The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-07
cempuIsory Investigation for Labor
Troubles.

Compulsory Investigation for Labor
Troubles.
The Luce bin providing for compul-
sorry investigation mot arbltratiOn) in
labor disputes in Massachusetts, il mod
elled on q Canadian law which has
proved so successful that OF eighty con-
troversies inquired into in two years and
aquArter since its enactment but six have
been followed by strikes The Canadian
law can be invoked only by public utility
companies and their employees. The
hill IN Massachusetts, as drawn by the
Hon ROBERT LICE provides for the APP
peal In the case Of any industry. A
labor union bill on the subject in also be-
fore tho Legislature Of Massachusetts,.
Mr.. LUCE says that IL misses the vital
point Of the Canadian measure:
scansdA saya you shall nos strike nor lock
ent untn your dispute has been investigated
q our bFi says But our labor friends would say:
You may suiks and lock out all You please but
10 you do your dispute shall thsreupoh ~ In.
vesugated'
Now tAAt course OF action Il lust the ming
which has been the great evil IN the disputes he
tween capital and labor. ltcmbroils men. rouses
their passlnns stirs their lighting biood grts
them committed ~ extreme positions makes
~oacessions n~St "a impo-siblr. before giving
them = rhanrc Tor C,soi cain conference. ~ puts
the cart before the hur.- u Sav>. ight rrst
and reason af,rrvari
In Canada NOTES. must I've given by
employer or employees Of "A desired
change IN hours Of work. wages ~ CDn-
ditiOns of labor, and IL The other side
objects it may ask for a board Of inves-
tigation a. b. composed Of a member
appointed 10y each side and a third mem
'gher agreed on. IN case Of non-agreement
the Government completes the board of
Investigation. Before the law went into
effect there were 100 strikes against pub
lie utility companies in ten wears In
seventy-fOur Of the eighty cases inves-
tigAted since 1907 adjustments with
out strike or lockout were effected. and
IN every case involving only questions of
wages, hours or conditions Of labor the
board brought about peaoe between the
parties TO the controversy. OF six
cases in which the board failed 10 pre-
vent q strike recognition Of the union
wa wholly or IN part the cause Of the
strife that followed. This il how the
law works according TO Mr.. LICE:
V"Expsrence IA Canada shows mat Win ns
aisputApss on opposite SIDE. Of IN. sam. table
Yin no lawyers present NIh The reporters
eacludsa and with dispassionate invesugAtors
directing The conferences. an atmosphere Of good
NH a.
esssaOas are encouraged. and after the inv--uga.
tors given rhsir advfce ifif IL accepted rncr.
b no more resentment malice. spite no ON
psioasnsss o. hurniliating defeat by overpow-rtnG
Snsngth- no desire for vengsAnoe.s
Public sentiment, Mr.. LrCE says, en-
3otna resort 20 the law in Canada. II has
pleased both capital and labor, and the
Government has been asked by labor
organizations 10 extend its operations
g q! industries. The Government, how
ever, 10 not disposed 20 go quite so far.
The Minister Of Labor hns slEgested
that by way of experiment the building
trades, as they partake 81 the nature Of
public utilities. be included. and there is
sven a proposal NJ Ottawa IN make the
law apply 20 all industrial concerns en-
ploying fifty or more persons
Mr. LUCE declares thar his hill means
for industry what the tribunal at The
Hague means for the nations the bless
ings Of peace To some others and IL
N our own view the proposal seems
tItoPian. How could II ~ made to
apply 20 all industries without causing
chaos IN the industrial world. without
placing business M the mercy of the
labor demagpgtIe Investigation IN
-olNee he taking ~ testimony. and
ihe ah-en6e ~ employees from their
N~CrI might -Iel min Tor opnonrn
whose ~ucce-- depended upon increasing
competition compulsory lnvcrr CATION
would Prove almost ~ uh",t ionAhIe
- CrniUul-urV Hrh.fIurru There l. tn
hs considered the risk ~ an smplovrr
81 d.. lo-urP - the legitimate secrets
~ tu- btI-'n"-. ~ Intriguing 7yal
might ~g- 20 bring lbrut submission Ia
d Investigation and here Wuuld alwsv-
he Opf"rtuurir-, for hla.kmaI Bu.s
10 follow that bcoau-o tho Canad,an law
has worked well m ~ Hmied sphere
q comprehensive law A. proposed bv
Mr.. LTCE would rclIIIe hi- hons IN
Massachusetts. where laws are l,--- Oh
served and m" Inlic" pnwer is Io-- re-
specte'i and fnarsd than m Canlda.
NtIu.ht. "A ge,...