The record-union., 1898-05-06
IN THE HOUSE.
Alaska Land Bill and Labor Arbi-
tration Measure Passed.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-The House
o-day disposed of two important meas
ures. The Alaska land bill, extend
ing the homestead laws to and provid-
ing for certain railway rights of way in
the District of Alaska, as amended by
the Senate and agreed upon in confer
ence, was passed. The labor arbitration
measure, providing for the arbitration
of labor disputes between employees and
certain common carriers, a bill which
had received very wide Endorsement by
labor organizations throughout the
country, received the approval of the
House. A number of minor bills were
also passed.
When the House met to-day it passed
bill authorizing the construction of a
bridge across the Arkansas River at
Webber's Falls, l. T., and then pro-
ceeded to consider the conference re-
port upon the Alaskan Homestead Act,
which Lacey of Iowa called UP.
After an hours debate the conference
report was adopted by vote of S6 to
). Before agreement was reached
speeches were made by Messrs. Lacey
OF Iowa, who reported the bill; Shafroth
of Colorado. De Vries Of California and
Ellis of Oregon in favor of the bill,
and Pitney of New Jersey, Parkle of
New Jersey and Loud of California
against.
Grosvenor Of Ohio then called up from
the Committee on Labor the bill for ar
bitration of disputes between railroads
and their employees.
Grosvenor, explaining the bill in re-
ply to questions, said the measure was
not compulsory, did not require en-
ployes to arbitrate, but merely opened
clear way to arbitration, should the par
ties avail themselves of it, and offers
way to carry out under Governmental
directions an award reached through
mutual and voluntary agreement.
Mcguire of California attacked pro-
visions of the bill requiring employees to
not leave their employers under three
months after the filing of the award,
without giving thirty days notice. He
said the provision left the question of
punishment of violations of the provis-
ion open.
Lewis Of Washington moved to re-
commit, with instructions favoring
numerous amendments, which was de-
feated, and the bill passed.
1t provides that in case a serious con-
troversy concerning wages hours of
labor or conditions Of employment shall
arise between the carrier subject to the
Act and the employees, the Chairman of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and the Commissioner of Labor shall,
upon the request of either party, en-
deavor to amicably settle the dispute by
mediation, and in case the endeavor
shall fail, then the controversy may be
submitted to arbitration of a board of
three persons, each party to the contro-
versy to name one arbitrator and the
last two named shall name a third The
agreement to submit must contain stip-
ulations that the arbitration shall be
begun within five days, and the award
| shall be filed within twenty days from
the appointment of the third arbitrator;
that the award shall be filed in the Cir
cult Court of the United States for any
district wherein the employer carries on
business; that the parties shall consider
| the award final and conclusive, and
| faithfully execute the same; that the
award shall continue in force as be-
tween the parties for one year, and that
the employer shall not dismiss nor shall
any employe dissatisfied with the award
| quit work under three months without
giving thirty days notice. The award
shall become final and operative ten
days after filing, unless an appeal shall
be taken within the ten days on excep-
tions to matter of law.
The Act recognizes organized labor,
and provides penalties for employers
! discriminating against employees by rea-
son of their connection with or purpose
to join such organization.
The House passed a bill granting to
the Washington Improvement and De-
velopment Company right of way for
railway and telegraph line through the
Colville Indian reservation in Wash
ington State.
At 4:30 p. m. the House adjourned
until Monday.