New-York tribune., 1901-06-04
A PLAN OF ARBITRATION
John T. MDoNOUGH's VIEWS on SET
THING STRIKES.

Albany lime (speciaD.-'I read with great m
te-est to-day" said Secretary OF Sta .
T. McDonough The Tribures alucIo yo
arbitration as a method of settling disputes
tween laborers and capitalists and lhinA 'ie
people Of this country ought 10 take the recent
strikes into very serious consideration ana see IL
they cannot be prevented II Is clear 'ha' ~
strikes are increasing in number, ana depioraOie
struggles are following"
Mr. McDonough for many years has taken a
keen personal interest in the efforts of working
men TO procure better wages and more heaIthIul
homes and well acquainted with the legisiauEe
enactments of recent years intended 10 Deneii'
workingmen
one of the leading measures of the last session
OF the legisat ature was bill introduced by Assem-
Slyman Costello OF Oswego County, the chdli ma"
of the Assembly Committee on LABOR ana iiiuu9
tries. II was entitled IAN act to proVlde Ior 'he
registration of industrial unions and assoclauohS
OF employees and facilitate the settlement Oh IN
dustrial disputes by conciliation and aroitrauoh'
The measure authorized employers and employees
10 register their names with the Commissioner OF
Labor and also agreements IN regard 10 lhe pay
nent of wages. These agreements, the act SAID,
..are IN he enforced as to and provisions by
a proceeding therefor brought in court of arbi-
tration."
The act divided the State into three arbitration
districts-the comprising the Ist and lid Judi
cal districts; the second, the IEth With and With
Judicial districts, and the third, the With and
With Judicial districts. There was TO be in each
these districts court Of arbitration 10 consist
of three members appointed by the Governor. one a
lawyer with experience judge of the Supreme
Court or county court, a representative of en-
ployers and one d representative of workinsmen.
The courts of arbitration were TO render their
decision within thirty days after the termination
OF a hearing. The act said:
Such decision shall specify the amount to be paid
by any party affected thereby in of viola
tion OF such decision. II any OF the parties af-
fected by such decision shall fail TO comply
with the terms thereof order may be issued by
such court of arbitration upon the petition OF any
of the parties affected by such non-compliance
directing a compliance with such decision, which
order shall be enforced in the same manner as or
ders issued by the Supreme Court
Mr. McDonough said Assembyman Costello's bill
did not pass the legislature because it was op
posed by the representatives Of the labor unions.
Mr.. McDonough added:
The workinemen opposed the Costello act because
of their dissatisfaction with the board of arbitra-
tion suggested. Samuel Gompers, the president of
the Federation OF Labor and other labor leaders %
spoke against the bll before the Assemply COM
nlittee on Labor and Industries. They opposed 1t
because they felt that the labor unions could not
IN their conflicts feel that they could always trust
the boards OF arbitration.
of the board suggested by employers and employees
but what about the member taken out OF some
believed that the act if passed, would reopen the
ingmen Of England in the Middle Ages.
What was your own opinion, Mr.. McDonough?"
do not think the Costello act should have been
passed, and did not favor II. There should, how
ever be some form of compulsory arbitration in
where the stoppage of a road harms the public
corporation be licensed by the State and examined
10 their qualifications? Then in case of a strike
the State would step in and arbitrate the dispute
between the corporation chartered by il and the
men licensed by il TO act as railroad employees. II
the decision Of the state authorities would be
an adequate remedy. in the case Of a corporation,
employees by depriving them Of their licenses.