Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-09
THE FIRST TEST OF TUE PLAN OF
AR8IrRArION.


ARDITRAriOS.
The first effort made on the plan OF
arbitration to settle dispute between
employers and employees, cannot be
called failure, but on the contrary, al
though of course it Is not satisfactory to
all concerned, has avoided strike and
worked good to all parties.
We refer to the case Of the coal
miners of Pennsylvania in which the
decision of the arbitrators has set all
things going, and kept them going even
while the arbitrators We're discussing
the question in controversy.
This controversy arose about two
months ago when the operators pro-
posed to reduce the price paid for mining
coal from 81 to 8 cents per bushel. The
miners did not acquiesce in the reduc-
ton, but to the number of 5000 deter
mined to strike work. Shortly after
ward bill passed the Pennsylvania
Legislature providing for voluntary
tribunals for the settlement of disputes
between employers and employed. 1t
was determined at once to test the prac'
teal utility Of this measure, and the
miners resumed work pending
the arbitration. The tribunal ap-
pointed for the purpose, and
made up of representatives Of both
sides of the controversy, made thor
ough investigation of the condition OF
the trade and the claims Of both parties,
but failed to agree. The matter was
then referred to the umpire who had
been agreed upon, a prominent banker
of Pittsburgh, and he decided upon 81
cents oushel as the price which the
operators cosld afford to pay and still
make small profit by adopting certain
practical economies in the conduct OF
their business, aud which the miners
ought under all the circumstances of
the case to be willing to accept. The
miners expressed their satisfaction with
the decision and their willingness to
continue work at the new rate, and
while the operators are dissatisfied they
aequiesce and there is no suspension OF
work.
This is a result of no little importance
and ought to assure the adoption ofthe
plan in other States, not only between
miners and their employers, but in the
iron mills and manufactures Of this
and every other city Of the country
1t is time that we had recognition
of the fact, as remarked by the New
York Times that there are two sides
in the disputes between employers and
EMPLOYED which are deserving Of con-
sideTation, and that neither party IS
likely TO be altogether right in its de-
mands. Unless they can reach an
amicable agreement, therefore, IL is
better for both to refer the matter in
dispute TO disinterested tribunal and to
abide by its decision. All trades in this
country encounter periods of depression
and difficulty, such as that from which
both the coal and iron Industries are
now suffering, and they have their pc
RODS of exceptional prosperity. The
advantages and disadvantages should
be shared as equitably as possible be-
tween capital and labor. The former
is apt in times of prosperity to claim too
much of the profit that comes from the
union of industrial forces, and the lat
ter has no means Of enforcing its de-
mand for the proper share in the
form of wages except refusal to work
unless its demands are complied with.
At such times strikes are more likely to
lie successful than IN times Of depres-
sion, but they do not always result in
securing full justice. In dull times cap.
ital is reluctant to fOrego any more of
its wOnted profits than it is compelled
to, aud labor is often unwilling to bear
any part of the enforced reduction Of
income. 1t it enjoys its fullpart in the
benefits of prosperity, it should and
probably would he willing TO cOncede
something in times of Industrial adj
vcrsity.