The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-02-04
{ LABOR ARBITRATION.
The Amended Bill Endorsed by
Labor Leaders.
NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION.
The Rights, Privileges and Prsrogatives of
Both Labor and Capital Reeognizsd-
Measure Designed to Greatly Reduce the
Number of Strikes. 49,.


Both Labor and Capital Recognized-The
Measure Designed to Greatly iteduce the
Number of Strikes.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4,-The amended
labor arbitration bill, agreed on by tho
house committee on labor after confer
ences with representatives of the organiza-
tions of locomotive engineers, trainmcn,
hremen and conductors, has been reported
to the house by Mr. Erdman, of Pcnnsyl-
vania Incorporated in the report accom-
panying the bill are two letters addressed
TO Chairman McGGun approving the bill,
one from Hon Carroll ID. 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 III his letter, contains
all the vital principles included in the bill
presented by himself and Nj. Herman, as
an outcome of the Investigation OF the
Chicago strike. at Is. a bill," he says,
(which in its provisions seeks to place
labor on q more thorough basis than it
now occupies. 1t also, in It's most material
sections, brings to labor organizations the
opportunity for really perfecting their
work and for cooperating with tho man
ayers Of railroads In preventing strikes
and all manner of violence, in avoiding
threats and in eliminating intimidatlonS.
1t also gives employees an opportunity to
be heard, when receivers are in control of
railroads, upon the question of the rcduc-
tion of thcir wages and the conditions OF
their employment should changes therein
be sought by receivers,
"The bill in no sense aims ut compulsory
arbitration and only provides, so far as ur.
bitration Is concerned, for iulmcdnta ac-
kion, first to secure Cancellation or media.
ton, and, failing IN that, the constitution
Of a board of arbitration, the awards Of
which may be flnnl If the parties coming
before 1t agree that they shall he. Tho
rights, privileges and prerogativcs oG both
labor and capital, as represented In the
operation Of interstate railroads, are thor
Bughly secured and protected by the bill,
and 1t 50 nearly comprchcnds all the feat
ures of the bill which was drawn by tho
majority OF the recent strike commission
that see no reaEon whatever for criticiz-
Ing 1t adversely.
''On the other hand while it will not
solve the labor problem nor prevent strikes
entirely, 1t will In my opinion, do much
TO steady the forces involved aud afford a
powerful and even effective balance wheel
In Interstate controversies. In tho 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 30
promptly responded to the calls INSIDE
upon IT."
The other letter is signed by Il f. Clark,
Order of Railway Conductors; Frank p.
Sargent and F. NJ Arnold, Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Flromon; r. NJ. Arthur,
-
l., Cease and w. Z. Edcns, Brotherhood
Of Railroad rrainmpn, and w V. Powell,
Order of Railroad Photographers This
letter sets forth that tho 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 us preferable to any
that mil ght be enacted by the legislatures
of the different states.
"Our position" tho 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-
siro nothing but what Is right and fair
We are not disposed to allow any of our
personal preferences in the matter of de-
tail to stand In the wny of tho cnactmout
of some law that will give arbitration 4
tRlI btbt,
The writer's point out that they have
never been willing to subscribe to the idea
OF permanent commission or fixed mr.
bitrator named in advance. At the same
time they think it essential that there
should be some government officer whose
duty 1t is to Immediately take up the
matter Of settlement Of disputes by con
Citation or mediation, and IL this Is un.
successful TO attempt to secure arbitration
before war Is declared
In objectlng to section 10 Of tho bill as
originally drawn by the attorney general,
which gave the government right to bring
suits in equity to prevent a continuation
of n strike, the labor men say they believe
II covers ground not contemplated by the
preceding provisions Of the bill and that
IL could be easily construed In such way
as to entirely defeat the objects aimed at