Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-12-04


Investigation Of Disputes Between
AReiTRATE LABOR DISPUTES
Federal Government Should Make
Compulsory lnvssti1 ation Possible.
The commission appointed by the
President October 16, 1902, at the
request of both the anthracite coal
operators and miners to inquire into,
con slider, and pass upon the questions
in controversy In connection with the
strike in the anthracite regions OF
Pennsylvania and the causes out Of
which the controversy arose, In their
report, findings, and award expressed
the belief tibet the state and federal
governments should provide the ma
chinery for what may be called the
compulsory investigation of contro-
versies between employers and en-
pIoyees when they arise" This ex-
preston OF belief Is worthy Of the con-
sideration OF the congress and the en-
actment Of It's provisions into law.
Al bill has already been introduced to
this end.
Records show that during the TWEEN
| ty years from January /, 1881, to
December 81. 1900, there were strikes
affecting 117,6OS establishments, and
l6,105s694 employees were thrown out
OF employment. During the same
| voIving nearly 10000 establishments,
throwing over one million people out
Of employment. These strikes and
lockouts involved an estimated losz
/ to employees OF $3O7, O0O, 900 and ia
employers Of $143,OO0, 900. . total 81
S460. o00, 900. The public suffered In
directly probably a. great additional
I10ss But the money loss, great a
| It was. did not measure the angular
and suffering endured BY the wives
and children Of employees whose p0s
stopt when their work stopt, cr the
disasterOue effect OF, the strike 81
lockout upon the business Of employ
ers. or the increase In the cost Of
products and the Inconvenience and
loss to thu public. 5000
l0utA would not have occurred had
the parties to- the disputs been rs,
lcptred to- appear. before an .unpfeti.
1iced body representing the i AatiOr
GHd, facAe to faces etatns tina sEeasoui
FOR their cOntentapnsa Instmaat III
stances the dispute would ,adoub tles.
be found to be due to misunder.
lstanding by each OF the otherss rights
aggravated Nv an UnWtliingness 81
either party 70 accept "A true state.
ments OF the other ~ to- the justice
Ter injustice Of the, matters n dis
Irute. The exercise 81 judicial apfri
by disinterested body repressntinl
1.-THE federal government,tass such q,
would be provided BY u commission
en- cancellations between cOntendfne
rarties and the giving each side al
Iequai opportunity to present its cas-,
fully in the presence Of the othel
would prevent MANY disputes from
n developing into serious strikes Of
sockOuts. and. In other cases, woult
slerable the commission to. persuade
the opposing parties tn come K
terms
In this age Of great corporate ant
labor combinations. neither employ
Eers nor employees should be left. com
lrletely at the mercy OF the stronge
1rarty to a disputes regardless of tn,
righteousness ofs.i their RESPECTIVE,
1clafms. The proposed measure woul,
ba In the line Of securing recogni
Il ton of the fact that In many strike
the public has itself an interest which
cannot wisely be disregarded: an in
forest not merely OF general convefl
ience. for the question OF just an,
lrroper public policy must also b,
considered. In all legislation OF thi
kind It is well to advance cautiously
Testing each step by the actual re
the commission would not bind TIL,
suits: the step proposed can surel,
be safely taken, for the decisions q
PARTIES in legal fashion and We
would give chance for public opin
Ion to crystallize and thus to exer
lis full force for the right.