The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-17
VIRTUE OF ARBITRATION
Thomas ". Phillips Discusses the
Labor Question.
Sentiment rs TO the Settlement OF
Differences Of Employers and Help
as Adduced by the Industrial
Commission quiry-Compulsory
Methods Favored by Very Few.

The subject of arbitration in settling
labor troubles is the special study of the
Industrial Commission this month.
number of witnesses were heard last week
and the examination will be continued I'M
til Thursday. when the Commission will
take a recess until the first Monday in
October. In view of the strike in the
Pennsylvania coal fields, where about
10000 miners have quit work on account
of the refusal of the mine owners to settle
the trouble by Cancellation. the subject
of arbitration has peculiar interest just
at this time. The members OF the Indus
trial Commission expect to suggest legis-
lation which will further the amicable
settlement of labor disputes. but there is
as yet no development which indicates
exactly what shape these sugges ions will
assume.
Thomas W. Phillips. the author of the
Industrial Commission law. talked inter-
estingly upon the subject to a reporter
yesterday. Mr.. Phillips, who is one of the
largest individual oil producers in the
country, resides in Newcastle Pa, where
he is President of the Citizens National
Bank. The numerous strikes at Pitts
burg drew his attention to Industrial
problems a good many years ago, and
when he was elected to Congress, Mr..
Phillips made the question mis- especial
study He was chairman of the Labor
Committee in the Fifty-fo fourth Congress.
and introduced bill for the formation of
commission such as now exists. The
bill was passed. but was not signed by
President Cleveland. Later. after his
retirement from the House of Representa-
tives, Mr.. Phillips had Representative
Grosvenor introduce a bill, which became
law and created the present Industrial
Commission II includes nine private citi-
zens and five members of the House and
five from the Senate. The former receive
a salary of $500 a year, and the Repre-
sentatives and Senators serve without adj
ditional recompense. Mr.. Phillips was
asked by President Mckinley 20 take
place ON the Commission, and, after con-
sideration. he accepted. Since then he
has given much attention TO the work of
the Commission.
THE whole industrial system of the
country has been largely revolutionized
during the past quarter of century by
inventions and discoveries in the mode of
doing business said Mr.. Phillips. This
largely changed our industrial environ
nient and has caused a great deal of
blight to business throughout the country
when some great strike is under way,
affects all the people. 1t is a fact that
our laws have not fully met our new in
dIstrial conditions. 1t cannot be denied
that the strikes have done very great
amount of damage. and there should be
sor,a way in which the same ends could
b. gained by less harmful means. Arbi-
| tration and Cancellation may do much to
| accomplish this end. The Commission has
been studying those two subjects. and in
| the end we hope to make a report to Con-
gress which will embody the conclusions
| we shall reach. Unlike previous bodies
| of the kind. this Commission will not only
study industrial conditions and take tes-
! timony, but, under the act creating II,
will embody its conclusions in suggestions
| as to legislation which will be submitted.
We have heard a number of witnesses and
| the consensus of their opinion is that vol
/ untary arbitration. wherever tried, has
| proven satisfactory. 1t is a question in
| which representatives of labor. capital,
| and the people generally have taken deep
| interest The annual meetings of the
steel men and their employees. when scales
of wages are adopted for the ensuing sea-
| son. is type of that method. The con-
ference between the Molders' Union and
| tie Stove Makers Defence Association is
/ another instance The two sides were
| often in conflict at great loss to both.
until these conferences were adopted for
| settling wage scales.
Now manufacturers go ahead making
! contracts with the assurance that there
| will be no uncertainty as to the scale of
| pay The men settle down to work with
| the satisfaction that there will be no
| cuts in their wages. The system has
| proven itself most satisfactory to these
| who have adopted it. Instead of the con-
tinuous and costly strikes which were
! formerly the rule there is now harmony
| in these establishments.
1.-THE testimony which we have taken
thus far indicates a desire for :ndepend-
eut boards of arbitration rather than for
state or national commissions. The ten
dency is toward settling disputes through
men in the trade without the ass stance
! of outside aid State boards. however,
are very important, and much good has
been ACCOMPLISHED by them, and the ten
! deucy is to establish them in States
where they do not already exist
| Few, if any of the witnesses who have
| been before the Commission thus far
| have favored compulsory arbitratton.'