Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-15
ARBITRATION LAW
AMENDED IN HOUSE
Changes Made in the Erdman
ECt to Facilitate
Mediation.
ACTION is FASTENED
TO AVERT R. R. STRIKE
Bill Passed Without Roll Call and
Is Hurried to the
Senate

The Nrw,ands bill. revising the Erd-
man law to provide arbitration ot
wage disputes in a manner satisfactory
To railroads and their employees, passed
the House today without a roll call
and was hurried to the Senate, which
was waiting to pass it for President
Wilson's signature.
With threatened tie-up of all the rail-
roads of the eastern section of the coun-
Try but twenty-four hours away, involv-
ing possibilities of untold hardship upon
the public and upon hundreds of thou
sands OF employees and their families. il
is proposed in the brief meantime to en-
act legislation providing for a radical in
novation in settlement of labor disputes
affecting railroads and giving govern
mental and court supervision over public
utilities affairs more far-reachins than
ever known in the United States.
In the short space OF time allowed
by the armistice between the railroads
and their employees il is designed to put
on the statute books law, consideration
OF which would ordinarily consume
montnS OF argument and contention.
This action is the direct outcome of
the conference at the White House yes
tefday evening participated in by Presi-
dent Wilson. officials of the govern
ment- leaders in Congress, officers of
railway systems and their employees.
The material for the proposed law was
already Iartly prepared, thus rendering
the enactment easier. The basis was
found in bill which has passed the
bitration BILL and which was pending
before the judiciary committee along
with a bill prepared by that committee.
United to Avert Public Danger.
Starting the work of the day the
Yielding pride of authorship in the
face of impending grave public dan
ger. congressman in both houses and
OF all parties are prepared TO lend
themselves to an effort to suppress
Quibbling over details and put Jaw
On the statute books whicn can DE i'm
nediately utilized
No time was lost in comittee dis
cpssing the bill, the provisions of
which were familiar to all the members,
and after very short session Cnair-
man Clayton was authorized to move
10 take up the Newlands bill today
lfoIa the Speakers table and urge
Its passage
The committee agreed to two amend
Inents to perfect the language of the
Senate bill, amendments which had
been proposed to the Clayton Dill att
that measure was reported out of
the committee. Mr.. Clayton agreed to
these amendments.
They provide for restoring certain
language OF the Erdman act with a
view to making impossible any con-
struction that would authorize the
courts by injunction or otherwise to
compel an enploye to labor.
The other amendment was to correct
an inconsistency in language SO that
original papers of the awards of the
mediation board shall be filed with the
district court where the controversy
arose or the arbitration was entered
into. and the certified copies of those
papers shall be filed with the board of
mediation and control
Clayton Asks Unanimous Consent.
When the House convened Chairman
layton asked unanimous consent to
1nsider the bill and to shut out all
s.nendments but those agreed upon by
he conference and by the committee.
Mr.. Nolan of California gave notice
'aat after this bin is passed. other labor
bodies Will come to Congress ana ask
amendments so as 10 ALLOW them TO par
ticipate in the benefits of arbitration. He
said that the commercial telegraphers
the railway shop employees and freight
handlers viii ask to be included
Mr.. Clayton said that ii is desired by
everybody to secure this legislation, and
il is recognized that for the good OF the
country the bill should be passed
speedily
VIZ MANN SAID the senate meets at
O'Clock, and he hoped the House would
pass the bill promptly, so that il could
20 TO the Senate and De signed by the
Vice President and Speaker before ad.
1ournment today.
Mr. Stafford of Wisconsin demanded
explanations OF the tenor of the amend
Inents, which Mr.. Clayton proceeded Il
give. Mr. Clayton said the question OF
including others than trainmen wa:
brought up in the conference yesterday
and IL was decided that such amendment
might delay this bill.
The most serious strike that has eve
confronted is imminent" said Mr.. Clay
ton. and everybody wants 10 avert IT.
Speaks for the Progressives.
Mr.. Bryan OF Washington said thai
the progressives had been frozen out
of all agreements in the pending bill
The progressives are considered IL
be thoroughly awake as to stane
by anything that is right. but in thes,
conferences the four million minorit,
ought TO be considered as well as tn,
republican three million minority
Representative Murdock. floor Leader
OF the progressives. punctured the Bry
an balloon by saying he had been in
viJed TO the White House conference.
Don't inject politics into u crisis
like this" advised Representative Mann
the republican leader.
through with only two amendments
and limiting the debate TO one hour
Representative Clayton opened the de
bate, calling attention to the fact that tn
greatest railroad strike in the history O
the country is now threatened fnyOlvin
thousands of employees running the train
north of the Potomac and east OF tn
Missouri. Both branches OF Congress, h
said ready To rass the bill to aver
d national calamity.
The time is past when strike Ncon
Germs no one but the road and the EN-
pioyes." he said. 1T concerns every one
regardless of their occupations. Their
has never been "A more far-reaching ac
ar . more beneiicent one. IL marks
new era in the settlement of industris
disputes.
Exemplifies Best Method.
1t will show Industrial workers th
best method Of settling questions with
out failing into the warfare of strike:
We should teach this lesson to work
and capitalists-that it's better
have "a peaceful settlement than
strike. aud that arbitration can be pras
icasly accomplished"
RE said employees were not ready
- trust the Erdmau act Implicitly.
j. he paid a tribute 10 Judge knap
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