the provision that appeal shall
| lie before the Supreme Court in either class
| of cases.