Evening star., 1898-02-17
THE ARBITRATION BILL
Facts Stated in the House Committees
Report.
letter Signed by Prominent Labor
Leaders-Commis missioner wrighfs
IndOrsement.

The report of the House committee on
labor on the amended arbitration bill, pre-
scented to the House Tuesday afternoon,
was written by Chairman Gardner Of the
committee and says:
THE bill provides board of concilia-
ton. consisting of the commissioner of
labor and the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission, whose duty il shall
be, when a controversy concerning wages,
hours of labor or conditions of employmen Mt
shall arise between a carrier subject to this
act and the employees Of such carrier, seri-
ously interrupting or threatening to inter-
rupt the business of said carrier, with all
practicable expedition to put themselves in
communication with the parties to such
controversy and use their best efforts, by
mediation and coEciliation, 10 amicably
Settle the same: and, IL such efforts shall
be unsuccessful, to at once endeavor to
bring about an arbitration of said con-
troversy by submitting the same to a board
consisting of three persons, one to be
chosen by the employees, one by the en-
ployer, and those two to select the third.
Similar Bills Have.Been Approved.
Bills similar to this have twice before
received the unanimous approval of the
committee and twice passed the House of
Representatives., but in each case too late
10 receive consideration in the Senate. 1t
IS still true. as stated in a former report
mat the proposition that public opinion lis
IN IaVor or arbitration need not be dis
susseu- III is universally conceded. Per-
sons engaged in interstate commerce who
are most affected by the bill under con-
sideratlon, have been anxious to secure
me enactment into law of such a measure
IS would operate justly, and effectively
put an end to the industrial wars that
nave resulted from disputes growing ont
VI ,ne questions of wages, hours of labor
the employer and the employe"
Accompanying the report is a letter adj
oocaunS the bill signed by E. F. Clark,
order of Railway Conductors; Frank p.
sargent brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men; T. NJ Arthur. Brotherhood of Loco
m.otlve Engineers; p. H. Morrissey.
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. and
W. v Powell, Order of Railroad Teleg-
raphers
ms letter says. in part:
1t is essentially necessary that there
shall be some officer of the government
whose duty IL shall be to take up the mat
Yer as to any disputes which may arise
between railroad employer and employe
by conciliation or mediation. and. if nm
atle TO settle them in that way, to make
every effort to secure the adoption of ar
pttration as n means of settlement. 1t is
also very important that the proposition
for arbitration shall be made before war
has been declared and relations severed
Both these points are covered by the pro-
visions of this measure
The principle of applying arbitration
as Il means of settlement of disputes has
been given much careful study. and the
essential feature upon which we favor it
is contained in this bill. We believe it is
but consistent that an Incorporated organi-
cation of labor should enjoy the same gen.
er;n privileges and immunities that are
enjoyed by corporations of capital. After
a very careful consideration of the entire
question. we have 20 hesitancy in urging.
a "a
report on the bill as amended. and We hope
for such speedy ard favorable action as
nay be necessary to place this measure
VI on the statute books
Commissioners Wrighfs Endorsement.
Mr.. Carroll D. Wright. commissioner of
labor. in indcrsing the BILL says:
Broadly, it is a bill which in its pro-
visions seeks TO place labor on more thor
ough business basis than it now occupies
In its most material sections it brings to
labor organizations an opportunity for real
ly Ierfecting their work and for co-operat-
ing with the managers of railroads in pre-
venting strikes and violence. in avoiding
threats and in eliminating intiInidations
II also gives employees an opportunity to be
heard when receivers are in control of
railroads, upon the question of the reduc-
tion of their wages and the conditions of
their employment, should changes therein
be sought by receivers. This section alone
port of railway employees.
Il have heard it said that the bill pro-
Ni1es fo- compulsory arbitration, but this
is not true in any sense. 1t provides so far
as arbitration is concerned, for immediate
action. first. to secure conciliation or medi-
alton, and failing in that, the constitution
of a board of arbitration, the awards of
which may be final, should the parties COM
Ing before it agree that they shall be- The
rights. privileges and prerogatves of both
labor and capital, as represented In the
operation Of interstate railroads, are thor
CUghly secured and protected by the bill.
The bill. should ii become law, will not
solve any phase OF the labor problem, nor
prevent strikes entirely, but it will do much
to steady the forces involved, and afford a
powerful and even effective balance wheel
III interstate controversies. In the interest
OF successful railroad operation, which
must BE- preserved in order to have our in
dustTics properly carried on. l trust the
Congress VIII approve the unanimous ac-
ton of your committee"