The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-12
DEMOCRATIC HARMONY in Lackawap-
na county always shows up big except
on election day.
To Stop Railroad Tie-ups.

Reference has already been made to
certain propositions advanced at
Washington by congressman who hope
to abridgs the growing tendency to
hurtful railway strikes Some of these
measures are obviously extreme, but
one has been jointly formed by Repre-
sentatives Tawney, of Minnesota, and
Hartman. Of Montana, which appar-
emily offers good basis for expert,
mcnt. The general intent of this bill
is to compel the arbitration, before the
federal district courts, of such wage
disputes as are calculated to interfere
with interstate commerce. The bills
detailed provisions are thus outlined in
a Washington dispatch:
When q controversy exists between a
company and its employees which impedes
or threatens to impede the transportation
OF passengers or property or mails, either
party, by Ming petition, may secure from
the circuit court u citation directin! the
other party to the controversy TO appear
and answer. II neither party exercises
this right either before or within a rea.
sOnaOle time after the strike occurs it is
made the duty OF the district attorney Of
the United Statea, upon the request of
any board OF irade or Of any ten citizsns,
to bIing the parties into court for the set
tlment Of the dispute. Upon the consent
Of the parties it becomes the duty Of the
court to hear and determine the contro-
versy in the same manner that it would
hear and determine any matter properly be-
fore It, If the parties do not consent to the
court hearing the controversy board of
arbitration is to be appointed to whom
the matter is referred. Within three
days after the award is fled either party
may move TO have it vacated or modified
but only on the ground of its having been
procured by fraud or corruption or upon
errors of law materially affecting the
rights Of either party. When confirmed
the award becomes the decree of the court
and IS to be conclusive. Severe penalties
are imposed for failure or refusal on the
part of the company to comply with the
judgment, provided such refusal causes q
strike But II the company complies with
the Judgment so long rs the conditions in
force when 1t is rendered remain un-
changed it is declared to be o misdemean-
or for two or more Of the employees or for
any outsider to combine or conspre for
the purpose Of causing a strike or for the
employees to 80 upon strike on account of
any matter previously determined by the
judgment This is an offense which must
be proved by jury trial
The fatal objection in moat schemes
of compulsory arbitration by action Of
the state, that Of lack of enacting
power, would seem to be avoided in
this bill. There may be exceptions
yet as rule it is conceded that when
dispute Of this character gets square
ly before q United States court the
finding Of that court will be obeyed. 1t
is habit Of our federal tribunals to
tolerate no nonsense. AS a rule, too,
the decisions of the federal courts are
fair, candid and just. The cry that
the corporations could unduly influence
them is for the most part false. Ii this
particular bill is ever accorded an hon
est test it will undoubtedly prove 80
satisfactory to the general public as to
become thereafter an accepted function
Of the courts and valuable protection
against wags wars in which the most
victimized class is that which, at
present. has the smallest voice in the
controversies.