The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-11

All the members of the state board
of labor, arbitration and Cancellation
were present at the meeting held yes
terday in the capitol building.
The preliminary work necessary to
can transact business was accom-
plished, and now the trio of gentle
men composing the same are all ready
TO go to work, when occasion requires
their services. The drafting of rules
of procedure to be observed in taking
evidence in cases coming before the
board for arbitration was the principal
subject discussed during the session.
After careful consideration the follow
ing were adopted:
l. The party which takes the initia-
tive in procuring or accepting of arbi-
tration shall be regarded the complain
ant, and the other party to the dispute
shall be deemed the defendant
2. The examination shall begin by the
reading, by the secretary, of the writ
ten statement of the complainant and
the written statement of the defendant.
8. The taking of the testimony of wit
nesses for the complainant shall then
proceed, and be followed by the testi-
mony of witnesses for the defendant.
4. The board may, at any stage of the
proceedings, procure the Introduction OF
books. papers or accounts.
3. The examination of witnesses shall
be conducted by a representative of
each of the parties TO the case under
arbitration. Members of the board may
participate in this examination for the
purpose of eliciting further informa-
ton.
6. In case a dispute shall arise upon
any point during the proceedings it
shall be decided by the chairman.
Should there be an exception to his de-
cision an appeal to the board as a
whole may be taken. Should a ma
jority vote against the decision it shall
be reversed. otherwise it shall stand.
I. At the conclusion of the hearing Of
testimony, the complainant, by repre-
sentative, shall have the privilege of
summing up the evidence and present
ing the case, and the defendant shall
be given a similar opportunity. The
board shall then make up it's decision
and deliver the same as soon as prac-
ticable.
8. Payment of the amount of legal
expenses attached to the arbitration
shall be guaranteed by the parties to
the controversy prior to the hearing.
The secretary was instructed to have
copies Of the arbitration law printed
in circular form for distribution to ap-
plicantS, and also to secure stationery
needed by the board. He was also in
structed to enter into correspondence
with the national commissioner of la
Dor and the boards of labor of other
states for the purpose of securing cop
les of official reports and documents
issued by them, which will be collected
as library OF reference.
At the conclusion of its deliberations
the board adjourned, subject to call by
the chairman.
1nasmuch as many may be unfamil
lar with the provisions of Utah's arbi-
tration law, under which the state
board of labor was created, it is here
with given in full:
The act which provides for the ap-
pointment of the board, it's duties and
powers, makes the personnel of the
body bipartisan, not more than two
Of the three to be members of the same
political party. One of the board. and
only one, shall be an employer of labor,
so the working men have all the best
of it so far as that goes. One serves
for a year, one for three and one for
five years, after that members are ap-
pointed to fill vacancies and serve for
four years. The law reads that when
any controversy or difference, not in
volving questions which may be sub
mitted TO an action at law, arises be-
tween a firm, person or corporation en-
ploying not less than ten persons, and
the employees, the board snail, upon
application, and as soon as practicable
thereafter, visit the locality of the dis
pute and make a careful inquiry into
the cause thereof; hear all persons in
terested who may come before them:
advise the respective parties what if
anything, ought to be done and to
TO make a written decision thereof.
This decision is to be at once made
public and recorded in manner and
fo provided
The application for Intervention shall
be sIgneo by the employer or by ma
jority of his or its employees in the de-
partment where the controversy exists
or by both parties and shall contain a
concise statement of the grievances
complained of and a promise to con-
tinue on in business, or at work, until a
decision of said board shall have been
made. if it be made within three weeks
of said application.
The board has power to summon wit
nesses by subpoena and can examine
into the records, see what wages are
paid and administer oaths, etc, and
anyone refusing TO obey d summons
may be punished as being in contempt
by am Of the district courts of the
state where the board is sitting.
The decisions Of the board are bind
ing upon the parties making the appli-
cation or who have entered their APP
pearance, until either party has filed
notice of intention not to be bound.
AS soon as a strike is on the board
shall at once put itself in communica-
ton with the employer and his en-
ployees and endeavor to effect settle
ment by honorable mediation.
-1-~ $50