Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-11

and its decisions have the sand
force as the other courts in all
Special boards of arbitration ard
frequently appointed in emersencies
by the local authorities where Labor
disputes have arisen. and both par1
ties are invited to accept medits1
tion or arbitration, but they capnor
be compelled to do so. Il both accept
the arbitration board is given the
same authority and its decisions
have the same force as an ordinary
court. II has the right to summons
witnesses and compel their attend
dance. The members of such boards
are usually laymcn of recognized
character and integrity. who are IA
miliar with labor conditions and en-
Joy the confidence of the community,
and their chairman or president is
usually member Of the judiciary, in
vested with the power to administer
oaths is familiar with the laws. the
rules of evidence and judicial pro-
cedure
There were similar Industrial courts
in Germany as far back as 1915. They
came up the Rhine from France, In
which country they originated and pre-
vailed until lS45 when a law was
passed comforting upon the presidents
OF the guilds authority to settle labor
troubles In 1869 the Industrial tri-
bunals We're re-established very much
as they are now and the local author
tiles were authorized to enlarge their
membership and to appoint special
courts to hear special cases. rn1Ss1
the guilds recovered Jurisdiction, and
retained it until 1887, when the reich
stag recognized the Justice of the com
plants of the workingmen that the
guilds We're composed of the employ
ers only, and the law was repealed.
All labor disputes We're then refer
red to the ordinary courts. which. of
course. Increased the labor of the va
rious Judges. caused great delays be-
cause of the pressure of other busi-
ness and We're very expensive because
of the rapid manner in which cases
mounted up. They were also gener-
ally unsatisfactory because the judges
were not familiar with the circum-
stances and conditions of industrial
life. For these reasons law was
passed which went into effect on the
29th day OF July 1890, and has since
been in force
The original idea OF making arbi-
tration compulsory and giving the in
dustrlal courts jurisdiction over all
labor troubles was not carried out in
the law. but 1t appears to authorize
the authorities of the various districts
to make arbitration compulsory in all
or special cases. The authority is
not clear, and has seldom been exer-
cised. BY a strict construction of
the law the common council of a mu-
nicipality, or the highest authority"
which is very indefinite, for he may
be the burgomaster or the governor,
may, in his judgment. summon the par
ties to labor disputes to appear before
the industrial courts on a certain day
and submit points in the controversy:
and it is Inferred, although the law
is ambiguous, that the court is 10 de-
eide according to the evidence Sub
mitted. If either party objects to the
personnel of the court board of ar
bitration may be selected in the usual
way to settle that particular case
The industrial courts have received
greater attention of late because OF
the labor disputes concerning wages
and hours which they have been call
ed upon to settle, and have generally
Deen able to arrange compromises.
The editor of the Encyclopedia of the
German Judiciary reports that "they
have rendered very important service
and 1t is "a be WISHED In all cases
Of controversy the should be called
| upon before the tWo-edged sword,
| led a strike Is used"
The German laws are very liberal
to the working classes and protect
| them IN every direction. Every wage
Garner and every person employed up
on salary may have, If he likes.
what is called Zeugnisse or book
of recommendations, and most of
| them consider 1t important. The
law requires that an employer upon
discharging a servant shall write in
| this book the reason therefor, and
when the servant voluntarily leaves a
place OF employment he or she has the
right to call upon the employer for
character" as the Irish servant girls
say In America This is stamped
and recorded at police headquarters
and 1t is not absolutely ne cessary for
the employer to give the explicit ren-
sons for discharge. He can say
what he pleases. II he does not care
| to recommend the servant who leaves
him he can write: This man (o-
woman, as the case may bel was em-
| ployed by me for six months in
fwhateyer capacity and leaves mo
because | have not any further use
for his (or herr services; or, because
/ desire to make Il change" etc, etc.
Other employers under stand what
this means; but II an employer re-
fuses to give the reasons for discharg-
Ing a servant or an operative he can
be compelled to do so in the indus
trial court.
Where people are employed by the
month they are entitled to a months
notice or months wages, on dis