The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-16
ARBITRATION WORK THERE
State Intervention is a success in Massa-
chusetts.

Boston, Mass, Feb. 15.-The annual
report Of the State Board Of Arbitra-
ton and Conciiia lion shows that the
system followed in Massachusetts is of
great benefit to the industrial world,
though there have been exceptions to
the successful operation of the board.
The most conspicuous exception is in
the case of the great strike last winter
in the Haverhill shoe factories, where
xhe good offices of the board were not
accepted. But there has been many in
stances in Which the work of the board
has resulted in removing friction be-
tween employers and employees, and
work has been continued steadily when
otherwise there would have been eth
er a strike or lockout. One feature of
thei Industrial development of the year
has been the establishment Of an eight
hour day in Boston in the steam-fitting
trade, with the exception that out OF
the city the day is 20 continue at nine
hours. where that is the custom. The
eight-hOur day is already established
for bricklayers, fathers, plasterers and
some carpenters in Boston, but ii is not
recognized yet in other trades.
The annual report of the board gives
in detail the course of the members
IN settling differences, and where scales
of prices for wares have been agreed
upon. as has occurred in several in
stances at much length, the figures are
given in full. The leading features in
the work Of the board for 1895 are
brought out as follows in their report:
For one-half of the year the board
was almost constantly employed, but,
happily, for the greater part of the last
six months the state has been unusually
free from labor differences. As an in
stance OF a successful method in ap-
preaching a difficult and involved ques-
ton affecting the business relations Of
thousands OF people, We refer u the
recent action of the manufacturers and
labor unions of Marlboro. who have, af-
ter much intelligent discussion, joined
in an agreement TO abide by the decis-
ion Of the state board upon the ques-
ton Of material reductions which affect
every factory in the city. There has
been work, as much as could be obtain
eG. instead of idleneSS, courteous dis
cuSsion, instead Of strikes and lockouts;
and. whatever may be thought of the
final solution of the difficulty, il is
something TO know that the business
can go on, and men and women can
work While the attempt IS being made
to reach a fair decision.
II may be said Of the boards work
during the last year that while the vol
quality Of the work has not deIer5orated
In the last twelve months have occur
red noteworthy instances Of successful
arbitration and Cancellation. All decis-
ions upon point applications have been
accepted in the best spirit by the par
ties concerned. and when the parties %
a controversy thought THAI there was
nothing which they could reasonably
be expected to arbitrate. the board has
been successful beyond the anucipa-
tons Of anyone IN Aringing the repre-
seAjatlVcS Of the p3rUeS together and
erecting an 3micGble agreement. A
good instance OF the kind is seen in the
case Of the Boston s-eam-fitters, who,
after a settlement had been practically
agreed 70, were 50 well pleased With
what had been done that they united in
putting into the settlement an agree
ment that in the future any differences
which cannot be set led by th. reSpec-
tive committees o. the association of
employers and the union shall be re-
farred 70 the state board fo- final de-
cision. without strike or lockout.
Il may be asserted confidently that
arbitration and Cancellation IN the name
OF the state is fully justified by practi-
cal experience in this commonwealth
but how far the use Of the board shall
extend must necessarily depend upon
the education and enlightenment 81 the