The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22


recognized the propriety OF action under
the circumstanc Just cited, as evidenced
In the act creating boards Of arbitration, or
COMMISSIONS for settling controversies and
uinerences between railroad corporations
and other common carriers engaged in
interstate or territorial transportation OF
property or persons. and their employees,
approved Oct. I, 1888 Under that act.
when such controversies and differences
arose. the President was authorized, on
the application Of either OF the contestants
TO appoint commission of three members
TO Investigate the causes surrounding the
difrcuty.. That act was cumbersome In
It's provisions. and was repealed by an act
corning carriers engaged in interstate COM
merce and their employees
The provisions OF the act first cited
were applied at the time Of the Chicago
strike. so called, Of 1894. There has been
no resort to the act Of June I, 1893. which
simply provides, 30 far as the Federal
Government Is concerned, that the chair
man OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and the Commissioner Of Labor shall,
upon the request OF either party to a con-
troversy coming under the terms Of the
act, with all practicable expedition put
themselves in communication with the
parties to such controversy, and shall use
their best efforts, by mediation and con.
citation, to settle the same amicably; and
that II such effort shall be unsuccessful they
shall at once endeavor to bring about an
arbitration OF the controversy in accord
ance with the provisions Of the act The
duties OF these officials then cease. except
where there Is no choice Of a referee by the
parties selected as arbitrators. Then the
commissioners named have power to desig-
nate the third arbitrator. Thus the prin-
ciple OF Federal Interference. through in
veetigation, has been established by these
acts OF Congress.
Charles Francis Adamss Plan.
The commission refers to paper, printed
In the report, which was read by Charles
Francis Adams before the American Civic
Federation in New York on Dec. 8. 1902
in which he outlined proposed act to pro-
vide for the investigation OF controversies
affecting interstate commerce, and for
other purposes, and says:
This proposition is that the President.
whenever within any State or States. Terri
tory or Territories Of the United States a
controversy concerning wages, hours OF
labor. or conditions OF employment shall
arise between an employer and the em-
ployees or association or combination OF em-
ployees Of an employer, by which the free
and regular movement Of commerce among
the several States and with foreign nations.
Is in his judgment, interrupted or directly
affected, or threatened with being 30 inter-
rupted or directly affected, shall. In his
| discretion, inquire into the same and
investigate tio CduSt-S tiicICOi, dAiu W
this end may appoint a special COM
| mission. not exceeding seven In number,
OF persons In his judgment specially quail
| fed to conduct such an investigation. The
| proposed act consists OF eleven sections,
| and makes provision for all methods Of
procedure. rules. &c. requisite for its being
| carried into effect.
with a few slight notifications such
an act would. in the opinion OF the COM
mission, meet just such an emergency as
ht,,lx las hro
| cite coal regions. and we submit II to you
| for your consideration. A similar act
might be passed by the States not now
having the machinery for the rigid inves-
| tieation OF labor troubles. Some OF the
| State boards Of arbitration have the right
| to make such Investigations. but Others
are limited simply to the consideration Of
controversies when voluntarily submitted
| to them by the parties concerned.
These suggestions are reinforced
| through the consideration Of a matter.
| somewhat without the scope OF our in
| quiries, but which during their progress
| has pressed itself upon the attention Of the
commission. and that is the apparent lack
large. manifested by both operators and
mine workers. In allowing the controversy
between them to 10 to such an extent -
TO entail upon millions OF their fellow cftt-
sens the cruel I suffering t Of fuel famine ~.
questions involved In this controversy
were not Of such Importance As to justify
| forcing upon the public consequences 80
fraueht with danger to the peace and good
| fort OF society. II neither party could have
| made concessions TO avoid result so ser
ious. an arbitration would have prevented
the extremity which WAS reached I'm
doubleday the proposition that the men
who own the property and carry on the
| business must control II, Is generally true,
| and It's maintenance IL necessary to the
| political and economical welfare Of society;
but II is also true that where a business
| Is Of such magnitude, and It's physical con.
| ditions are such rs Ia constitute a natural
monopoly, IL Is affected with public inter-
est that cannot be ignored by those who
| control IL
time during which it's awards are TO re-
| main In force shall have elapsed the rela-
| tions OF operator and employee will have
| 80 far improved a. To make impossible
| such a condition as existed throughout
the country in consequence OF the strike
| in the anthracite region. Nevertheless. the
public has the right when controversies
| ike that OF last year cause II serious loss
and suffering 10 know all the facts, and 90
| be able to hX the responsibility. In order
| 20 do this power must he given the author
iyed Representatives Of the people to sct
| for them by conducting . thorough investi-
cation into all the matters involved In the
controversy This. Of courre. applies only
10 those cases where great public interests
| are az stake II should not apply TO petty
| dlfficultie- ar local strikes.
| The chief b.neht to he derived from
| Ga. suxx--iion herein made lies IN placing
! the real far,s and the responsibility for
4 such condition authoritstively i~fore the
I.opl-. that pubic opinion may crystal.
| lize aud make its power felt Could such
q commission ne that suggested have Ln-n
1 lr1,lxlt into eiistsnoe IN June lAsi, ws
| l.rl..vs that the coal famine might have
i...n syertsd certainly th. suffering and
deprivation might hAv. is-n greatly
mt gated
siss Net asesssissa
Il lao eli along bs--n dsolAI.d thai the
s.al aniIn.s - tho strike Gas the d.,s',nias.
tan ~ Miisi..ll that the union should 10
,s-asniA-i On that poini tho Ssii.sss
have nsss . ofvsl.lis ds'f.si The oa'ni,iis.
slna s.ys lD IasH
| Tie s.saiaIsis.la ls ossi.si fslissrJ "a do.
| slll.s laAkinS ca assfd sllsdi sould osin.
,ss az aslasil.ssi ~ tlss sisasi,fs siiL tho
I.lisuj Als.s ssiksit ~ Ass.fls-. fsi L,s {.
| sksf listfs.sft aisilg tia tsfdsT lilaf haze