, 1875-03-18

pennsylvania l!ns been for years tho Grcat
hnttlc-tleld Of capital mud lafor over part!-
ton Of protection spoils '1ta wealthy manu.
focturcrs havo detnanded anl got "protcc-
tion," simply for tho sake, they said, of tlloir
employees, and we bclicyo thetn-of COURSE
It ia strange, but true, that tho employees 30
benevolently cared for do not sccm to rot
along very well. They nre in continual hot
water with tho men WHO, through Cougrcs-
sional attorneys. "protect" thom. Strike
follows upon atrike, lockout upon lockout
Tho average miner, by dint Of constant prac-
ticc. Inns bcco1no MI expert In drawing collins,
sk1lls, aud things, for warning 10 his loving
employers, and "Slolly N1aguires" mus
querade and murder through part of every
yoar. The thorough bad feeling between
the sellers and buyers Of labor seems to
lsavo convinced tho Pennsylvania Legislature
TINT something ought to be done. The ro-
suit III Il remarkable something iu tile shape
Of bill which ia now before the House,
This bill provides for tho creation Of oil
industrial court fact which seems to show
that ita author has somo hnzy notion Of tho
French ConBeiIs deH Prud.homincs or tue
AAtI9A 0k}A III u [h4Dl+lHtIulls 41llS COIlTL IL
to have absolute authority over any disputes
botween employer and omploye. 1ta decls-
ion is final. There can be no appeal. Tho
text OF the bill gives tho new court power
"to adjnst aud finally determine all questions
and disputes relative to wages, salaries, or al-
legged unfair dealings" 1t +" may tleclaro whnt
slall be Tie wages or salaries Of employees"
Employers must pay tho wages fixed BY this
remarkable tribunal, it, money, under heavy
penalties. Every e1nploye is tempted to play
spy md infor1ner by tho promise Of pecuniary
reward. If n mine-owner holds large stock
of unsold coal, thu surplus above a certain
small amount IN to 10 seized ind sold. If
any employer sells his wares below the market
price, mud does 20 with the intention of cut
ting down wages, ho is liablo to punishment
by fine, imprisonment, OF conf1scation Of his
property. Every employer must mako sworn
returns, each month, Of the cost, the prices,
aud sale Of his product; the amount of capi-
tal invested and the number, ages, and pay
Of Lis employees.
This wonderful scheme. which proposes to
right tho wrongs Of labor by subjecting both
it md capital to an irresponsible dospot, who
can only DO influenced by brihes and b!ack-
mail, must bo Tho product Of some de,na-
gogue or 1unatic. This industrial court
would doubtless immediately fall into tho
hands Of corrupt dcmagogucs, and would
then morely ratify, legalize, and enforce the
wrongs Of tho party paying it the most
money.
The. fact that one Of tie first essays
toward labor Legislation in this country is
such ludicrous failure, ought not to pre-
won't further attempts, Tho Pennsylvania hill
nay servo as n perfect example of what
tho needed Inv should not DO. The
Frehch Courts OF Arbitration, established by
tho State about the yoar 1860, have been
very great SUCCESS. So hRye A1r. MunDEltAs
Doards OF Arbitration, in Englanl. In Now
York City, the Court Of Arbitration orgaa-
lied by tho Legislature, In response to tile rc-
quest Of tho Chamber Of Commerce, il said
to bs doing good work. It takes eognizancc
only OF cases between merchants. The sa1no
principle, however,-that Of arbitration,-can
DO just u well applied in coa1~digging ns in
mercantile mattars, as the example of En-
gland and Franco has shown. The eatnb-
lishmont OF industrial courts after this pat
tern Is not only proper, but a needed, legis-
lative net.