Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-12
LEGISLATURE
Machinists' Resolutions Receive
Unanimous Approval at
Springfield.
COMING OF THE ARMY INSPECTOR.

Capt. Russell to BE Here Friday to Con-
duct Thorough Inquiry Into the Arse
to Work at the ADMINISTRATION There
Remains Unchanged.
| Springfield, April 12.-RocK ISLAND
ARGUs-The resolution passed the
house and senate unanimously for the
arsenal employees.
MCENIRY AND MEEsE.
The above telegram was received
this morning from NJ. j. McEniry and
w. A. Meese, of Moline. who left last
| night for the state capital bearing the
resolutions of the machinists given
below.
The Resolution Presented.
In the house the resolution was
presented by Representative Hurst,
who having secured recognition in
advance of several members who were
struggling to bring up other matters,
made an address to the house
explanatory of the resolution, which
in effect called upon the secretary of
war TO modify a rule which had been
in operation 20 years forbidding arse
nal commandments from receiving
committees of workmen. and called
upon the national senator's and rep
resentatives from this state to use
their influence to secure the modifica-
tions desired. In submitting the res
olution MIR. Hurst explained that the
rule was adopted at time when the
prevailing conditions were altogether
different from what they are as they
exist today. Such n rule was no
longer in accord with public senti-
ment, and besides was unfair to the
arsenal employees. On Mr.. Hurst's
motion that the resolution be adopted
it was put upon its passage and unan-
imously adopted. In the senate the
same resolution was presented by
Senator Payne a.d likewise adopted.
Petition to the Legislature.
The following petition to the Illi-
nOis Legislature was sent to Spring
field last night, bearing, beside the
signatures of citizens, the official seal
of Rock Island county, Il resolution
having been adopted by the county
board of supervisors endorsing it:
The undersigned citizens of the
cities of Rock Island and Moline re-
spectfully represent to your honora-
BILE body that on the Sd day of April |
A. ID. 1898, a committee of civil work |
men and mechanics at the United |
States arsenal at Rock Island, duly |
by large number of their |
fellow wOrkmen so to do, respectfully |
waited on the commandant of said
arsenal, Mai. S. +. Blunt, to present
and secure redress of certain griev-
ances complained of; that the said
L 4 Il
and regulations of the war depart
mcnt as to prevent his hearing or
treating with said committee. and de-
MED them an audience or hearings;
that said commandments said construc-
ton of said rules and regulations has
been sustained and approved by the
chief OF ordnance and acting secretary
Of war and now remains in force.
The undersigned believing said rules,
so construed, are not in harmony
with or adapted to prevailing indus
trial conditions, or to the proper and
peaceful adjustment of differences
between employer and employee, and
ire repugnant to our sense of the
tights and privileges of American
therefore, we respectfully
petition your honorable body to re-
quest the war department to so mod .
fly and change said rule as to make it
he duty of ,mmandants at United
States arsenals to grant their civil
employees, in person or by their con-
'tituted representatives, a respectful
audience and hearing of grievances.
by Tri-City lodge No. 3sS,
|. A. of M
In the county Eoard yesterday af-
ernoon Supervisor Benton Davis Of
ered the following resolution, which
vas adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
he board of supervisors of Rock ISL
md county that we concur in the re-
quest of the employees of Rock Island
arsenal to the r ght to be heard by
heir committee, and be it further
Resolved, That we attach our ap-
prevail to their resolution together
With the official seal of the county.
Capt. Russell Coming.
Capt. Russell, the United States
lrmy inspector, delegated by the
var department TO investigate
he grievances of the machin-
SITS AT Rock Island arsenal, ac-
.ording to advices received by the
men, will arrive here Friday. He
will make thorough inquiry into the
whole controversy, hear the argu-
nents of the machinists as to why :
heir demands for increased wages,
notification of the shop rules. etc.,
hould be favorably considered, and
make report to his superiors at the
lational capital, who will render their
ecision in accordance with the testi-
nony furnished
Commandant Blunt stated today
hat the situation at the arsenal re-
NAMED unchanged, except that two
nore of the machinists returned to
ToIk this morning.