Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1898 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS

The House on Thursday disposed of two important measures. The Alaskan land bill, extending the homestead laws to and providing for certain railway rights of way in the district of Alaska, as amended by the Senate and agreed upon in conference, was passed. The labor arbitration measure, providing for the arbitration of labor disputes between employes and certain common carriers, a bill which had received very wide indorsement by labor organizations throughout the country, received the approval of the House. It provides that in ease a serious controversy concerning wages, hours of labor or conditions of employment shnll arise between a carrier subject to the act and the employes, the chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Commissioner of Lnbor shall, upon the request of either party, endeavor amicably to settle the dispute by mediation, and in case the endeavor shnll fail then the controversy may be submitted to arbitration of a hoard of three persons, each party to the controversy to name one arbitrator, and the two thus named shall name a third. The agreement to submit must contain stipulations 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; tlint the award shall be filed in the Circuit 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 between the jtnrties 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 exceptions to matters of law. The act recognizes organized labor and.provides penalties for employers discriminating against employes by reason of their connection with or purpose to join such organization. Mr. Morris (Minn.) called np and the House passed a joint resolution declaring the lands within the former Mille Lac Indian reservation in Minnesota to be subject to entry under the land laws of tlie United States. The House adjourned to Monday. Just before adjournment the Senate passed an important war measure authorizing the President a’nd general officers of the army to supply the Cuban insurgents with arms and munitions of war Fitting tribute was paid by the Senate to Commodore Dewey for the magnificent victory he achieved in the battle of Manila Bay. A Inessa gt* from t InNFresident was received recommending that a vote of thanks be extended by Congress to Commodore Dewey and the gallant officers and men of his command. Without a word of debate and without a dissenting voice the Senate agreed to the resolution carrying into effect the recommendation of the President. The Senate went farther, even, that that. A bill was presented increasing the number of rear admirals in the navy from, six to seven in order-that the President might nominate Commodore Dewey to the highest position in the navy within his gift, and that, too, was passed without dissent. In addition a joint resolution was unanimously agreed to directing the Secretary of the Navy to present to Commodore Dewey a sword and medal of honor it rid to have struck, in commemoration of the battle of Manila, a bronze medal for each of the officers and men who participated in the gallunt fight. The resolution appropriates SIO,OOO to enable the Secretary to carry its provisions into effect. The greater part of the day in the House was sumed by war measures. The recommendation of the President that a vote of thanks be tendered Commodore Dewey and his associate officers and men was followed quickly with a unanimous vote, and with equal concert the House passed the bill creating an additional rear admiralship for thd hero of Manila. The bill providing for the organization of a volunteer engineer brigade and enlistment of 10,000 volunteer troops immune to tropical diseases was passed after two hours of debate. The principal ground of opposition presented was found in the features giving to the President the appointment of all officers. The Senate bill authorizing the army to distribute food among the suffering Cubans and to arm the Cuban people was pnssed. Four war measures were pnssed by the Senate on Tuesday. One of them provid eel,for carrying on the additional work in the adjutant general’s office; the second authorized the enlistment of if volunteer signal corps, two-thirds of the members of which must be expert electrician* or telegraphers; the third was the so-call-ed “immure bill,” pnssed by the House of Representatives, and the fourth wui a measure suspending existing law sc additional hospital stewards can be appointed. The postofllce appropriation bill, carrying appropriations which aggregate more than $99,000,000, was passed, aftei a debate which lasted several days. The resolution submitting to the Legislature* of the various States an amendment tc the constitution of the United States changing the date of the beginning of the terms of the President, Vice-President and members of Congress from March 4 to May 4 was adopted. The House, it session less than an hour, passed n bil: appointing three commissioners to propose necessary revision of the statutes relating Jo patents, trade and other marks and trade aiul commercial names.