The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-02-04
labor ARBITRATION
The Amended Bill Endorsed by
Labor Leaders,
NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION

Ahe hiBHtst ffiVileges and PrerOgatives OF
Both Labor and Capital Recognized The
Measure Designed to Greatly Reduce the
Number of strikes.
WAsHINeToN, Feb. 4.-The amended
labor arbitration bill, agreed on by the
house committee on labor after confer
ences with representatives of the organza-
tions of locomotive engineers. trainmcn,
fremen and conductors, has been reported
to the house bv Mr.. Erdman, of pennsyl-
vania. Iacu poruted In the report accom-
panying the bin are two letters adlrcss,d
to Chairman MeGann approving the bill,
one from Hon. Carroll d. Wright, com
missioner of labor, and the other from the
labor representatives above referred TO-
The bill agreed, by the committee to Mr..
Wright sets forth in his letter, contains
all the vital principles included i'm the bill
presented by himself and Mr. Herman, as
an outcome of the investigation of the
Chicago strike. 1T is a BILL" he says,
(which in it's provisions seeks to place
labor on Il more thorough basis than it
now occupies. 1t also, in its most material
sections brings to labor organizations the
opportunity Tor really perfecting their
work and for cooperating with the man
ayers of railroads in preventing strikes
and all manner of violence, in avoiding
threats and in eliminating intimidations.
1t also gives employees an opportunity to
be heard, when receivers are in control of
railroads upon the question of the reduc-
tion of their wages and the conditions of
their employment should changes therein
be sought by receivers.
''The bill in no sense aims at compulsory
nv 60,
bitration is concerned, for immediate ac.
ton, first to secure Cancellation or media
tion, and, failing in that, the constitution
of board of arbitration, the awards of
which may be final if the parties coming
before it agree that they shall be- The
rights, privileges and prerogatives of both
labor and capital, as represented in the
operation of Interstate railroads, are thor
oughly secured and protected by the bill,
and it so nearly comprehends all the feat
ures of the bill which was drawn by the
majority of tine recent strike commission
that ! see no reason whatever for criticiz-
ing it adversely.
ION the other hand while il will not
solve the labor problem nor prevent strikes
entirely, it will, in my opinion, do much
to steady the forces involved and afford %
powerful and even effective balance wheel
| in Interstate controversies. In the inter
est of successful railroad operation, which
must be preserved in order to have our in
dustries properly carried on, | trust the
congress may approve the unanimous ac-
| tion of your committee, which has so
promptly responded TO the calls made
upon it"
| The other letter is signed by K. E. Clark
| Order of Railway Conductors; Frank p
| Sargent and f. NJ. Arnold, brotherhood
| of Locomotive Firemen; p M. Arthur,
! Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; ID.
L. Cease and w c. Edens Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen, and w. V. Powell,
Order of Railroad Telegraphers. This
letter sets forth that the organizations of
railway employees represented are in hearty
accord with the general sentiment in favor
of arbitration as means for settling dis
putes, and favor the enactment of laws by
the national congress as preferable to any
that might be enacted by the legislatures
of the different states.
"Our position, " the letter says, 'is based
on the fact that these organizations are
composed of reasonable and law abiding
men who ask no especial favors and de
sire nothing but what is right and fair
We are not disposed TO allow any of ouI
personal preferences in the matter of de
tail to stand in the way of the enactment
of some law that will give arbitration a
fair test"
The writers point out that they have
never been willing to subscribe to the ides
of permanent commission or fixed ar
bitrator named in advance. AT the same
time they think it essential that there
should be some government officer whose
duty it is to Immediately take up thC
matter of settlement of disputes by con
ciliation or mediation, and if this is un
successful TO attempt to secure arbitration
before war is declared.
In objecting to section 10 of the bill a.
originally drawn by the attorney general
which gave the government right TO bring
suits in equity TO prevent continuation
of a strike, the labor men say they believe
it covers ground not contemplated by thu
preceding provisions of the bill, and tina
it could be easily construed in such wal
as to entirely defeat the objects aimed at