The Caucasian., 1897-08-05

vantage Of . law enacted in 1889 to
appoint State court of meditation
and arbitration to which may be sub
mitted any grievance or dispute OF
any nature that shall arise between
any employer and his employees.
The peculiar part Of this matter
is that although Governors Luce,
Winans and Rich served the people
after the law was passed, mono Of
them saw At to appoint the court
provided for. Governor Rich did
not act under the law, for the reason
he claimed, that, while the court was
clothed with important and extern
sive powers, as to investigating la
Dor troubles, its findings were not
binding upon either party to the
controversy, either party being
at liberty to reject the recon
mendations Of the court if it saw fit
to do SO.
So it remained for Governor Pin
gree to bring the law to public no
tice by appointing members of the
court as provided. They are Carl
Schmidt, Of Detroit; Nelson Roberts,
of Negaunee, and Jerome w: Rob
bins, of Pontiac. An organization
has been effected by the election Of
Mr.. Roberts as chairman, and Mr..
Robbins as secretary. Headquarters
will be established in this city, and
preparations are making for active
work.
The law gives the members of
the court some very arbitrary pow
ers. The secretary who Is elected
for thee years, has power, under
the direction of the court to issue
subpenas, administer oaths in ali
cases before the court, call for and
examine all books. papers and doc
uments of any parties to the contro-
versy. with the same authority to
enforce the production of such books
and documents as is possessed by
courts Of record in this State.
And two of the arbltrators shall
constitute q quorum for the transac-
ton of business, and may hold
meetings at any time and place with
in the State. Examinations or in
vestigations ordered by the court
may be held by and before any one
of their number, if so directed, but
the proceedings and decisions of any
arbitrator shall not be made conclu-
sive until approved by the court, or
a majority of it. Each arbitrator
is given power to administer oaths.
| Whenever any grievance or DIS
pute of any nature shall arise be-
tween any emk loyer and his employe.
it is made lawful for the parties to
submit tho difference directly to the
court, and it is made the duty of the
court to proceed to make a prompt
investigation. After tn, case has
been fully heard, TIE Law requires
that q majority of the conrt shall,
within ten days, render q decision
in writing.
Probably the m st i'm 'er'~ mt pro-
vision Of the law, and tbe me which
will give the court an opportunity
to take a hand in every strike or la
bcr trouble that comes to lis notice,
whether the case is submitted to it
or not, is that which says that when
ever strike or a lockout shall oc-
cur or is seriously threatened in
any part Of the State, it shall be the
duty of the court to forthwith pro-
ceed to the locality of the trouble,
put itself in communication with
tho parties to the controversy, and
endeavor by meditation to effect an
amicable settlement. If, in it's judg-
ment, it is deemed. best to inquire
into the cause Of the trouble, the
court is authorized to subpoena wit
nesses, compel their attendance and
send for persons and papers.
The term "employer," as used in
the act, is specifically declared to
include firm, joint stock association,
company or corporation.
1twlu thus be seen that if the
court finds any of the above named
concerns in trouble with even one of
its employees, it can proceed to make
as thorough an investigation as il
sees FIT, even to the extent of over
hauling all the books and papers OF
the concern.
! Any who is familiar with Governo,
Pineree's course in its fight with the
Detroit street car companies may
readily see what q powerful ally this
court of his own selection would be
In case he has any further contro-
versies of that nature to wage. The
question involved in that case turr-
ed very largely on the ability of the
companies to stand q cut in the
price of fares, and if access to its
books through such court as this
could have been had, the opposition
would have been just as fully in
formed on this point as were the Off
cials OF the companies. It, will be
seen. therefore, that even though
the findings of the board are merely
advisory, no penalty for failure to
accept them being provided, and
nothing being said about such find.
ings being final as to the action o1
the parties to the controversy, the
court can make itself nbiq uitous
during the pendency Of the trouble
and before its decision is reached.
| 1t is believed that the court. viii fAa,
up things to very notice able ex.
tent before it has been long in ex.
istence.
| By the terms of the law each ar.
bi.rator is entitle to S. a day fo,
services actually performed, while
the S. Gre . y shall receive an annual
salary not to exceed 81, 200.
81 90 ST. 90 sl.oo $1.OO slo(
81 20 Pays for $l.O(
/ THE CAUCASIAN
$1 w one year. 81. .O(
ST. 90 $1.0O $l.00 81 90 $1.O(
i GERMANY AND OUR TARIFF.