The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-06
AN ARBITRATION BILL.
Chairman McGann Says He Expects
IL to Pass Without Serious
Opposition.
SENTIMENT Is RIPE FOR IT,
All Members of Congress Recognizing
That It Is Proper Time to
DO Something.
SENTIMENT Is RIPE FOR 1T,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6-Labor Com
missioner Wright will have confer
ence with Chairman McGann, of the
house committee ON lasor, Representa-
tive Springer, author of the pending
arbitration bill, and Representative
Erdman, who wrote the favorable re-
port ON the bill. They will go over
the question of the arbitrage of strikes,
with view to outlining a programme
for immediate action in congress. Mr..
Wright's experience in the presidential
commission which recently investi-
gated tlfe Pullman strike is depended
ON to give practical form to the plan of
national arbitration. 1t has heretofore
been urged, theoretically, but the re-
port of the committee based on inquiry
and experience recommends such fedss
eral arbitration as the surest remedy
against labor agitations and strikes.
1t had been hoped that President Cleve-
hand would, in his message, give spe-
cific approval to the plan of arbitration
recommended by the strike commission
but he confined himself to an approval
of the work of the commission.
Prospects of an Arbitration Bill.
Chairman McGann says of the pros
poets of passing an arbitration bill this
session:
II think such bill will 60 through
the senate and house without difficulty.
There seems general feeling, without
reference to party to the opportuneness of
such measure. Under ordinary circum-
stances it would be difficult to get
through such an important bill at a
short session, but the feeling is SO ripe
for action that expect it to pass both
houses. The Springer bill, now re-
ported, is almost identical with the
recommendations of the presidential
strike commission.
"Mr. Wright will be asked for sug-
gestions to perfect the bill. and then
there will be a united effort to secure
speedy action on the subject"
What the Bn VIII Provide.
Briefly, the bill provides for the ap-
pointment OF a permanent board of ar
bitration, consisting of three persons,
one of whom may, in the discretion of
the president. be the commissioner of
labor for the time being. The term of
their Office is fixed at six years, and
their salaries at 5000 per year, an
their appointment shall be made by the
president, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate. The arbitration
is secured on the petition of one of the
parties to the controversy, and when
neither asks for it, there is no compul-
sorry arbitration, but on the application
of state legislature, the president may
tender the offices of the national com.
mission. The
Power of the Commission
to settle strikes is def ed in the bill as
follows:
THE said national board of arbitra-
ton shall have power, when, in their
discretion, the public interests are at
stake, to investigate the causes of all
controversies and disputes between en-
ployes and their employers in the
United States, as they may occur, and
the conditions accompanying them, and
the best means of their adjustment,
whether such controversies and disputes
are suem tied for arbitration or not,
and to,report to the president of the
United States, who shall from time to
time transmit such reports to congress.
Said board shall have power to settle
and adjust by Cancellation all such dis
putes and controversies. so far as it
may be possible to do So"
1t is pointed out that the moral effect
of a settlement proposed by the nation
al commission would be sufficient to
make it effective. and that this would
be better than drastic measures to COM
pei acceptance.