Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-30
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Keb. October 25. 1902.

heD, OCTOBER 70. l9U2.
Editor Courier:-I am in receipt of
letter from miner at Lehigh, Web
ster county; also two from miners in
Polk county and one from Jasper coun-
ty, asking what states have arbitration
laws, if any. AS the Courier has
large circulation among miners, / take
this method Of answering the above let
tiers.
On looking up the various digests on
this question, | find the following
states provide for a permanent state
board OF arbitration. before which, by
mutual consent, disputes and contro-
versies between employers and en-
ployes may be arbitrated. The states.
the statutes of which so provide are
as follows: Colorado, Connecticut.
Idaho. Illinois, Indiana. Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Montana New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Utah, and Wisconsin.
In addition to the provision for a
state board contained in the statutes
of the above named states, provision
lis also made for the formation of
local board, in the case of the follow
in states: Colorado. Idaho, Montana,
statutes of Iowa. Maryland, Missouri,
! Pennsylvania and Texas do not provide
| for a permanent board of any kind
but for the appointment of temporary
board or tribunals of arbitration, and
| courts of Cancellation, whenever, the
occasion for such an institution arises.
| In the digest of 1895 of Pennsylvania
one of the peculiarities is that it pro-
vides for the formation OF a board of
arbitration upon the application not
only of both parties to the controversy
! but also upon the application of one
party alone. 1t will be readily seen
that arbitration under this statute is
/ not necessarily voluntary, but may
| be forced upon one party at the re
quest of the other. The decision of
the board under this law is final and
/, conclusive OF all matters brought be.
fore it,
/ For judgment-The statute of Mis-
souri, above referred to provides that
the commissioner of labor upon being
reliably informed that a strike or
lockout is about to take place, shall
4 visit the locality of the dispute and
seek to mediate and upon the failure
of his efforts in this direction shall
appoint board of arbitration which
shall have power to summon and ex.
anime witnesses. etc, and to render
a decision upon the matter in dispute
This decision. however, has no bind
ing effect upon the parties but it's only
effect is under the law to give the
facts leading to such dispute to the
J public through an unbiased channel
In this connection the state of Col
orado also has an act providing for al
attempt at mediation to be made by
the commissioner of labor though nc
provision is made for the appointment
of board by him. In it's act provid
ing for permanent state board, il
provides that said board shall always
attempt to mediate when it obtains
knowledge of threatened strike OF
lockout. In this fourteen states of the
union coincide. The statutes of Kan
sas provides for court of visitation
, which among other powers has thai
of supervision of railroads and to heal
and decide upon its own volition al
matters in dispute between an EN-
ploying railroad corporation and it!
employees in case of a strike.
The United States statutes only APP
ply to common carriers engaged il
interstate commerce and provides TO
!. an attempt to be made at mediation
by two designated government Off
Gals in case of a controversy between
such a common carrier and it's EN-
: ployes and for the formation of
board of arbitration consisting of tn
same officials together with certain
other parties to be selected in cas-
the attempt at mediation fails. Thi
board. however. is to be formed onl
al the request or upon the consent O
both parties TO the controversy. Spac
, will not admit giving the law here pu
t will conclude by saying We hope tn
5 above will satisfy our mining friend
e | on this question. X. Williams.