The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-18
OLNEY'S LABOR. BILL
Would Make Strikes on the
Railroads Impossible.
ARBITRATION TO END DISPUTES.
4 ksaical Measure Drained b. the At
seSnsy Gsnerel Nov Before the
Aeass ef KspTsss.tsstvss.

committee On labor. II Is intended as q
substitute for the one framed by Labor
Commissioners Wright al q result Of the
labor troubles Of the Chicago strike com
mission. In several points the bin Is
more far-reaching In It's proportions than
any that has been brought forward. The
terms railroads. and employees" are
defined Ia the bill, and the latter class
includes those working on cars operated
by the carrier under lease. making the
carrier responsible fcr their acts al
though they were employed directly by
him. The wages paid to employees. II Is
stipulated. shall be reasonable and just.
In case OF q wage controversy, the
chairman OF the interstate commerce COM
mission and the commissioner OF labor
are TO communicate with the parties and
endeavcr To effect an amicable settle
nleHt- Ii this mediation fails. the con-
troversy may be submitted To board OF
arbitration. OF which the chairman OF
the interstate commerce commission shat:
be chairman. and which shall consist also
OF one commissioner chosen by the en-
pioyers. and one by the labor organixa-
ton to which the employees directly in
terested belong, or. IL they belong to
more than one. by that one which special
~ represents employees OF the same grade
and class and engaged In service OF the
same nature as the employees In the con-
troyersy. Where two or more classes OF
employees are interested. their organ.za-
tons shall agree upon their representa-
uyes. Other features are:
That the award shall be final. unless
set aside for error OF law apparent on
the record. Employees dissatisfied with
the award shall not quit work without
three months notice n writing.
The &sfsrd shall be continued IN force
for two Years. and during that period no
new arbitration between the same parties
on the same subject shall Re had.
Membership in Incorporated labor or
CARNATIONS. It is provided. shall be ter
minated in indulgence in lawiessaess, yio-
ience. destruction of properly, intimida-
ton or threats by members during
strikes. but they are not 10 be held indi-
viiually liable for debts of the crgaaiza-
ton.
Employers who make II condition of
employment that men shaH not oe men,
bers OF any labor organization. or dis
charge or threaten to discharge. men for
such membership or discriminate agains.
them because of 1t, or enter into contracts
compelling the men TO contribute to any
fund for charitable. social or bene fetal
objects. or. after discharging men, con-
splre to prevent them from obtaining en-
ployment. shall be guilty of misde-
neanor. punishable by line of from 500
to s., 900.
Mr.. Oiney accompanied the hin sent to
Mr.. McGann. at the iatter's request, with
statement OF his views on the several
provisions OF the original bill. and his
reasons for such new matter as had been
Incorporated into 1t. The attorney gem
erals statement starts out by dascla.m:rss
for every one, save hanaseaf. any response
bs-ty for the views contained In his let
ter. Assuming arbitration to be both
juSt8iahhe and needfrs, Mr.. OlEsey con-
tennis that its tribunal should be spe-
clad body. organized ON fixed principles,
with reference to each particular. case as
IT arises rather than a permanent body
with general jurisdiction over all cases
The machinery of arbitrator. he thinks
s-souoi not be put in motion at the in
stance of one or more isolated individuals
but only at the instance of a class, that
is, or a whole body of employees perform
Ing the same business ana of the saane
grade. in ortser that all may lie repre-
serted in the proceedings and al be bound
by their results. The effect to be given
u TIE enforcement OF II Mr.. o,ney re
gaaSiss as a matter of great consequence
In the first place. the avbisrs4r1on tri-
bualaI Is not judicial In chaSacser. but ad-
n1inistrative. It does not pass on rights,
h,yf ~ hs,S
adapted TO decide questions of rates of
wages. OF hours Of employment. and other
like matters. To impose such duties on
them is TO load them with functions fer
which they are not fitted. at the cost OF
duties for which they are fitted. The
award. therefore. should be inpeachable
I'm the circuit court only for errors OF
law apparent ca the record. and should
be filed in court only for that purpose.
In the second place. as respects the
prefermant OF awards, two considerations
are involved. One is "a dehnsse time dur
ing which an award shal. be In force
and rot revisable by anssshe- award.
Such time is essential because no bus
mess can be satisfactorily conducted un-
Cess the conditions are reasonably stable
ard certain. An award, therefore should
rot be capable OF being reopanet by
fresh arbitration fer a period OF at
leasst two years.
The industry this bil, deals with Is OF
pubic nature. and has besn often pro-
rounce<. so by the courts Il is wise to
facilitate the speedy ard peaceful settle
rneat Of the differences OF these engaged
IN It. But the paramount. duty is to lake
care 1t shzli SO ON ~ ali hazsrsis. G-fcy.
ances are 20 b rc6resSssd. OF course. with
ali the proznptrssss which their investi-
cation Will permit. The public interests
gslEass not suffer. ard the business must
be conducted wsth the lsas. possible Ia
reference The bill. therefore. shouii
contain section 10 the effect. thai. when
either before arbitration or after II. or
without arbitration. strife between en-
players ard employees. engaged IN cha
business covered by the tsll threatens 70
sltogeshsr ohstruct CT To seriously hsn-
der the transaction ~ tho business. the
attorney general. On behalf os the United
States may. By proper btu IN equity. ask
for ar injunction restraining such Oh
sfractsan ard hinssrarne 90 such bust
ness ard call for the appointment OF
receivers 20 take charge % the business
ant property involved entil the conGro-
sersy is Settled.