The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-07-10
THE ARBITRATION BILL.


and Of States Of this Union is to pro-
vide every means to head of strikes
and labor disturbances Of various
kinds. There is an imminence just
now that calls attention very strenu-
ously to the proposed amendments Of
the Erdman act, now pending in Con-
gress.
The Erdman act is conceded both by
the railroads and the employees to be
in the main a good, serviceable enact
mont; but the arbitrators provided for
under that act are too few. The whole
machinery of the act turns upon the
arbitration of three men, one to be APP
pointed by each side of the controversy.
and these two to select third. Aud
there are other amendments desired to
that act which the railroad companies
and the railroad employees are perfect
" agreed upon; and, since these amend
ments do not in any way menace the
public interest or the general order,
there would seem to be no reason why
Congress should not act promptly and
pass the amendments as drawn that
are desired.
The committee representing the rail
way managers and railway employees
drew up these proposed changes that
are desired in the Erdman act. There
was a perfect agreement on both sides
as to what should be done. Senator
Newlands of Nevada introduced the
bill embodying the provisions which
had been agreed to by both sides in
the railroad controversies. The num-
Der of arbitrators is increased from
three to six. The railroad managers
objected to the former board of arbi-
tration on the grounds that the board
of three, which the law now provides
for, gives too much power to the one
man chosen by the two arbitrators
agreed upon, one by the railroad com
panies and the other by the employees.
Another amendment is, that whereas
the law now provides that the work
of the arbitrators shall be done in
thirty days. the amended provision is
that the arbitration board may give a
longer time, if longer time is necess-
sary.
The new bill provides also for the
appointment by the President of the
United States of a Commissioner of
Mediation and Cancellation. Hereto
fore the work which this Commissioner
will have to do has been performed by
the Commissioner of the Labor Bureau
and the Chief Justice of the Commerce
Court: but these officials have other
work to do, and the work which is
required OF the Commissioner of Media
tion and Cancellation is In itself
enough for any one to take up. Be
sides. one who devotcs his whole at
tention to this speciality gets thorough"
lv prepared on everything relating to
questions likely to come before hlm,
and he is, therefore, always thoroughly
qualified to deal with anything that
NAV be presented for his action
Two other Government officials, to
be designated, would constitute the
other members of the Board of Media
ton and Cancellation, TO which would
be referred matters in dispute. This
board would appoint two representa-
tives Of the public interests to sit as
members OF the board of arbitration,
with the two members representing
the railroad managers and two repre-
senting railroad workers. The complete
board would, therefore, be constituted
of a Commissioner of Mediation and
Cancellation, two representatives of
the public. and the two members from
the railroad management and two rep
resenting railroad workers. The board
of seven, thus constituted would be
practically and officially legaI
tribunal. and would be answerable di
rectly to the public for the general re
suits arrived at,
Since the railroad managers and the
railroad workers have agreed upor
these amendments, and since there Is
no reason to object on the part of the
public, there would appear TO be nc
occasion for delay In passing Tho
amendments desired TO the Erdmar
act; and since that act has done excel
lent service heretofore in its imperfect
form. and would undoubtedly be fount
Of the highest possible service in it.
completed form, as agreed upon by th'
interests in controversy, il should b'
passed with no delay.