Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30
LABOR TRIBUNALS
Conclusions of the British Royal
Commission.
a GENERAL SYSTEM DEEMED UNWINE
Appointment of an Official Arbi-
traitor Considered.
WAGES AND HOURS OF WORK

LONDON, April 3O-The royal labor COM
mission has agreed upon the report COM
piled by the Duke of Devonshire, and 1t is
made the basis of the commissions own re-
port.
The dukes recommendations included the
statement that it was unwise to institute
any general system of industrial tribunals
He added, however, that there might be
some advantage in empowering town and
county councils to establish them tenta-
lively. without directly appointing mem
bers. Any court Of this kind, duly author
lied, would have statutory powers, similar
to the county courts. These tribunals
would only deal with disputes affecting
large bodies Of men. 1t is believed that it
would do more harm than good to establish
boards with legal powers.
The duke. in his report also said that he
could not recommend the direct establish
ment Of boards of Cancellation and arbitra-
ton by the state; but the opinion was ex-
pressed that central department, having
means to procure accurate information,
might do much by advice and assistance to
promote their more rapid universal estab-
lishment
The report next dealt with the appoint
ment of official arbitrators, and the opin-
lon was expressed that the difficulty often
experienced in finding a suitable arbitrator
might be overcome by giving a public de-
act alone or in conjunction with others. If
the same persons were frequently appoint
ed they would become arbitration experts,
fairly free from the suspicion of bias Their
excuses would be paid by the treasury
The report considers it to be of no ad-
vantage to institute special labor depart
ment; but 1t advocates a government in
quiry with the view to remedying the con-
fusion now existing in the Administered ton
of various acts dealing with sanitary regu-
lations hours of labor for women and chill
dren, and other matters of that kind.
Wages and Hours of Labor.
The second part of the report deals with
wages and hours of labor. no one, it says,
seems seriously to argue that wages could
be fixed by legislation; but opinions are very
much divided about the regulation of hours
of labor. The proposal that a maximum
working day be fixed for all trades and &C.
equations Is dismissed as not calling for
serious examination. The settlement of
hours OF labor In any trade by a vote of the
trade Is more defensible, but no scheme has
solves the difficulty of defining a trade, and
Of ascertaining it's collective decision
The commission heard only one side Of the
question of an eight-hours day. so far as 1t
concerns the great area controlled by the
miners federation, that organization re-
fused to give evidence. But they are not
prepared to advise that the legislature
should lay down a general rule for a num-
pcf VI uistTlCtS yllS SO uuCn IN ClTCum-
stances.
The report points out that the miners are
an exceptionally well organized body OF
workmen. who have not found any difficulty
I'm doing for themselves whatever they desire
In such matters as the regulation of the
length of hours of labor.
The secretary of state has power. under
the factory and workshops act of 1891, to
establish special rules for the conduct of
manufacturing processes, which he may
certify to be dangerous or injurious to
health. According to the report. the powers
of the secretary of state should be express
ly extended SO as to include the regulation
of hours in the certified industries. 1t Is
further suggested that when the admins
trative orders dealt with women and chill
dren they should be final, and when men
are concerned they should lie for a time
upon the tables Of both houses before be-
coming a law.
In regard to non-unionist labor the re-
port says that the commission does not
think it possible by any legislation to re-
move the causes of those serious conflicts
which have taken place. especially in re-
cent years, in the less skilled and organized
trades. The commission holds that nom
unionist workmen should be protected. so
far as possible. by the public authorities,
and that individual liberty for masters to
employ men and to serve whom they please
should be by all means main tanned.
Intimidation by Picketing.
According to the report. there seems to be
a general desire among workmen, as well
as masters, for some clear definition of in
timidation by picketing. Though employers
urged the hardship of collective intimidation
without acts for which individuals can be
punished, the report says that the commits
sion Is not prepared to recommend any
change in the law. The opinion is expressed
that when picketng takes the shape of be-
setting the entrance of a factory in a
threatening manner 1t comes under the
definition of unlawful assembly. But IT is
pointed out that moral compulsion may be
carried to great lengths, In ways which the
law cannot control and cannot usefuIly at
tempt to control. 1t is added however,
that there Is a point at which it can inter-
vene with decided effect, without any alter
alton, except the reduction of it's precepts
to a form which plain man may clearly
understand.
Sanitary Conditions.
The sanitary conditions of labor is the
last subject dealt with by the report, and
1t is stated that, though not directly leading
the strikes or lockouts, this condition has
a considerable indirect influence upon the
relations between employers and employed