The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-10
FORCED TO AGREE
How Compulsory Arbitration Laws
Are Working in New Zea-
land To-day.
They Are a Great Success and the
a Country Is Very Pros
49,. porous. ..,-.,..

From, The journal Bureau, Room. A5. Post
8Mildin0, Washington.
g Washington, Oct. 10.-Compu1sory arbi-
tration is a subject which is likely to be
discussed at considerable length in the
near future. This is one Of the remedies
suggested to prevent a repetition or tho
deadlock between the coal miners and
operators. Congress will have to consider
its merits.
, The home Of the compulsory arbitra-
ton law is New Zealand, which Is the
most advanced country in the world In all
matters touching unionism and organized
labor In that country hours are short
est, wages are highest, there are the most
holidays. and the rights Of the individual
toiler are better protected there than
in amy country having laws. The compul-
sorry arbitration law was enacted there
In 1894: and since then has been copied In
Victoria, n. S. W., and the Australian
colonies generally.
= AS imitation is the Sincerest flattery. SO
1t is a very good testimonial Of effective
ness in case Of law. Other countries are
not likely to enact laws which are OBJ
served to be evil In their administration
and general results. There is some diver
sity among the reports which come from
our consular agents and others who have
reported on the New Zealand experiments,
but q casual examination shows that the
objection. when there Is one. comes from
the capitalistic side, and is the natural OBJ
lection to being deprived OF a good thing.
The representatives of the laboring people
have no complaint, and the cOnsuls report
that the conditions Of all employed have
been greatly improved. A week in New
Zealand is forty-four hours work, which
is little more than seven hours a day.
The electoral franchise is enjoyed by
women as we'll men; incomes are taxed,
and it Is claimed that the single tax idea
Tod fnoC md
beneficial.
After nearly eight years trial the only
objection to the compulsory arbitration
law in New Zealand. as reported by Consul
Frank Dillingham; at AuSland, Is COM
plant from some manufacturers that they
cannot keep pace with competitors IN
other countries where labor is cheaper
and hours are longer. This objection in
the United States where the laborng
man has been trained to believe that
cheap labor was to be avoided, will not
be likely to find popular favor
The arbitration courts are composed of
three judges, appointed by the chief ex-
ecutive authority. The president or the
court is appointed at the will of the chief
executive-who is there the governor-but
the other two judges are appointed from
candidates nominated respectively by the
labor unions and the employers. The
court has power to enforce its mandates
by all the processes incident to a court Of
record in the United States. 1t may issue
iniunctions, or proceed against the prop
erty to a limited sum. The court has the
power to fix minimum wages. and to de-
termine all manner of disputes which by
any possibility may arise between en-
ployer and employed. There is the ut
most freedom as to the admission Of evil
dence, the matter resting almost entirely
In the discretion of the president G the
fha hQ C
the right to appoint special commission
ers to hear the evidence as to strains or
other technical matters.
In New Zealand and New South Wales
all industrial unions are required to be
registered, or Incorporated, in order to
have the right to appeal to the court OF
arbitration. Agreements with such IN
dustrial unions must be IN Writing, ana
abrOgatOns the same.
. New Zealand has enjoyed great pros
perity dating from 1895, when the labor
laws were most of them passed. Each
year has shown gains. Labor has been
prof1tably employed, capital has come IN
for investment, until interest rates
dropped from and per cent to and /
Farmers get good prices for their crops
and the volume of exports has kept ahead
Of the imports. In round numbers the
imports in 1901 were $50, 100000, and the
exports were $66, 900.
Strikers LaWIessness.
It Is not likely that the presidents of
the coal carrying roads will join issue
with John Mitchell on the accuracy OF
their statements are to lawlessness in the
mining regions. Much missta tement has
been INDUCED in concerning alleged riots
occurring there, the misstatements re-
ssulting in many instances from the inten-
'tional perversion Of facts by persons in
terested in making things appear bad for
the mine workers. James P. HOrnaday of
indianapolis, who has just returned from
the anthracite fields. relates an interest
ing case which he investigated for him
self for the main purpose Of satisfying
himself as to such reports. He was at