Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-09
The Arbitration Bill.

The large majority by which the House
of Representatives passed the arbitration
bill reported by the committee on labor,
shows what spur strong public senti-
ment is to any Legislative body. While
there does not appear TO have been much
sympathy, privately, among the members
of the House with this measure, the nee
essity of the recognition on the part Of
Congress of the present labor troubles,
and some effort by that body toward their
settlement, was so evident that it could
not he ignored The bill was passed by a
vote of 1875 to %. AS we have previously
stated, it is not by any means an uncom-
promising md lure. The original bill was
so trimmed down by the committee before
reporting, that there was hardly anything
left for either party to object to. AS first
drafted, the bill gave the decision of the
arbitrator, or majority of them, the eff
feet of judgment of Il court. Wisely
perceivng that such a provision as this
would not only subject the bill to the
strongest criticism but would also render
its enforcement, if passed, impracticable,
the committee struck it out altogether
The very idea of arbitration is that the
consent of the opposing parties is neces
sary to the settlement of the dispute, and
| anything which is of the nature of en-
| forcement, or which deprives either party
| of the right to consent or dissent DESTROYS
| the impartial nature of the transaction.
/ The law cannot compel any man to work
| for Il company with whose requirements
he is not willing to comply. Neither can
a corporation be forced to employ IA man
] rt nt pl Inv
| This is the difficulty in framing IA plan of
arbitration which snail be of any practical
or definite value.
But while a law cannot be enacted com
| polling agreement between labor ANA ca
ital, method may be provided 10y law
which shall conduce to this end. This is
the object of the present arbitration Lii.
1t is simply the best available means for
arriving at a compromise. The very fact
that a common ground has been provided
by law for conducting measures of ari i
tratlon, is so far an inducement to arbi-
trate and should the successful working
of the plan furnish precedent in favor of
peaceful and speedy settlement of dis
| putes, the court of arbitration would &C
quire something of the definite and posi-
tive character of Il court of law.
There are some other and minor advan-
tages presented by the arbitration bill. 1t
provides for the payment of the expense of
arbitration by the government. This is
of course, of the nature of an inducement
to the parties to come together. While II
is not exactly a legitimate public expense
it is Il contribution which the public il
glad to make toward the restoration OF
harmony and the heathful condition o.
the business interests of the country. |
the expenses of arbitration had always tt
be borne by the parties i'll opposition, i
would act as a barrier to such a methot
of settling their difficulties. The expense
of these courts of arbitration need not b,
heavy. The bill fixes the compensation o
those taking part in the proceedings, in
Guiding witnesses, and limits the tota
. cost in any one case to $1,000. This sun
would certainly not be heavy drain OF
the public treasury, and is not to be com
pared to the loss which the public sus
tains from the continuance of strike il
any department of business.
Should this bill become law. its success
will depend in large measure upon tn
:. character of the men who compose tn
y board of arbitration in every case. Will
i the members of the board should be dish
~ terested men, they should also be me
q whose familiarity with the business i
4 question, and knowledge of the relation
between employer and employe, make the
decisions of special weight. Such me
r might often bring about a compromise b
r. simply placing the matter in its true ligt
II before the opposing parties.