The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-14
Low AGAIN CHOSEN
PRESIDENT CIVIC
FEDERATION TODAY
Especial from United Press. }


New York, Jan. 14-At the closing
session of the annual meeting of the
National Civic Federation, today, For
mer Mayor Seth Low was reelected
president and all the other officers
reelected, with the exception of Mrs.
Horace Brock, who was succeeded as
chairman of the Womans Department
by Mrs. John Hays Hammond.
At today's session President Low at
tackled the Canadian arbitration act
as wholly inapplicable to this country.
He declared that it would be impos-
s1ble to get such 4 labor law enacted
in any State owing to the opposition
that would be made to it by organized
labor. In place of the Canadian act,
Low suggested an amendment to the
New York State Labor Law suitable
to all States, providing for the APP
pointment of an arbitration commit
tee by the Governor in case Of labor
troubles, one member to be chosen
from the laborers, second from the
employing company and the third by
agree upon the third member within
two days the Governor is to go ahead
and appoint the committee himself
This was considered "jokes" by most
Of those who discussed Lows sug-
gestion, which was severely attacked
by the labor representatives.
After a warm fight led by labor dele
gates. Lows resolution was practical
IL killed by being sent to the executive
council for future action. James Dun
nican, of Quincy, Mass, attacked the
suggestion on the ground of putting
summary powers in the hands of Gov
ernors by giving them too great op-
portunity of appointing mediation
boards of their own selection.
The closing session of the Fedora
ton was devoted entirely to consider
alton of practical methods for the pre-
vention of strikes, especially, in pub
lie utilities and it was the consensus
Of opinion of majority of the speak
ers that the Canadian law on this sub
ject could be advantageously used. The
principal address on the subject was
delivered by Marcus M. Marks, who
said:
Our present machinery for inves-
tigatfon, mediation and arbitration Of
industrial disputes is very primitive
and too frequently ineffective. There
are some who believe that the lockout
is wise and justif1able. The strike
and the lockouts are crude barbar-
isms. In view Of recent strikes in
street railway, express, taxi, and 9TH
er public pursuits, the people have
become aroused to the necessity of
some official machinery for prevent
such strikes which interfere with the
daily needs and comforts of so many.
Federal laws should better control
industrial differences in interstate
utilities while State laws should SIM
ilarly cover interstate strikes. The
main proposals suggested to you for
the Improvement of the present laws
are:
ITO extend the range of the Erdman
Act to embrace all public utilities do
ing an interstate business.
ITO make all strikes in public util-
tiles Illegal and arrange for compul-
sorry arbitration of the points in dis
pute. The Interstate commerce COM
mission and the several public service
commissions should be given power
as final arbitrators of wages, hours
and all other conditions of employ
ment in their respective jurisdictions.
''To introduce in our States an adap-
tation of Canadian labor act. This act
provides for public investigation be-
fore strike can be declared in a
public utility, allowing 80 days for
purpose during which strike is IL
Legal