Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-01

Nohhihoh NoibiVto shehStu ii INV
and Territorial transportation OF pro-
pcrty and passengers and their en-
ployees.
The following is the full text OF the
bill
Section |. That whenever differences
OF controversies arise between common
carriers engaged in transportation OF
property or passengers, whether said
common carriers be private persons or
corporations, between two or more
States Of the United States, or within
The Territories Of the United States, or
within the District Of Columbia, and
The employees of said common carriers,
which differences or controversies may
hinder, impede, obstruct, interrupt
or affect such transportation OF pro-
perry OF passengers, or when such
employees, or any one of them,
allege that be or they have been
treated unjustly or opprcssively,
either as to wages, hours Of labor, or
otherwise, by such common carriers, if
upon the written proposition of either
party to the controversy to submit their
differences to arbitration the other party
shall accept the proposition, then and
in such an event the common carrier is
hereby authorized to select and appoint
one person, and such employee or en-
ploy ees as the case may be to select and
appoint another person, and the two
persons thus selected and appointed to
select a third person, all three Of whom
shall be citizens of the United States
and wholly impartial and disinterested
IN respect to such differences or contro-
veTsies, and the three persons thus Sc
lecied and appointed shall be, and they
are hereby, created and constituted a
board Of arbitration, with the duties,
powers, and privileges hereinafter set
forth.
Section 2. That the board OF arbi-
tration provided for in the first section
Of this act shall possess all the powers
and authority in respect TO administer
ing oatbs, subpGnaing witnesses and
compelling their attendance, preserving
oIder during the sittings Of the board,
Furnishing for contempt, and requiring
the production Of papers and writings,
and all other powers and privileges,
in their nature applicable, now pos
sessod by and belonging TO the United
States commissioners appointed by the
Circuit Court Of the United States; and
said board of arbitration may appoint
a clerk and employ a stenOgrapher and
prescribe all reasonable rules aud regu-
lations not inconsistent with the pro-
visions and purposes Of this act,
looking to the speedy advancement
Of differences and controversies sub
mitted to them to conclusion and de-
termination. Each Of said arbitrators
shall take ali oath to honestly, fairly,
and faithfully perform his duties, and
that he is not personally interested in
the subject matter in controversy ;
which oath may be administered by
any State or Territorial officer author
lied to administer oaths. The third
person so selected and appointed as afore-
said shall be president of said board,
and any orders, finding, conclusion,
or award made by a majority of such
arbtrators shall be of the same force
and effect as if all three of such arbi-
traitors concurred therein or united in
making the same.
Section 3. That it shall be the duty
of the said board of arbitration, i'm
mediatcly upon their selection, to Or
ganize at the nearest practicable point
to the place of the origin Of the diff
Guilty or controversy, and to hear and
determine matters Of difference which
may be submitted to them in writing
by all parties, giving them full oppor-
tunity TO be heard on oath, in person,
and by witnesses, ard also granting them
the right to be represented by counsel {;
and after concludingits investigation said
Board shall publicly announce its award,
which, with the findings of the facts
upon which it is based, shall be reduced
to writing and signed by the arbitra-
tors copcuiriDg therein, and, together
with the testimony taken in the case,
shall be filed with the Commissioner Of
Labor Of the United States, who shall
make such award public as soon as the
same shall have been received by him.
Section 1. That it shall be the right
OF any employ ices engaged in the cOntro-
versy to appoint by designation in
writing one or more persons to act for
them in the selection OF an arbitrator to
represent them upon the board of ar
bitration.
Section ). That each member Of said
tribunal Of arbitration, and clerk, ste
nographer, and witnesses attending be-
fore them, shall be entitled to receive
like fees or compensation as United
States commissioners and clerks, Ste
nographers, and witnesses attending be-
fore nited States commissioners, and
such fees or compensation shall be pay
able by the United States in like man
ner as the fees Of such United States
commissioners and witnesses before
such United States commissioners in
criminal causes are payable under eX-
listing laws.
On a point of order raised by Mr..
Dunn, of Arkansas, the bill was re-
ferIod 10 the Committee of the Whole,
and the House went into committee for
the consideration Of the measure.
a lorg and interesting debate fol-
lowed, in which the strongest argu-
ments in favor of the bill were that it
was step in the right direction that
its moral effect would be very great;
that it was imperatively necessary for
Congress to move in the matter prompt
ly; that it gave vent to public opinion
in an orderly, legitimate way, and that
it is the best that can now be done.
The objections to it were that the
bill could not compel, and that it was
not competent for Congress to compel
either party TO controversy to accept
under it if they chose to re-
fuse therefore that the bill is power
less for good if it becomes law that
il would be useless expenditure Of
time: that it would be triiling with a
grand subject that advantage could
be taken Of it to settle petty quarrels,
and that the United States could be
made TO pay the bills.