The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06
10 IMPORTANT MEASURES.
.nen PASSES THE ALASKA BILL
Axn ARBITRATION BlIA>
a~At~r Measure Provides for the
settBement nj Dfsputes Between
r,~moa Carriers and Their Em-
.reyes BY Mediation of Referees.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-The house TO-
- dispcsea Of Two important measures.
qAe Alaska land bill. extending the home
~1ead laws and providing for certain rail-
sar rights OF way in the district OF Alas
Il q amended by the senate, and agreed
rocr n conference. was passed. The la
r arbitration measure. providing for ar
Nrsgion OF lahe- disputes between en-
,Ifuves and certain common carriers, bin
skach has received very wide Endorsement
= labor organizations throughout the
1.,xfgY received the approval OF the
fS.ase A number of minor bills were also
cnsssd
The house adjourned until Monday
the conference report upon the Alaska
henxsiead act was called up by Lacey
and after debate OF an nour was adopted
u vote Of IS 10 S.
Croayxnor then called up from the COM
,1Itfse ON labor the bill for arbitration Of
&(pputes between railways and their en-
etDyes.
orosyenoT, explaining the bill in reply to
anentions said the measure was not conn
pnls0ry. did not require employers or en-
91pyes 10 arbitrase. but merely opened
eaoar way TO arbitration should the parties
epoli themselves of II and offers way TO
eefry out under governmental directions
II award reached through mutual and
voluntary agreement.
Criticism OF the bill as being unsafelys
to1eanite In many of It's clauses and open
t6 possible abuses in the matter OF judy
ment and execution, was passed by Lewis
e Washington,
Cochran OF Missouri spoke In support Of
the measure as being a step In the right
direction. though not perfect In its pro-
visions.
Yaruire OF California attacked the provi-
fesn trS
loove their employers under three months
efter the Ming Of the awards, without CIV
ln9 thirty days netice. He said the provi-
mons left the question of punishment OF
violations OF the provision open.
Cummings of New York DECLARED his
purpose to support the bill as member OF
congress and a member OF Typographical
Union No OF New York. and criticised
bfieny the government for failure to pay
uniCn wages to Its employees.
Lewis OF Washington moved to recon-
nit, with instructions favoring numerous
ameHdments. which was defeated, and the
hEn passed
II provided that In case serious
controversy concerning wages, hours of
labor or conditions of employment shall
afise between a common carrier subject
- the act and Its employees, the chairman
At tie Interstate commerce commission
ard the commissioner of labor shall. upon
the request OF either party, endeavor to
amicabay settle the dispute by mediation.
and In case the endeavor shall fail. then
the controversy may be submitted TO the
arbitration Of board of three person.
each party to the controversy to name
one arbitrator and the two named shall
Ams a third. The agreement to submit
must contain stipulations that the arht-
Iasion shall be begun within five DAYS
aha us awaId shall be fled within twenty
days from the appointment of she third
arbitrator. That the award shall be fited
sne circuit court of the United States
1eF Any district wherein the employer car