New-York tribune., 1901-06-03

trial court a trial should be had in the oroinaiy
courts Of law, with the right OF trial py jury. -
the Jury find that the corporation mas laiieu ~
couaplv with the decree Of the Industrial court
either by paying less than the minimum wage
or by working its employees longer than the
maximum workday, verdict OF guilty shouio
be returned and the court should impose ror the
first offence, a small fine. and for SUBSEQUENT
offences an increasing fine, and for repeated OF
fences revocation Of the charter OF the cor
poration.
F2,, these ,arIous means IN the course Of time
every corporation would be obliged TO comply
with the standard wage and workday estao-
ushed bv the Industrial court. This plan is saio
10 be less compulsory than the compulsory Oh
bitration law of New-Zealand, or of the Nova
Scotia law because the industrial court is lor-
hidden 10 exercise the power or oroerihs en-
ployes TO work and of ordering capiIaii'7
carry on business. The compulslon ac's me-
upon the corporate employer in oroer 10 ootal
the American standard of living TOT eiif,o'
and 10 protect the honest and generous employer
fo,r, ,ta unfair connection Of his dishonest or
greedy rivals in the same line of business VINO
now succeed in beating down wages below
fair standard.
WOULD BENEFIT EMPLOYERS.
These two classes of employers are obliged to
products and at present the fair employer is
placed al a disadvantage by paying higher wages
than his unfair rival.
With this plan of industrial courts in opera
tion however. the avaricious corporation could
be compelled TO pay the same standard wage
and both classes would then stand upon an equal
footing in the large item Of labor cost rms
plan. il is believed. would be more efficient IN
preventing strikes and lockouts than voluntary
arbitration. because under voluntary arbitration
the law imposes no fine or penalty for non-com-
-s-l 4 asefn he
boards Of voluntary arbitration are treated with
contempt, and are told by the corporate EN-
ployer that there is nothing TO aroltrate.
Such voluntary arbitration laws have always
failed when put 10 a severe test. because OF this
inherent weakness. Under this plan OF lndus-
trial courts however, the corporation may be
compeled 70 arbitrate or TO appear before the
industrial court. and If il fail 10 comply with
the decree Of the industrial court may be SUB
vent strikes by affording employees peaceful
means cf obtaining fair wages and fair hours,
and il viii prevent lockouts by preventing cor
porations from reducing wages below the stand
ard wage.
THIS MEASURE TO BE PUSHED.
II this plan had been in operation during the
recent Albany strike il is argued that the dis
pute would have been settled peaceably by a de-
cision Of the industrial court. and there would
have been no bloodshed. no interruption to bust
ness. no loss Of time wages or profits. and no
expense TO the taxpayers of the State
A bin providing for the creation of Industrial
courts viii be introduced in the Massachusetts,
legislature next session. and vigorously pushed
Some Of the men Identified with the movement
are Henry D. Lloyd author of Wealth VS.
Commonwealth" and A Country Without
Strikes; Alvin a. Perry. eX-Mayor Of Somer-
vile; William s McNary. member Of the Mas
sachusetts House Of Representatives: Thomas
N. Costello. Of Altman. y. Y; Professor F. s
Baldwin. Of Boston University: Colonel 4. s
Hesseltine, OF Boston; J. a. StOckwell. William
r. Bigelow and Conrad Reno, author Of several
law books.