The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-06

Washington, May 5.-The house today
disposed OF two important measures. The
Alaskan land bill. extending the home
stead laws to and providing for certain
railway rights of way in the district of
Alaska. as amended by the senate and
agreed upon in conference was passed.
The labor arbitration measure, providing
for the arbitration of labor disputes be-
tween employees and certain common car
riers. a bill which had received very wide
endorsement by labor OrganiZatio
throughout the country, received the ap-
prevail OF the house.
Mr.. Grosvenor4 explaining the bill, in
reply TO questions. said the measure was
not compulsory, did not require employ
erS or employees to arbitrate, but merely
opened clear way 10 arbitration should
the parties avail themselves of it, and
offers way TO carry out, under govern
mental directions. an award reached
through mutual and voluntary agree
ment
Criticism of the. bill as being unsafely
indefinite in many of its clauses and open
TO possible abuses in the matter of judg-
ment and execution. was passed by Mr..
Lewis (Dem-, Wash.)
RIGHT STEP.
Mr.. Cochran. of Missouri spoke in sup
port of the measure as being a step in
the right direction, though not perfect in
its provisions. MIR. Mcguire OF California
attacked the provisions of the bill requir-
ing employees to not leave their employ
ers under three months after the filing Of
the awards without giving 30 days notice.
lie said the provision lett the question of
punishment of violations of the provision
OMEN Mr. Cummings of New York de
cared his purpose 10 support the bill, as
member OF congress and d member OF
Typographical Union No of New York,
and criticised briefly the government for
failure TO pay union wages TO its en-
p!oyeeS.
Mr.. Lewis Of Washington moved to re-
commit, with instructions favoTing nu-
merOus amendments. which was defeated
and the bill passed.
ITS PROVISIONS.
1t provides that in case a serious con-
troversy concerning wages. hours CT Ia
Dor or conditions of employment snail
arise between a carrier. subject TO the act
and the employees, the chairman OF the
interstate commerce commission and the
of labor shall, upon the re-
Guest OF either party, endeaVOr to ami
cably settle the dispute by mediation, and
in case the endeavor shall fail, then the
may be submitted 10 arbitra-
ton Of a board of three persons, each
party to the controversy to name one ar
bitter, and the last two named shall name
a third. The agreement to submit must
contain stioulations that the arbitration
shall be begun within i've Gays, and the
awards shall be filed within % days from
the appointment OF the third arbitrator.
court of the United States for any dis
trict wherein the employer carries on
business: that the parties shall consider
the award final and conclusive. and faith
fully execute the same: that the award
shall continue in force as between the
parties for one year, and that the en-
Dlo--er shall not dismiss nor shall any
employee dissatisfied with the award quit
work under three months without giving
30 DAYS notice. The award shall become
final and operative ten days after fling,
unless an appeal shall be taken within
the ten days on exceptions TO the matter
Of law.
The act recognizes organized labor and
provides penalties for employers discrim-
mating against employees by reason of
their connection with or purpose to join
such organization.
The house passed bill granting TO the |
Improvement and Develop |
nent company right of way for railway |
and telegraph line through the Colville |
indian reservation in Washington state. |
At 4:35 D. m. the house adjourned until |
Monday.