The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-19

The employer Neither the Federal law,
nor as far as ! am informed. tire state
laws dealing with the question of en-
poycrs' liability are sufficiently thorough
going. The Federal law should of course
include employees in navy yards. arscnnls
and the like.
INVESTIGATION OF DISPUTES BE
TWEEN CAPITAL ID LABOR.
The commission appointed by the Pre-
sident October 16 1902. at the request
of both the anthracite coal operators and
miners. TO inquire into. consider and pass
upon the questions in controversy in con
nection with the strike i'm tire anthracite
regions of Pennsylvania and the causes
out Of which the controversy arose. in
their report findings and award express
cd tho belief that the State and Federal
governments should provide the machn.
cry for what may be called the com
pulsory investigation of controversies he
tween employers and employees WREN they
arise The expression of belief is de-
serving of the favorable consideration
of the Congress- and the enactment of its
provisions into law. A bill has already
been Introduced TO this end
Records show that during the twenty
years from January I. 1881. to Decem-
ing 1850 establishments. and 6.1O5,
GOA employees were thrown out of en-
ployment. During the same period there
were 1905 lockouts, involving nearly 10.
900 establishments. throwing over 900.
600 people out Of employment These
strikes and lockouts involved an est'-
mated loss to employees of 1901, 600. 600
and to employers Of S143, 10000 total
of S4JO.WOOOO. The public suffered di.
rectlv and indirectly probably as great
additional loss But the money loss
great as it was. did not measure the an
guish and suffering endured bv the wives
and children of employees whose nav ston-
ped when their work stoppod. or the dis
astrous effect of the strike or lockout
mon the business of employers. or
increase in the cost Of products and tho
inconvenience and loss to the public.
Many of tlrese strikes and lockouts
would not have occurred had the par
ties to the dispute been required TO an
pear before an unprecedented body repre-
senting the Nation and face to face, state
the reasons for their contention. Tn most
instances the dispute would doubtless he
found to he due to a misunderstanding
by each of the others rights. aggravated
by an unwillingness of either party TO
accept MS true the statements of the other
as to the Justice or injustice of tire mat
tiers in dispute. To exercise of a judicial
spirit by n disinterested body represent
ing the Federal Government, such as
would be provided by a commission or
Cancellation and arbitration would tend
TO create an atmosphere of friendlincss
conclllation between contending parties :;
ana the giving each side an eoual on
portunity to present fully its case in
the presence of the other would Drevent
many disputes from developing into 60
rlous strikes or lockouts, and, in other
cases. would enable the commission to
persuade the opposing parties to come
TO terms.
In this age Of great corporate and
labor combinations, neither. emnlovct.g
nor employees should be left comnlctnIv
at the mercy of tire stronger party to /,
dispute, regardless of the righteousness or
their respective claims. The Dronosed
measure would be in the line of securing
recognition of the fact that in many
strikes the public has itself an interest
which can not wisely be disregarded an
interest not merely of general convenience
for the question of just and proper no
licy must also he considered. Tn all 10
gislation Of this kind it is well to adj
vance cautiously, testing each step by
the actual results the step proposed can
surely he safely taken. for the decisions
of the commissions would not bind the
parties in legal fashion. and vet would
give a chance for public opinion TO cry
stallizc and thus exert its full force for
the right
WITHDRAWAL OF COAL LANDS.
1t is not wise that the Nation should
ALLEVIATE its remaining coal lands. | have
temporarily Withdrawn from settlement
all the lands which the Geological Sur
Nev has indicated as containing. or in all
probability containing. coal The dues.
ton, however, can be properly settled
only by legislation, which in my iudg-
ment should provide for the withdrawal
of these lands from sale or from entry.
save in certain especial circumstances.
The ownership would then remain in the
United States, which should not. how
ever attempt TO work them, but per
init tlrem to be worked by private indi-
vIduals under a royalty system. the Gov
eminent keeping such control as to per
NIT it to see that no excessive price was
charged consumers 1t would of course.
be as necessary to supervise the rates
charged by the common carriers to trans
port the product ms the rates charged
by those who mine it; and the super
vision must extend to the conduct of the
common carriers, so that they shall i'm
no way favor one competitor at the ex-
pensc of another The withdrawal Of
these coal lands would constitute 20
Icy analogous to that which has been fol-
lowed in withdrawing the forest lands
from ordinary settlement. The coal