The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-05
A ARBITRATION BOARD
REPREsENTATTvE HALL TO IN.
 PRODUCE A BILL.
Proposes to Create a Commission of Three Persons to Settle Con- troversies Between Employ
 CTS and Enployes.


 A bill prepared by Hon. Thomas ]. Hall, member of the House Of Represen- tatives from Montgomery County creating State Board of Arbitration, will be in- troduced by him when the Legislature reconvenes in September.
 Mir. Hall believes that with such law there would be a better feeling In Ala bama between workingmen and their ern- ployers and he thinks the measure will be passed.
 In it's entirety the bill prepared by Mir. Hall is as follows:
 Section 1. Be 1t enacted by the Legis- lature of Alabama, That within ninety days after the passage of this act, the Governor shall appoint three persons, who shall form a State Board of Arbitration, one and only one of whom shall be aFp employer of labor, and one and only one of whom shall be an employe and shall be selected from some labor organization. They shall hold office for the term of two years beginning from the date of their appointment, or until their successors are appointed and duly qualified. If g. vacancy ocurs at any time the Governor shall appoint some one to serve out the unexpired term. If such vacancy shall be that of an employer then the person appointed shall be of that class. If of the employe class then the vacancy must be filled with that class. Each member of said Board shall before entering upon | the duties of the office be sworn to faithful discharge thereof. The Board shall at once organize by the choice of one of their number as chairman, and they shall as soon as possible. after such organization establish suitable rules of procedure. The Board shall have power to select and remove a secretary, who shall be a stenographer. The secretary shall receive a salary of $500 per annum and shall be allowed s per diem for travelling and other expenses and services while the Board Is In actual service, adjusting or settling any differ ences between employers and employe. "Sec. 2. When any controversy or dlf- ference exists between an employer whether an individual. co-partnership or corporation, employing not less than twenty-five persons and his or their em- ployes in this State. the Board shall upon application as herein provided, as soon as practicable thereafter. visit the locality of the dispute and make careful inquiry into the cause or causes thereof, hear all persons interested therein, who may come before them, advise the respective parties what if anything ought to be done or submitted to by both, to adjust said dispute and make a written decision thereon. This decision shall at once be made public and shall be recorded upon the proper books of record, to be kept by the secretary of said board.
 Sec. g. Any individual, firm, co-part- nership or corporation, shall have the right to appeal to the Board for mediation or settlement of any threatened or exist ing trouble or disagreement, but the decis- ion or finding of the Board shall not be binding unless both parties to the con- troversy join in the request for settle ment by the Board. Each application for mediation or settlement of any trouble, shall contain a concise statement of the grievances complained of, and shall con- tain a promise to continue on in business and at work, without any lockout or strike until the decision of said Board. If 1t shall be made within thirty days of the date of the filing of said application As soon as may be after the receipt of said application, the Secretary of said Board shall cause public notice to be given of the time and place for the hear ing thereon, but public notice need not be given when both parties to the contro- versy join in the application and present herewith a written request that no public | notice be given. When such request is made, notice shall be given to the parties interested in such manner as the Board may order. and the Board may at any stage of the proceedings cause public notice to be given, notwithstanding such request. The Board shall have power to summon as witnesses any operative or expert in the departments of business affected, and any person who keeps record of wages earned in those depart ments, or any other person, and to ex- anime them under oath, and to require the production of books containing the record of wages paid. The Board shall have power to issue subpoenas and oaths may be administered by the Chairman of the Board.
 Sec. f. Upon the receipt of such appli- cation and after such notice, the Board shall proceed as before provided, and render a written decision, which shall be open to public inspection, shall be recorded upon the records of the Board, and a copy thereof furnished to the Gov ernor of the State within ten days after the decision has been rendered.
 Sec. 5. Said decision shall be binding upon the parties who join in said appli- cation for six months or until either party has given the other notice in writ ing of his or their intention not to be bound by the same at the expiration of sixty days therefrom. Said notice may be given to said employees by posting in three conspicuous places in the shop, fac tory or other places where they work, and shall be given by the employees by