Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-26
LESSON FROM CANADA

| AN March %, 1902, there went into
effect in the dominion OF Canada
~ law which. with possibly some
slight notifications, should find it's way
upon the statute books of every state
in the American Union. Its principles
and methods are worthy of conscien-
tious study in every industrial country
in the world. It's title describes it,:
"An act to aid in the prevention and
settlement of strikes and lockouts In
mines and Industries connected with
public utilities"
In the current number of McClure's
Magazine President Eliot of Harvard
elucidates the cardinal feature of this
law and cites a few cases of Industrial
disagreements which have been ad-
Judicated under it, The main points COW
cred by the act he summarizes as fol-
lows:
mo change in wages or hours with
out thirty days notice; no lockout or
strike without a previous investigat tion
of causes and demands by an impartial
public authority, which secures COM
plete publicity; and therefore no lock-
out or strike unless it has been care
fully considered by the parties most
nearly concerned through a period
which can hardly be less than two
months, and has been publicly debated
for period which, under ordinary cir
cumstances, will not be less than one
month, and may easily be more. The act
applies directly only to certain specified
ndustries-namely, mines and those
connected with public utilities-but the
act further provides that in the event
of a dispute arising in an industry or
trade not expressly included under the
provisions of the act, and such dis
pute threatens to result, or has re-
suited, in lockout or strike, either of
the parties may agree in writing to
allow such dispute to be referred to a
board of conciliation and investigation
under the provisions of this act; and
this agreement having been communi-
Gated to the other party to the dispute,
if that other party agrees in like man
ner to allow the dispute to be referred to
a board, the dispute may be so referred,
and the board constituted in the man
ner prescribed for mines and industries
concerning public utilities. If board
be constituted under the provisions of
the act, the lockout or strike, when in
existence, shall forthwith cease
In Dr. Eliot's opinion, and most stu
dents will agree with him. the most
striking feature of this act is this:
whenever a dispute arises between
an employer and any of his employees,
and the parties thereto are unable to
adjust it, either of the parties to the
dispute may make application to the
minister for the appointment of a board
of Cancellation and investigation, to
which board the dispute shall be re-
ferred under the provisions of this act,
If applicable. The minister must, within
fifteen days from the date at which an
application is received, establish such a
board, if satisfied that the provisions
of the act apply. Every board consists
of three members, who are appointed
by the minister; but of these three
members one must be appointed on the
recommendation of the employer, one
on the recommendation of the en-
ployes and the third on the recon-
mendation of the first two members.
If either of the parties fail to nominate
it's representative within five days the
minister must appoint a fit person to
represent that party in the board; If
the two members fail to select third
member the minister must appoint a
fit person to be the third member of
the board, and this third member is
chairman of the board. The act, there
fore secures public inquiry into any
industrial dispute concerning mines or
public utilities, provided one out of the
two parties to the dispute asks for such
an investigation"
Since the passage of this law several
threatened ruptures between employer
and employe, in at least one of which
ga great disaster for employers, en-
ployes and the public alike was pre-
vented" have been settled without re-
sorting to strike or lockout. 1t might
almost be said that the law acts auto
matically, for persons who feel them
selves aggrieved may initiate actions
themselves, not being compelled to
await the usually slow movement Of
the legal machinery of the government
President Eliot points to the following
advantages it has over any legislation
existing In the United States:
/. There is no arbitration in it, COM
pulsory or other.
Q. 1t prevents sudden blows aimed
by capital at labor or by labor at
capital.
8. 1t prevents the sudden cessation
of industries which have to do with
such necessaries of modern life as fuel,
the means of transportation and COM
the lighting of towns and
cities, and water and power supplies.
4. It makes it necessary for the ag-
gressor in an industrial dispute to have
a well considered case which will bear
thorough publicity.