The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-09

bltration is entirely voluntary in Indiana,
and courts have not always Jurisdiction of
the matters in issue.
1t is the universal opinion of persons
who have paid attention to these contro-
versies that if unnecessary, irritating causes
can be removed. the real matter in dispute
can usually be settled without much diff
Guilty. The passion, the bad blood the
mutual misunderstanding and recrimina-
ton that usually accompany them are
commonly their worst features. For this
reason state board that performs only
the Office of peaeemaker, without full
powers OF settlement, may be very useful.
The Massachusetts board, which has been
very successful, is authorized and required
ito put itself in communication as soon as
may be with such employer and en-
ployes. and endeavor by mediation
to effect an amicable settle
ment between them. or to endeavor to
persuade them, provided that strike or
lockout has not actually occurred, or is
not then continuing, to submit the mat
tiers in dispute to a local board OF arbitra-
ton and Cancellation, or to the state board
and said state board may. if it deems ad-
visable, investigate the cause or causes of
such controversy and ascertain which
party thereto is mainly responsible or
blameworthy for the existence or contin-
uance OF the same. and may make and
publish a report finding such cause or
causes and assigning such responsibility
or blame" They may also on application
from an employer or a majority OF en-
ploves or both, hear and decide any cues
ton not within the jurisdiction of the
courts. which decision shall be binding
upon the parties lUho join in said application
/ for six months" or until sixty days notice
is given by either party OF refusal to abide
| by such decision. The power, therefore.
/ is not much greater than that recommend
| ed for the permanent committee of con-
| Citation after the great strike of the Lon
don dock laborers had been settled by the
friendly intervention of third parties.
Notwithstanding its restricted powers
the Massachusetts board has secured the
respect and confidence of both employers
and employees and the strongest support
ofpublic sentiment. The yearly earnings
of workmen directly affected by the con-
troversies it dealt with in 1890 were esti-
mated at S4,056, 1876, and the yearly earn
ings of employers involved at SO, 054 ,525.
For 1891 the earnings of workmen affected
were 3, 307, 600 and of employers So 3S,-
$50. Suppose now that the board had not
existed and the average length of the
strikes and lockouts, which would have
existed, would have been one month.
There would have been loss to wage
earners OF S33S, 0l6 in 1890 and Sl92, $50 in
1891 to employers loss of Sl,003,7l0 in
1890 and S753,229 in 1891. This is dead
loss and is an injury to the whole COM
munity. The loss that has accrued to the
company, the employees aud to business
interests by the street railway troubles OF
the past two weeks is certainly not less
than 100000 Such board as that of
Massachusetts, would be OF great service in
Indiana, especially II the courts are given,
or will be upheld in taking such author
ity as that exercised by Judge TAYLOR.
when public rights are involved. Pos
eibly a still better system may be Devised
but surely nothing could be much worse
than the present condition.