Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-05
Action of the Dutch Parliament, Octo-
Der 10, 1895.
THE Law BECAME OPERATIVE IN 1897
Provisions for Equal Representation
of Employers and Employees.
WOMEN AS ARBITRATORS

proposed in the Dutch parliament in 1892.
A report on the matter, made to Com
missioner Carroll D. Wright, states in part: :
Two measures having that purpose in
view were introduced in the lower house
in 1882. They were referred to committees
and new bill based upon them was
agreed upon by the authors of the first
two bills. No decided action was taken in
regard to this or other bills introduced in
the years Immediately following. On Oc-
tober 10, 1885, however, the government
itself introduced a bill, which, after suf-
fering number of notifications was
passed by both houses and became the law
of May 2, 1897
The system of labor councils, the crea-
ton of which is authorized by this law
Is identical in aim to that of the Belgian
councils, and presents number of SINH
larlt1es, as regards the details of its or
eanlzat1on and powers, to those councils.
pom the recommendation of the min
iSter OF the Waterstaat, commerce and in
oustry, the king may by decree create a
council of labor wherever the utility Of
such body is demonstrated and its or
ganization is believed to be feasible The
council may be for one or a number of
different industries and may have as its
district single several communes
council may be dissolved or suppressed
IN the same way. A council will be dis
solved when, in spite of repeated warn
ihss given 1t by the ministers. it continues
10 violate the regulations adopted for its
government, the provisions of the present
raw or the decree issued in virtue of the
latter. The order which pronounces the
dissolution must provide for the constitu-
uon OF a new council within two months
a council Will be suppressed when the need
Tor 1t no longer exists, when it is unable
TO maintain an effective organization, or
when it continues to act after its dissoIu.
tlOn has been ordered
Inc purpose of councils of labor is to
advance the mutual interests of emnlovers
and employees by having these two classes
act together; in securing information con-
corning labor conditions; in giving advice
10 the communal, provincial and central
authorities, either upon the demand of
these officials. or upon their own INITIATIVE
concerning any matter relating to labor;
IN giving advice and formulating agree
ments and regulations requested by in
terested parties: and. finally. in attempting
TO adjust disputes concerning labor condi
uons, and, when necessary in arbftratine
between the parties.
Membership Equally Divided.
Each council must be composed of an
equal number of employers and EMPLOYEES
selected from among the persons exercising
the industries for which the council is Gre
ated Each class selects its own repre-
seEtatives The determination of what
classes of workers should be assigned to
Sdtii VI THESE TWO observation-disclosures
ana employeS-was one of the most difficult
with which the trainers of the law had
TO contend. The simple division of the per
sons engaged in industry into work-givers
and Work-receivers would result in the in
c!usion in the latter class of superfntend-
ents. overseers, engineers, etc. whose in
terests are often more identified with those
OF the employers than Of the employees.
10 avoid this difficulty the law provides
that the order creating a council may pro-
vide that certain of these higher officials
snail be considered. for purposes of this
law, as belonging to the class of employers
1T was also feared that the foremen as
sistant foremen, or other workingmen in
authority over workngmen, might abuse
such authority by causing themselves to
be elected to the councils by the working
men against the real desires of the latter.
AS such a result would defeat the whole
purpose of the councils whose effective
ness depends upon the hearty good will of
the parties interested, it was provided that
these classes might when it seemed de-
sirable, be excluded from the class Of en-
ployes by the decree creating or modify
ing the councils.
Employer and EmplOye.
Those persons are considered as employ
ers for purposes of the law who are the
heads or directors of industrial establish
ments employing at least one person over
twenty years of age for wages, and all
those who exercise control over the man
tors, as well those who, employed in the
industry, are, by reason of the character
of their occupations, assimila ted with the
class of employers by the decree creating
or modifying the council.
Those persons are considered as employees
who work for wages in industry with
the exception of those who are specially
excluded by the decree creating or modify
ing the councils on account of the author
ity which they exercise over other persons
nf tha.ir
The right to vote for members of a coun-
Gil belongs to those persons of both sexes
who are inhabitants of the kingdom of the
Dutch nationality, are at least Twenty-Five
as employers employees in one of the
industries represented in the council
either during the past calendar year or
during such part of that year, in the case
of industries which are not continuously
prosecuted, as may be determined by off
cial decree Those persons however are
excluded from the right of suffrage who,
by virtue of a judicial decision have been
deprived of the right to vote or be elected
to a public office. or to exercise any trade
or have been deprived of the right freely
to administer their own property as long
such ncapacity exists
Formuintes Its Own COnstitution,
Each council must formulate its own con-
sti,uticn, which will not become effective
until it has been approved by royal de-
stitution by the government, except as is
necessary to make it conform to legal re-
quircments. The governing board of a
council consists of president and two
members. The employer and employe sec
tiCns of the council must each select one of
its number to serve president, and these
two persons then serve alternate siX-ronth
terms. The other two members are in the
same way selected, one by the employers
and the other by the employees A person
selected as a presiding officer while not
serving such, may attend the meetings
of the governing board, but has only con-
sultative voice in the proceedings. II the
pre- sident is absent from meeting the
other takes his place and If both are alb
sent the elder of the two members of the
board presides. Each council must also
elect a secretary from list of two persons
submitted to it by the governing board
This officer is entitled to remuneration for
his office expenses, the amount Of which is
paid by royal decree.
The arbitration Cancellation Of disputes
between employers and employees consti-
tUtes probably the most important function
of these councils. Regarding this point the
law provides that whenever dispute arises
or threatens to arise between persons en-
g&eed in industry in the commune over
which a council of labor has jurisdiction
he int pf