The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-04
THE ARBITRATION LABOR LAW
Has nesn Presented to tho House Tognthor
with loo omm nnd alton, A,tins Its pua.

Has nesn Presented to tho House Tognthor
With Hocomm alton, A,kins Its pus.
sage.
WAsnSdros, Feb. 3.-rhe amended
labor arbitration bill, agreed oil by tho
houSe committee on labor, af.er confer.
ences with representatives Of tho organ.
izationa OF locomotive enginoeru, train.
men, iiremen aud conductors. has been
reported to the house by Mr.. Erdman,
OF Pennsylvania. Incorporated in tho
report accompanying tho bill, are two
letters addressed to Chairman McGann,
approving tho bill. one from Hon. Car.
roll d. Wright, commissioner Of labor,
and the other from the labor representa-.
tives above referred to.
The bill agreed upon by the commit
tee, Mr.. Wright sets forth in his letter,
contains all the vital principles in.
cluded in the bill presented by himself
and Mr.. Herman az an outcome OF the
investigation OF the Chicago strike.
"It is bill" he says, which in its
provisions seeks to place labor on
more thorough baSis than 1t now occu.
pies. II also, in its more material sec.
ttons. especially z, s aud Q. brings to
labor organizations the opportunity for
really perfecting their work and for CO.
operating with tho managers OF railroads
in preventing strikes and all manner Of
violence, in avoiding threats and in
eliminating intimidationa. 1t also glves
employees an opportunity 10 be heard
when receivers are in control OF rail-
roads upon the question OF reduction OF
their wages and the conditions Of their
employment should changes therein be
sought by receivers. The bill in no
sense aims at compulsory arbitration,
and only provides, SO far as arbitration
Is concerned, for immediate action,
first to secure Cancellation or mediation,
and. failing in that, the constitution OF
board OF arbitration, the awards of
which may be final il the parties com.
ing before it agree that they shall be.
see no reason whatever for criticisinc
it adversely. On the other hand. while
it will not solve the labor problem, nor
prevent strikes entirely, it will, in my
opinion. do much to steady the forces
involved and afford a powerful and
even effective balance wheel in inter-
state controversies
The other letter is signed by E. E.
Clark. Order OF Railway Conductors;
Frank P. Sargant and F. NJ. Arnold,
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen;
P. NJ. Arthur, Brotherhood OF Locomo.
tive Engineers; D. L. Cease and W. G.
Edens, Brotherhood OF Trainmen and
". P. Powell, Order OF Railroad Tele.
graphera. This letter sets forth that
the organization OF railway employees
represented are hearty accord with the
general sentiment in favor OF arbitra.
ton, as a means for settling disputes
and favor the enactment OF laws bv the
national Congress as preferable to any
that might be enacted by the lcsisla.
lures Of the different s.a!es.
The writer points out that they havo
never been willing to subscribe TO tho
idea OF permanent commission or n
fixed arbitrator named in advance, and
agreeably to that idea, proposed the
amendment regarding the organization
OF the arbitration commission al,eadv
pointed out in these dispatches. At this
same time, they think It essential there
should be some government officer
whose duty it is to Immediately take up
the matter Of settlement OF disputes BY
cancellation or mediation, and il this is
unsuccessful, to attempt to secure arbi.
tration before war is declared.
In objecting 10 section 10 OF the bill
as originally drawn by the attorney
general, which gave tho government
right 10 bring suit in equity to prevent
a continuance OF a strike. the labor men
say they believe it covers ground not
contemplated BY the preceding provi-
sions OF the bill, and that it could easily
be construed in such way a, to entirely
defeat the objects aimed a,.
"We believe that it contempIates in.
ves,igating the representatives OF tho
general government with authority,
which is not consistent with the ac-
cep,ed understanding Of the rights Of
the property owners or individual c iii.
IONS. In short, We look upon 1t as n
long step in the direction OF govern
ment patcrnalism, or eventual govern
mont ownership OF railways, or 10 use
briefer and stronger term, state social
ism, pure aud simple"
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