Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-22
SPEAKER REED
Outlines His Views Upon
the Labor Organizations.
Senator Mason Of Illinois, Spreads
HIMSELF Maiden Speech.
Criticizes lnaction Of Senate and Is Mildly
Chided by Senator Hoar.

Washington, April 21.-Speaker Reed
gave an interesting talk upon the policy
| of the House, and incidentally declared
his views upon the labor organizations,
| today, in the course of one of the con-
ferences which are of daily occurrence
| in the Speakers room. A delegation
from the American Federation of La
hor headed by Samuel Compers. the
chief officer of the order, called to re-
quest action by the Speaker and the
House en- matters in which the fedora
ton is interested. They presented n
| memorial asking the appointment of
Repr sentative Gardner of New Jersey.
to the committee on labor and also
suggested amendments to the S-hour
laws.
The specchmaking on the part of the
federation was done by Mr.. Gompers and
+. j. Mcguire. Mr.. Gompers said that
there was great distress throughout the
country and many unemployed and ex-
pressed a hope that Congress would do
all in its power to alleviate the distress
He remarked that there had not been
| as much legislation in the interest of labor
by the last Congress as the laboring man
wished. They did not want to be in the
list of making demands on Congress: they
merely desired to express their wishes
They regretted that the eight-hour law
was not more strictly enforced in its APP
plication to government works
They desired il to be understood how
ever that they were antagonistic to revo-
lutionary leaders and believed in lawful
and orderly agitation and in the improve
lncnt or existing conditions by legislation.
Speaker Reed, in reply expressed APP
probation of the moderate and reason
able attitude of the laborng man. The
labor organizations. he said. was neces-
sarX concomitant of the factory system.
While in the old days laborcrs have been
individually independent. the growth OF
the factory system had forced them to
organize for the preservation OF their
rights and interests. He believed that
results beneficial to humanity Were com
ing from these organizations. Public
sentiment was now much more tolerant
of the S-hour law than it had been 10
years ago. He could remember when
every laboring man was expected t.
work II hours. Public sentiment had
much to do with the enforcement of thu
S-hOur law and he had no doubt that un-
der its impulse conditions We're continu
ally improving.
Referring to Congressional action, the
Speaker said that only one thing could
be done at a time and he was certain all
would agree that the first thing TO be
done by Congress now was to arrive ut a
decision on the pending tariff bill one
way or the Other He hoped that the
mould public sediment to ask foras speedy
action on the tariff bill as could be OBJ
tanned. Ii was not thought best for the
House to deal with other matters until
that question was out of the way becaus
If taken now, 1t might comphcate and
delay action on the tariff. which ri,
must concede to be necessary. The tariff
question once disposed of there would he
opportunity for consideration of other in
terests asking legislation. AS to tire
special request for the appointment of
Mr. Gardner, the Speaker said that il
would be taken under consideration as
all committee assignments
We're.
In response to the complaint that Con-
gress had not done enough for labor Mr.
Reed said that remonstrances had been
received by him complaining that Con-
gress had been too much under the domi-
nation of the Federation of Labor. This
fact would Illustrate that there were con-
ficting ideas in the country.
In conclusion Mr.. Reed expressed his |
approval of the policy adopted by the |
Federation. A continual and constant
pressure within the law was much more |
effective in securing reforms than violent |
brought reaction and the reforms |
sought were likely to be lost in the tur- |
moil of the outbreak.
A cry of deep distress has come to the |
war department from Mississippi. A tel |
egram came to the war department, to- |
day from a committee headed by Rev. |
l.. S. Smith. declaring that many of the |
negroes in Tunica county and the ada |
cent country Were in great straits and |
for supplies, which their en-
ployers refused to allow them to secure, |
ON the ground that it would amount to
an interference with the labor market.
Correspondence is still in progress be- |
tween Representative Pearson and Hon.
Hanniker Heaton, M. p. upon the details
IF the international chess match between
the American Congress and the British
The games will not begin
'or two weeks or more. however. A play
,an be communicated to London and a
reply received in Washington in three |
minutes. 1t Is said.
The attorney general has rendered an
opinion to the secretary of the treasury |
n which he holds that under the joint
'esolution of Congress suspending the OPP
'rations of certain parts of the immigra-
ion laws SO as to admit foreigners to be
Employed in various capacities in con-
lection with the Nashville. Tenn, En-
position. the secretary has a right to
INIT the number to be so admitted. l.
There has been some discussion of the |
probable programme of the Democratic
Members of the finance committee with
eference to the tariff bill and it is |
earned that while these plans are not |
matured. they intend to have a |
easonable consideration of the bill in
ommittee and believe that they will have
he support of Senator Jones of Nevada,
pom any fair proposition they submit.
1t is learned, today. that in the changes i.
lade in the tariff bill by the Senate sub
ommittee. the rates in the metals sched-
lie have been made very close to the !.
resent law and the same is said of the !,
otton schedule.
The report of the naval trial board upon !.
he official speed trial of the battleship :
lwa has just been submitted to the Sec =
etary of the navy. 1t shows that the :,
hip made a speed. with all allowances
lade for tides and other interference con- :,
itious, of just 1871 knots. As the con- =
act requires a speed Of l6 knots and pro- !,
ides for bonus at the rate of 5000. 900 =
er knot above that figure. the Cramps :
i'll receive a premium of S31i2m. =
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IN THE SENATE. :,
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