The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-16
BISHOP POTTER AND THE LITHO-
GRA PIERS.

New York last winter Bishop HENRY e.
POTTER was chosen and accepted as ar
bitter and referee by the board OF arbitra-
tion of the Lithogaphers' Association of
the metropolitan district, and the New
York subordinate association of the In
ternational Lithographic Artists and En-
OF the United States and Canada, and his
decision, just made public, is of peculiar
interest as having a bearing on certain
questions at issue in consideration OF
labor conditions and the relationship be-
tween employers and employees generally.
Briefs from the employers and from the
lithographlc "artists," who are really
not artists in the sense that they origi-
nate or design. their work being to trans
fer to the stone, or copy, the work or de-
signs of other artists, were submitted to
the famous Episcoralian, and arguments
were heard bringing out a wealth of In
formation on both sides. The questions
at issue were: (a) The abolition of piece
work; (b) A minimum scale of wages of
sls per week; (c) Certain limitations and
regulations as to the. employment of APP
prentices; (d) The rate OF wages 10 be
paid for overtime; and, (e) Whether A.
or Ara hours should constitute the
weekly hours OF labor. But substantial
agreement being reached without much
difficulty on questions &c" and 3d." and
the referee deciding briefly that the de-
mand for A hours work was not justi-
fled by the character OF the duties per-
formed as compared with other classes OF
labor which are employed for longer
hours without injury, the questions ga"
and "b" received the most consideration
and extensive treatment OF general So
Geological nature.
Bishop POTTER decided against piece
Norh, anu ioI mihinhuih rchic VI WHBeep
urging also that the consideration of
either question could not be given with
out taking both into account, maintain
ing that .hey chang together and cannot
be acted upon separately"
Referring to piece work, after reciting
the advantages and disadvantages, physi-
cal and monetary, as argued on both
sides, Bishop POTTER referred the ques-
tion to broader one. He writes:
"The gist of the matter seems to be this:
There Is a tendency at the present day
among the working classes toward in
creasing solidarity. There is a strong
movement among the employers Of labor
TO resist this tendency.
1.-The conditions implied in the wage
work system are favorable to solidarity.
Hence the workmen demand II. Thercon-
ditions implied In the piece-work system
allow the employer to deal with his men
separately, and to isolate more or less,
the interest OF each from his fellows.
What should be the position of the arbi-
means compromise, do not see how 1t is
possible under these circumstances.
There can be compromise as TO hours of
labor, a. TO the amount of wages to be
paid, as TO the number of apprentices TO
be allowed, etc. In fact, wherever the
difference can be stated numerically COM
promise seems clearly in order. But do
not see how there can be any compromise
between opposing principles. IL, never
theless, the arbitrator or referee Is re-
quired to give q decision, II seems 10 me
that he must consult his highest con-
science as TO which of the opposite tend
encies makes for the social good, and side
with one or the other of the parties &C.
cordingly. In the interest of arbitration
as means of settling labor disputes, this
point should be clearly stated, so that the
distinction between arbitration and COM
promise may come to be recognized"
And accordingly, as referee, the distin-
guished bishop is constrained to decide
in favor OF the abolition of piece work
admitting that thero is some uncertainty
as to the evidence as to the usage in
this matter, but claiming that the weight
OF testimony would seem to be In favor
of growing acceptance throughout the
country OF the rule which disallows piece
work. Such rule undoubtedly makes
1t possible for an artist under certain
conditions to take advantage of his en-
pioyer, he adds "but bis employer has in
the power OF discharge at least one effec.
tive corrective of any such tendency,
and wise labor union viii discourage
such unfaithfulness by its own rules"
Following the considerations that he
thus establishes for ruling in the
matter OF piece work, the referee de-
cides for fixed minimum scale OF wages
in this particular controversy SIS a
week, subject to agreement OF a Joint
committee that the work OF particular
artizan, who may be inefficient may be
less. "If we look at the substance OF the
demand" writes the bishop, "and waive
ha orourorr ~ fho