The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-12
SENATE DISCUSSES labor.
RAILWAY ARBITRATION BILL TN
DEn a HOT FIRE
Many Amendments Sa9geseeo 80
AccepteA-TAe Ho1se Passes
Resolwtfon ADenafag the Consti-
s-ta.n m 70 ESeetion 81 Senator'S.

WASHINGTON, May 11.-For more than
three hours this morning the senate dis-
cussed what Is known as the railway
arbitration bill" . measure designed 70
adjust by means OF voluntary arbitration
differences that may arise between rai.-
road ofYicials and their employees. hy.e
of South Dakota, In charge OF the bill, OF
fered q number OF amendments, winch
were agreed 10.
In order to meet objections raised TO
the measure Hoar Of Massachusetts, Of
fered an amendment, which was accepted.
providing that no injunction. should De
issued which should compel the .aborers
against their viii 10 carry out an. .'sss
tract for personal labor % service. The
b.,l was still under discussion when the
senate adjourned.
When the senate convened today the ma
tional quarantine bill was displaced. as the
unfinished business and the bill to provide
for taking the twelfth and subsequent CEN
suses substituted. The census bill viii he
pressed vigorously.
A house Joint resolution declaring the
lands within the former Mile Lac Indian
reservation In Minnesota to be subject 10
entry under the land laws of the United
States. was agreed to.
Chandler offered the following resolution.
which was adopted:
That the committee on naval Affairs be
directed TO make inquiry concerning the
expediencys OF securing and establishing for
the United States additional coaling sta
tons at suitable points in foreign coun-
tries and as to each coaitng station that
may be deemed necessary. TO ascertain
what are its dimensions. conditions and the
expense OF occupancy and maintenance,
and the best method OF securing the right
to maintain such stations. and report by
bin or otherwise"
At 20 o'clock the unfinished business
was informally laid aside and the consid-
Grafton began of the so-called railway arbi-
tration bill. After the reading OF the bill
Allen discussed 1t. He regarded 1t, in it
effects. as one OF the most vicious meas
ures ever brought before congress. He de-
clared that 1t bound the railroad employees
hand and foot and made them the bond
servants OF the railroad corporations. He
said that he had been flooded with tee
grams from labor organizations. urging
him TO support 1t. He thought, however.
that the railway employees were being led
into trap in urging the passage of the
bill
Fairbanks of Indiana. held that IL there
were defects in the measure. in the very
nature Of the case they would bear equal
hardships on both parties to any contro-
versy that might arise between the rail-
roads and their employees.
Allen doubted the honest purpose Of the
bill. III I were employed to defeat such
purpose" he said, II could not do it better
than by drafting a bill like this"
At the conclusion OF Aliens speech. Kyle.
In charge OF the bill. offered and had
adopted many minor amendments. One OF
these provided that not only the award OF
the arbitrator, but also the papers and
proceedings, including the testimony taken
by them. shall be filed with the clerk Of
the United States district court Another
amendment provided that nothing in the
bil should prevent an employer from re-
dgcing the number Of employees II the ex-
isercies Of business required such reduc-
ton.
new section was offered as q substitute
for section II OF the bill, providing that
each member OF the arbitration commits
sion should receive SO a day and expenses
and appropriating not more than $500 for
each Of the next two years to pay the arbi-
traitors and expenses.
The bill was debated by Senator's Allen,
Elkins Morgan. Teller. Lodge and Turner.
To meet points raised by Senators Allen
and Turner, Hoar offered an amendment
providing that no injunction or other legal
process shall compel the performance by
any laborer against his win OF a contract
for personal labor or service. The
amendment was accepted by Kyle. who
gave notice that he would move again to-
morrow to resume consideration OF the
measure.
The senate then at SIS p. m. went into
executive session and at 5:43 p. IN. adj
journed.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment.
After refusing today by vote of IS TO
20 to consider the senate bill, restricting
immigration. the house took up and devoted
the session to the house resolution TO sub
nit to the states a proposition to amend
the constitution 50 as to provide for the
election OF senator's by a direct vote. The
amendment as proposed in the resolution
reported to the house. left Ii in the discre-
ton OF the states to elect their senator's
by direct vote or through their legislatures.
An amendment by Underwood of Alabama,
making election by popular vote manda-
tory. was adopted and the resolution was
passed.
Loud called up the postoffice appropria-
ton bill as passed yesterday by the SEN
ate. and upon his motion the house re-
fused to concur to the senate amend
ments and asked a conference.
Cummings of New York. Moody OF Mas
sachuse;ts. Bingham OF Pennsylvania and
P!tney Of New Jersey expressed opposi-
ton TO the senate amendments, limiting
the deliveries In cities TO four. and elm
mating the house provision for rural free
delivery.
Loud, Smith OF Illinois and Swanson
were named as conferees.
The house then went into committee of
the whole to consider the senate bill
amending the revenue law. providing for
the disposal OF abandoned imports turned
over by importers 10 the customs officials
The BIZ. was passed.
The house set apart May q for euiogies
upon the late Senator George. OF Missss-
s.ppi, and at SOS p. m adjourned.