New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15

has made q report or us dOlnBS from the time
1t was created, March rs. 1895. up to October 81
at which time AL the reports Of State officers
must close. The document is now In the hands
Of the printers. and IL is probably the shortest
emanating from any State department II ia
signed by Commissioners Sherwood. Martin.
Doughty. Houston and Moore. and reads q
follows:
| To the Legislatures
The new state Board OF Arbitration came into
legal existence on March g. 1895. when the Gov.
ernor gave his assent to the act cTes,ing L. Soon
after the Board net and organized Dy the election
Of $. j. Sherwood as president ana James Marin
At the outset the Board felt Itself seriously
hampereI by the restrictions surrounding IL. II
was the opinion OF nose instrumental IN framing
and passing the law that the Commissioner
would be entitled 10 free transpoFtat,on over n.
railroads of the stare. but tbs was discovered 70
/ b. an erroneous impre ssiOn. the railroad COM
panies are not compiled to issue passes 10 II.
Board and most Of The other state Officers receive
such passes as favor and not as right Asa
result OF the situation the Arotrail0n Commission
ers hsSs 10 PSy a eye 1l as stryne n d n
est OF the State means 50 much expense ln1iyd.
naliy In other words, by remaining inactive the
bsr ioS tbsv W" bav ~ make dsbscaens for o or
the State does not recoup them. This seem Ike
putting premium on nesgenlee ana matt IL
ph n the nts STATE heI On at wSh r. Sss
situation il New-Jersey was Teyle"ed and ds
strikes DIX. rrbances in the Stitches, perhaps
than ever ber = There have been about a scor.
Of minor trou. IS into which the Board Inquired
Soon after the Board came into existence 4
strike at one of the silk mills in Paterson occurred
and for time it appeared likely to become gen.
eral TIE Board offered its services both SIDES
yet ready for the intervention OF the Board and
the employees sent no answer wAateyer. The
When the hatters' strike il Orange began. tn.
services OF the Board were promptly offered to
both sides; but neither side Responded. The IN.
ployes had struck for increase OF pay. but
work was resumed the old terms
The next trouble TO engage the attention Of tne
Board was the moulders strike in elizabeth
While there was no pos I'VE rue governing tn.
rated at 81 - day. The men demanded that The
minimum should be raised to % T. BIZ waen tn.
demand at the other factories vas scaled down 10
aa5 Sure er There %eTc nrSe isop IN "Hen the
l.. Moore e Sons Company. and the Moore Bros
The whole Board visited Elizabeth October u.s.
and on that day the firm Of \. d F. Brown &C.
eGedel, g the demands OF thsir empioyes The
that while the average minimum wages had been
81 80 day, there was no maximum. some We're
The strikers did no, propose to fix any maximum
but they want a rigid minimum OF g y under which
Of the Commissioners as 10 VIVA; guarantee would
be given to secure the employers against repeated
demands for an increase la case the pending de-
mands were settled to Their satisfaction. the
I'VE willing to make an agreement for s,r
be satisfactory. binding ourselves TO stand by the
notice shall be given in case either side proposes to
The Board next visited the foundry OF tie Samuel
/" Moore x Sons COMPANY and there net Nj
Ackerman, the superintendent Mr. Ackerm2n
discussed the situation in courteous and frank
manner lie claimed that IL would De impossible
70 hx such minimum was proposed. he sad
that some Classes OF work cou!l be done by men
having a merely nominal acquaintance with the
could not warrant the frm in paying NOR. than
700 a day 10 the men engaged in il Besides he
service several old men who not worth 20
them % 80 day, but whom they did not want
discharge.
AS to the proposition for an agreement. Mr.
AGKerman SAD that ina; was an entirely new
managing directors of the firm Hearing nothing
for some time the secretary OF the Board wrote to
was /. elved frofl NJ r Moore the secretary. In
which ne recited the statements previously some
difficulties encountered by the firm in Is effort 70
run the factory as the company saw fi. Mos: OF
Union and its outside representatives..
The secretary Of the Board responded in a note
willing TO make a settlement and Offering on behalf
of the Board TO visit Elizabeth at any time II arbl
1 When this report closed nothing more had been
The Board Visited the foundry OF Moore Bros,
firm sixty men in all were directly affected by Ii.
strike. During It's INVESTIGATION OF the Elizabeth
strike The B9ard net Mr. Perrine, a representaye
Of the work rendered in other States by arbitration
boards in settling disputes in his trade;
The law gives the Board power to make an open
Investigation into the cause OF any strike ana 70
examine witnesses under oath There Is however
tend and testify so that IN case of refusal on b.
part of any person summoned the Board would
have no power TO enforce its orders. No occasion
has so far arisen for the holding OF sworn in.
vestgation as the Board has been able in the case:
facts with comparatively little difficulty.
The necessity is likely TO presen; Itself az any
time, however. and Without amp'e power to enforce
its authority the Poard would find itself helpless
in such emergency
Even though the BOARD were endowed with the
same power the Courts Of Record in Furnishing
dlsobedent recal1trant witnesses it is the feeling
ssed only under ne stress es Of sbsoGte necessity
There is. too. in the Board decided unwingness
purposes The policy of the Board is to ascertain
the facts. If possible. by quiet and amicable in
ment by persuasion and argument rather than by
intensfyng whatever bitterness may exist end
tnat ths consequence that seems inevitable rom
most OF those sworn Investigations There are OF
course; circumstances under which the testimony
OF oath-bound witnesses would be valuable one
could easily foresee where differences be-
tween the managers and employees OF corporations
holding franchises from the State would directly
public: and where it would be hishy desirable
form for the benefit of the Legislature but ord-
into disputes between private corporations or firms
would be 10 attempt to coerce either side into con-
of justice revolted at naturally peace growing
out OF any such condition could not be lasting.
mental than useful 1t is anxious 10 exercise a
wise and salutary influence in harmonlzing the in
erests of labor and capital in bringing the wsr-.ng
elenents IN any controversy together on a common
Srouhd so mat they may reach understand
inS satisfactory to all. To do the work properly
the Board should have free Transportation over
All the railroads OF the att: It should have power;
inc attendance Of Witnesses and to pay ;her fees
ant expenses ard in special cases il should have
subject TO the approval OF the Governor an.
thorlty 10 engage experts 20 inquire and report 10
relation to particular trades or industries
BELLEVILLE