Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-13
ARBITRATION ABROAD.


In New South Wales, Nova Scotia
New Zealand, France and Great Britain
arbitration boards already have been
created by law for the voluntary refer
ence Of disputes between employer and
employed.
In England measure was introduced
and afterwards Withdrawn which en-
deavored to apply TO all trade centen-
tiOns prlueiples that have been found TO
work effectively in younger communi-
ties. The measure, revamped aud
improved, will probably be brought in
by the government at the next session.
The chief features Of the measure
withdrawn, most OF which will be re-
tanned, as stated in a synopsis OF the bill,
are that when difference exists or IS
apprehendsd bstween an employer or
any class Of employers and workmen, or
between different classes Of workmen
with respect to the terms or nature OF
their employment, the Board of Trade
may, on the application Of any of the
parties, appoint person or persons to
act as conclliator or as a board Of con-
Citation.
The board should have the power to
INQUIRE into the causes OF the differ
sncs by Communication with the parties
with 4 view TO bringing about 4 settle
ment Of the difference. Such boards
might be created ia any locality by reg
istratlon with the Board of Trade send
Ing with the application copies Of its
constitution and regulations. The sys-
TEN was, of course, to be wholly yolun-
tary, neither party being under legal
cOupulsion to accept its decision, the
force Of political opinion In each local
ity being deemed sufficient to that end.
Employers objected to the bill on the
ground that il would engender disputes
unnecessarily, and the labor people OBJ
jscted to il because, as they alleged, it
would settle nothing so long as accept
ance OF the decision reached by Arbtra-
ton boards was not made compulsory
upon both parties. The government
withdrew the bill with implicit admis-
sion that it could see no way Of forcing
acceptance OF the decisions.
The number Of institutions operated
in France nBder the proft-sharing sys-
TEN has had tendency for many years
TO minimize Disputes there and to main
tain cordial relations between employ
srs aud employed. There have been
many instances, however, of prolonged
strikes 10 France, where, for a time,
arbitration was refused by oae side or
both sides. Ia all such cases the friend
" services OF the government inter-
posed, and ia q nun Der Of cases it was
successful, but rarely until both sides
were depleted Of money and worn out
by contention.
Hence the practical useiessnsss Of ar
bltration that is not compulsory. As
the Chicago Herald points out, every
body except Mr.. PULLMAN desires arbi-
tration Of the present dispute between
the Pullman Company and the opera
tives at the satrapy. If DEBs and his
following will only show the community
how Mr.. PULLMAN can be compelled to
arbitrate, when he declares there is
nothing 10 arbltrate, the community
will be greatly indebted for the iufor-
nation. No legal agency exists in this
country to force arbitration. UEBS
proposes to punish the whole commu-
nifty because it cannot devise a way TO
do something he cannot himself tell it
how to do.
Arbitration is al admirable thing
when IT can be used. Compulsory arbi-
tratlon is problem the wisdom OF nan
kind has not found a way to solve.
DEBs' proposal to sterve the people aud
to force idleness upon hundreds Of
thousands Of patient and law-respecting
workmen is nat a method Of arbitration.
1t is simple lawlessness. II cannot be
called by any other name, and by law
and law alone it must and will be put
down.