Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-16
1ancaster fntelliqenrer.
TUESDAY EVENING, JAN. 10, 1893.
Senator NaIiace's Bill.

Senator Wallace has introduced in
the Senate a bill to provide plan of
amicable arbitrament in disputes be-
tween, employers and employed in the
iron, steel and coal trades, wherein so
many disastrous disagreements arise
The object, of course, is laudable ::
whether its accomplishment is practic-
able is more doubtful. In asking that
the measure he proposes should be re-
ferred to the proper committee for con-
sideration, Senator Wallace said that
the necessity for some lawful tribunal
to adjust, or to try to adjust the Difficult
ties now so prevalent in the trades must
be apparent to all. This bill proceeds
upon the theory that in business matters
men are equal that a frank discussion
by themselves of taeir grievance is the
road to their settlement. and that purely
voluntary methods are better than com
pulsion or litigation. The bill is purely
tentative. l have no pride of opinion
as to any of its details, and seek criti-
cism and advice from all interested. In
a government of law, such as we boast
it is disgrace to all of US that the ulti-
mate remedies for strikes and lockouts
are force and starvation. This bill is
but an honest effort to avert this dis
grace, and to arouse and agltate the
public sentiment of the state to the
necessity for action III this field"
The measure provides that twenty
five workmen, being citizens and hav-
ing worked two years - least at
the trade and five employers who EN-
ploy each not less than ten w1rhmen.
may petition the Judge q. the district 10
issue license TO a tribunal composed OF
an equal number Of employers and em-
ployed, with al umpire 10 decide Ques
tionS which caIno. BE- settled b. the trl
bunal after discussion a. tt.yet' Inc -tiHgS.
Witnesses may he i!a!ri. bIt attorneys
are taboael. No salaries are paid. but
the county furnishes i room for the
meeting. heated ana lighted. II either
employee NJ emp. wei refuses - in in
the petition for the tribunal i may be
appointed Oh the pct!:!0I uf the one
party. who thus throws upon the other
party the onUS OF refusing discus
sion OF tie difficulties. The Umpice'S de-
ciSion IS made Unal between the parties
IN 4. questions. except as TO the ra.e Of
wages, which. for some reason rot pointed
out. is excluded from lis summary adj just
ment. But as the whole proceeding IS
voluntary. and no penalty attaches TO a
violation OF the agreement, and no au-
thority Of .he law is exercised to enforce
the decision of the tribunal, the function
of the umpire does not seem to he o.
very great consequence.
1t is certainly to lie said in favor OF
Senator Wa!lace's bill that il is inno
cent, and we are ready to believe, be
cause Senator Wallace introduced it
that it may possibly be productive OF
gooi in its working because Senator
Wallace is well qualified by intelligence
and experience to judge wisely upon the
question which he has here Set him
self to adjust by legislation. But We
confess that on the first contemplation
Of his measure we see little in it. outside
cur confidence in SeNatCr Wallace
judgment, to inspire us with confidence
in the effectiveness Of his bill to correci
the admitted evil it Seeks to grapple
with. We see nothing in the appoint
ment of Il standing committee Of con
ference 10y the court, even though it be
called a tribunal, 70 make the results OF
its deliberations more pDteat for the set
tlement Of differences between employ
ers and employed than would be those OF
conference committee directly raised
by the employers and employed whel
disputes arise.
The simple fact is, that the employ
ed want to get all the wage!
they can; the employers want tc
pay as little as they can. Il
Senator Wallace'S bill will develop an
arbitration committee of men whose
judgment will be accepted by employers
and employed respectively us to the least
they can pay or the most they can get, it
will be successful in its object. But com
mittee thus possessing the confidence of
employer and employed would he likely
to be discovered and set to work without
the aid of a judge. 1t is possible, how
ever, that the discussion of Senator
Wallace's bill may result in efficient
legislation; the undertaking is certainly
laudable.