The record-union., 1895-01-18

|
vided for in the Bill.
| special to the RECoRD-UNTON
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA labor arhitra-
ton plan has been devised by Attorney
! General Olney, and was introduced to-
day by Chairman McGann of the House
Committee on Labor. 1t is intended as a
| substitute for the one framed by Labor
Commissioner Wright as result of the
labors of the Chicago strike commission.
In several points the bill Is more far
| reaching in its proportions than any that
has been brought forward. The WAGES
| pald 20 employees, it is stipulated, shall be
| reasonable and just. In case of wage con-
| CfoVerSleS the Chairman of the Interstate
commerce Commission and the Commits
| sloner OF Labor are to communicate with
| the parties endeavoring to effect an amica-
| Die settlement, and if this mediation fails
the controversy may be submitted to
board Of arbitration, of which the Chair
man Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
| sion shall be Chairman, and which shall
| consist also of one Commissioner chosen
| by the employer and one by the labor
| organization to which the employees di-
rectIy interested belong, or if they belong
| 10 more than one by that one which spe-
| claIIy represents employees of the same
grade and class and engage in services of
| the same nature as the employees contro-
| VerSy. Where two or more classes of
employees are interested, their organiza-
| tlons shall agree upon their representa-
! tives.
Other features are: That the award
snail be final unless set aside for error of
| law apparent on the record; employees
| dlssatIsned with the award shall not quit
work without three months notice in
| writing; the award shall be continued in
! force for two years, and during that pe-
| nod no new arbitration between the same
| parties on the same subject shall be
/ NAG; membership in incorporated
| labor organizations, it is provided,
snail be terminated by indulgence in
| laWIessness, violence, destruction ofprop-
| erty, intimidation or threats by members
| during strikes, but they are not to be
! held individually liable for debts OF the
! organization. Employers who make it a
| condition OF employment that men shall
| not be members of any labor organiZa-
! uon- or discharge or threaten to dis
! charge men tor such mem berShip, or dis
| criminate against them because of it. or
enter into contracts compelling the men
TO contribute to any fund for charitable.
social or beneficial objects, or, after dis
charging men, conspTing to prevent
| I,
| De guilty OF mISdemeanor, punishable
by fine of from 500 to 81 200.
Mr.. Olney accompanied the bill sent to
! Mr.. McGann, at the latter's request with
| statement of his views on several pro-
visions of the original bill, and his reas-
! ons for such new matter as had been in
| corporated into it. The Attorney-Gen-
| erals statement starts out by disclaiminp
Tor everyone save himself any RESPONSE
bllIty Tor the views contained in his let
ter. Assuming arbitration to be both de-
| sirable and needful, Mr.. Olney contends
| that It's tribunal should be q special BODY.
organized on fixed principles, with refer
ence to each particular case as it arises,
rather than permanent body, with gem
eral jurisdiction over all cases. The ma
chlnery OF arbitration, he thinks, should
not be put in operation at the instance of
one or more isolated individuals, but only
at the instance of a class; that is, of a
whole body OF employees performing the
same business and OF the same grade in
order that all may be represented in the
proceedings and all bound by their re-
suits.
The effect to be given to the enforce
ment OF 1t Mr.. Olney regards as a matter
OF great consequence. In the first place
the arbitrational tribunal is not judicial
in character, but administraCive-it does
not pass on rights, but rules of business
expedtents especially. The courts are
not adapted TO decide questions of rates
OF wages, of hours of employment ana
other like matters. To impose such
duties on them is to load them with
functions for which they are not fitted at
the cost OF due regard for the functions
for which they are fitted. The award,
therefore, should be impeachable in the
Circuit Court only for errors of law ap-
parent on record, and should be filed in
court only Tor that purpose.
In the second place, as respects the en-
f0rPQnlpT1f nf hn ord
tions are involved: One is definite
time during which an award shall be in
force, and not revisible by another award.
Such time Is essential, because no busi-
ness can Oe satisfactorily conducted un-
less the conditions are reasonably stable
and certain. An award, therefore, should
not be capable of being reoDened by a
fresh arbitration for a period of at least
two years.
The industry this bill deals with is of a
public nature and has often been pro-
nounced so by the courts 1t is wise to
facilitate the speedy and peaceful settle
ment OF the differences of those engaged
IN 1t. But the paramount duty is TO take
care it shall go on at all hazards.
Grievances are TO be redressed, of course
with all the promptness which their in
vestigation viii permit. But in the in
terval the public interests must suffer
and the business trouble is concerned
with the least possible interference. Tho
bill, therefore, should contain q section 10
the effect that when either before arbi-
tration, or after it, or without arbitration,
strife between employees and employers
engaged in the business covered by the
bill threatens to altogether obstruct or to
seriously hinder the transaction of the
business. the AttOrney-General, on be-
half of the United States, may, by proper
bill in equity, ask for an injunction re-
straining such obstruction and hindrancs
Of such business, and call for the ap-
pointment of receivers to take charge of
the business and property involved until
the controversy is settled.