New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-03
LABOR ARBITRATION IN FRANCE.

Washington Jan. 2-The Department Of State
mas received from one of its Consular representa-
tives abroad report showing the progress of ar
duration as method of settling strikes in France
Toward the close of 1892 the French Chambers
enacted Law providing for Cancellation and ar
bltration in conflicts between employers and work.
men,. The act contemplatcs the voluntary sub
mission by the parties Interested OF the question
at issue between them bearing the condition OF
labor, first to committee OF conciliation consist
Ing of delegates chosen by the respective parties
and. secondly, In of failure to agree on the
part of such committee to a council OF arbitration
The proceedings may be initiated by either party
or In case of strike, upon the Invitation of the
justice of the peace of the district or canton; but
in all cases the agreement of both parties to sub
nit the question is essential.
The recent publication Of the report OF the
Director of the Office Of Labor, addressed to the
Minister of Commerce and Industry. affords an
opportunity for Judging the practical operation
OF the Law. The report covers the year 1899 1t
appears that during that year there 634
strikes. and that proceedings under the provi-
sions of the act were initiated in 1903 instances
IN all but seven OF these instances a strike hav-
ing been previously declared In hfty-siX cases
the application came from the workmen. in five
from the employers, In two from the employers
and workmen together while the Justice Of the
Peace interviewed in the remaining forty-six. The
result Of these 100 lnvocatlons of the law of arbi-
tration follows: In thirteen work
was resumed before the law could be applied.
In eight OF these thirteen cases the Justice had
interviewed. and in five the application had come
from the workmen. In forty-fvc other cases the
resort TO Cancellation justified by refusals 10
submit thirty-seven Of these refusals coming
from the employers six from the workmen and
two from both sides In the thirty-seven instances
of refusal by employers. the application had been
made by the workmen in twenty-eght cases. and
the Justice had interviewed in nine. In the six
instances of refusal by workmeD the applicato
had been made by the employers three times, the
Justice intervening in the other three.
In the hfty-one remaining cases committees OF
Cancellation constituted and in thirty instances
satisfactory solution obtained, conclusion
being reached by the committee in twenty-five cases
and by subsequent arbitration in five. In nine Of
these proceedings the demands OF the workmen
were granted In three. refused and compromise
decision was reached In eighteen. The twenty-one
other submissions failed OF any practical result. one
because two successive referees appointed by the
president Of the civil court declined to two
because the workmen refused TO ratify the decisions
and the others by reason Of refusal by side or
both 10 consent to "A council of arbitration the
appointment OF referee.
The consul has been unable to obtain any figures
In relation TO arbitration for the last year, but the
director OF the Office OF labor in recent report
TO the Minister of Commerce and Industry ates
that mp to the time Of writing. September l. 1894, the
recourse to the law had been larger in proportion
TO the number OF strikes than during 1899.