Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
FOR ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL.
National Business League Wants Pro-
visions of Foster Bill Agreed To.

Both sides In the Chicago meat strike
seem to desire arbitration and have found
no effective method. In view OF the crlsis
which has been reached, the National Busl-
ness League, which is a national organIza-
ton. having an advisory committee OF the
largest merchants in every state In the
Union, has a movement on foot to have the
Foster bill for the creation of a national
arbitration tribunal put into immediate ef-
feet by common consent. This bill is SAID
to be absolutely impartial and effective. II
offers no advantage to one side over the
other and inSures the unions, packers ana
public a timely settlement before methods
are adopted that everyone will regret
Slips favorinS voluntary arbitration. as
provided by the Foster bill. are being scat
tered broadcast. A number have been re-
ceived for distribution by advocates or the
bill in this city These slips state that the
bill is measure for the just and peaceful
settlement of industrial disputes by vol
untary arbitration. and the avoidance OF
strikes and lockouts, with all their attend
ant and deplorable evils that tether the
participants to the standards Of lower
moral life. promote poverty and crime and
otherwise check the advancement and pros
perity of all the people"
The slips further state: THE Foster bill,
introduced during the second session OF
the Fifty-eighth Congress, and accorded
hearings by the committee on educataion
and labor of the House, contemplates the
scientific use of public opinion-that most
potent Of all human agencies-as COM
polling moral force to promote and main
tain peace between disagreeing factions of
industrial activities.
Excepting the central idea. the bill is
not the creation of one mind. but of many
minds. Employers. employees. labor leaders
and some of the greatest legal minds OF
the country have contributed to Its pro-
visions 1t is. indeed a piece of mosaic,
which. though it may be further perfected.
was n q n ia n
lieve grave necessity of the present time
The Foster bill for voluntary arbitration
provides For the creation of a national
arbitration tribunal. the sole function of
which shall be the investigation, equitable
and peaceful settlement of industrial dis
putes concerning wages, hours of labor or
conditions of employment between employer
or employers and employees; said arbitra-
ton be to strictly voluntary on the part
of the contending parties, with the ex-
pressed agreement that there shall be no
strike nor lockout pending the decision Of
said tribunal. All decisions of the tribunal
shall be distinctly affirmative negative.
THE tribunal shall consist of six men,
bers, one of which, the Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor. without power to vote,
shall be a member ex-officio.
The services of the national arbitration
tribunal in the conducting or settlement Of
industrial disputes optional with en-
ployer or employe and involve no expense
to the contending parties"
During the hearings on this bill before a
subcommittee of the House committee on
labor during the last Congress the repre-
sentatives of capital and labor did not de-
sire arbitration each wanting their own
way. The condition now seems to have
changed and the representatives of both
sides of the Chicago controversy are anx-
ious to have arbitration. but cannot settle
upon any means fair to each. The advo-
Gates of national arbitration tribunal say
that il will fill the bill satisfactorily to both
capital and labor.