The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-03
Labor Unions in Germany
Given Rights by Courts.
DISPUTES ARE MANY
In That Country Numbering
More Than in America.

Satisfaction 10 the working classes d
Germany. The supreme court of tn,
empire, upon an appeal from a labor
organization in the city Of Lubbock. has
decided that q law passed a few years
ago by the Prussian diet prohibiting strik-
ers from using pickets is unconstitutional
Ia that it restricts the liberty Of the
citizen. Strikers are not permitted. under
this decision. to Interfere by force with
the movements or wishes Of others but
the court declares that they cannot be
prevented from making observations OF
using moral suaslon, providing that they
DO not Interfere with the rights Of others
or break the peace This is regarded as
distinct triumph for the labor unions.
which, since the passage Of the law re-
ferred to, have ben prohibited by the
police from placing pickets at the ap-
proaches to mines and factories where
there have ben strikes
The Germans are not much in advance
Of Us IN their methods of settling la
Dor disputes and manufacturers over here
appear TO have even more trouble with
their employees than those in the United
States. During the year 1893, the latest
for which statistics are ObtainabIe-and
/ must say we are far ia advance Of the
Germans In the prompt publication of
statistics and government reports-there
were in the German empire 1856 strikes.
involving 7l21 employers and l54.0I7 work
ingmen. OF these 90 1888 persons struck
work voluntarily and 1922 were forced
or induced to stop work by strikers The
largest number OF strikes was in the
metal trades, the second largest in the
mines and the third in the textile manu-
factories; lips of the strikes We're for
higher wages, 879 for shorter hours of la
Dor and In 596 ether reasons We're involved.
OF the total number Of strikes 383 were
entirely successful, 52S entirely failed
439 were compromised or We're partially
successful, ana the remainder were stil
pending when the report was published.
A permanent branch Of the German ju-
dicial system, called gewerbe-gerichts.
or industrial courts, has jurisdiction over
al disputes of an industrial character.
just as the commercial courts settle com
mercial matters and the criminal courts
prosecute crime. These Industrial courts
are established for the express benefit Of
labor employees, mechanics. factory opera
uVes, domestic servants, clerks book
keepers and wage earncrs of every de-
scripUon, and IN all cases involving less
than 100 marks SD their decisions are
final. in suits OF greater Importance
appeals may be taken, but there are no
fees and no costs. The members of the
court are appointed by the minister of
Justice acting on behalf of the emperor.
one court Tor so many population. To-
Gated at the most convenient point In
large cities and manufacturing centers
the courts are permanent and hold regu-
lar sessions like other courts, but where
the population is scattered they are
called together as their services are
needed.
They have authority to sit as mediators
or ar1itrators IN strikes # either party
petition them 10 80 so. or they can offer
their services, but except in certain cir
cumstances. hereafter described, they
have no power to compel disputants to
submit their claims. and. like our own
boards of arbitration, must depend upon
public opinion 20 do so. If both parties
agree TO submit matters in dispute they
must abide by the decision, or appeal
from it within ten days TO one Of the
higher courts. as in ordinary lawsuit
The Industrial tribunal is a court Of
record, and its decisions have the same
Special boards of arbitration are fire.
quently appointed I'm emergencies by the
local authorities where labor disputes
have arisen, and both parties are invited
To accept mediation or arbitration. but
they cannot be compelled TO do so. II
both accept. the arbitration board is given
the same authority and It's decisions have
the same force as an ordinary court
r-7r
and compel their attendance. The mem /
bers OF such boards are usually laymen Of !
recognized characted and integrity. who /
are familiar with labor conditions and en- /
joy the confidence of the community. and 1
their chairman or president is usually 4
a member of the judiciary. who has the /
power to administer oaths, is familiar 1
with the laws. the rules Of evidence ana /
judicial procedure
There We're similar Industrial courts fin /
Germany as far back as 1875. Tsey came /
up the Rhine from France. where they
originated and prevailed untn 1875, when /
Il law was passed comforting upor the /
presidents OF the guilds authority to set
tie labor Disputes In 1883 the industrial /
courts were re-estahlshed very much as
they now are. and the local au-hori-
ties We're authorized to enlarge their
membership and 10 appoint special courts
10 hear special cases. In 1881 the guilds
recovered jurisdiction. and retained il
until 1857 when The Teichstag recognized /
the Justice of the complaints ~ the work
insmen that the guilds were composed Of
employers only. ana the law ives repealed.
All labor disputes were then referred 4
10 the ordinary courts. which. Of course.