The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-06

Washington, Dec. 5.-LaIbor Commits
sionef Wright viii have a conference
tomorrow with Chairman McGann, OF
the House committee on labor, Repre-
sentative Springer, author Of the pend
ing arbitration bill. and Representative
Erdman, who wrote the favorable re-
port on the bill
They will go over the question CT ar
bitrating strikes, with a view to out
lining a programme for. immediate ac-
ton in Congress Mr.. Wrigthts exDerf-
ence in the presidential commission
which recently Investigated the Pull
man strike rs depended on to give prac-
teal form to the plan Of national arbi-
tratfon. Ut mas, heretofore, been urged
theoretically, but the report Of tine
commission, based ON inquiry and ex-
Rerience, recommends such federal ar
bitration as the. surest remedy against
|labor agitation and strikes 1t had been
Ihoped that President Cleveland would,
| in his message. give specific approval
I to the plan OF arbitration recommended
by the strike commission, but he con-
fined himself to an approval of the
work of the commission.
Chairman McGann says of the pros
pects of passing an arbitration bin this
session:
az think such a bill will go through
the Senate and House without difficult
ty. There seems to be a. general feel
ling, without reference to party, as to
the opportuneness of such a measure.
Under ordinary circumstances it would
be difficult to get through such am i'm
pOrtant bill at a short session. but the
feeling is so ripe for action that 1 ex-
Doot tn hOfh Houses. bn
Springer bill now reported is almost
identical with the recommendation of
the pTesid entail strike commission. Mr..
Wright will be asked for. suggestions TO
perfect the bill and then there will be
| a united effort to secure speedy action
+, on the subject
! Briefly, the bill provides for the ap-
pointrnent 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
the salary at $1,000 a year, and the ap-
| pointment shall be made by the presi-
| dent by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. The arbitration is
secured on the peftition Of one of the
! PARTIES to a controversy, and when nei-
| Their party asks for it there is no COM
| pulSory arbitration, but on the appil-
cation of a state legislature, the presi-
dent may tender the office Of the ma
tionaI commission. The action of the
commission to settle strike IS defined
! in the bill as follows:
''The national board OF arbitration
shall have power, when in their dis
erection the public interests are at
stake, to investigate the causes of all
| controversies and disputes between
| employees and their employers in the
United States as they may occur, and
the conditions accompanying them and
| the best means for their adjustment,
whether such controversies and dis
| putes are submitted for arbitration or
not. and to report thereon to the presi-
dent, who shall. from time TO time.
! transmit such reports to Congress.
/ Said board shall have power to adjust
and settle, 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 eff
/ feet of a settlement proposed by the
national commission would be suffi-
cient to make it effective. and that
this would be better than drastic meas
ures to compel acceptance.