Denver labor bulletin., 1916-04-29

The investigation is held, witnesses are
subpoenaed and put under oath, complete
and exhaustive testimony is taken as of
all matters in dispute When the in
vestigation is complete, the Commission
makes its findings. These findings or
the award as it is called, are not binding
upon either side. altho either or both
sides may accept the findings, either be-
fore the investigation begins or at its
conclusion in which event the award is
binding.
Both Sides Are Restrained.
The only restraint upon the two sides
is that prior to and during the investiga-
ton the employer cannot lock his men
out, and the men cannot 60 on a strike.
The status quo is preserved; the men
must remain at work at the usual scale
of hours and wages, until the Commits
sion makes its findings. After the find
ings have been made either side is free
to do as it chooses.
| The old weapons OF industrial warfare
may be resorted to, there may be strikes
and lockouts or any other legal act along
lines of force and coercion.
I Thus we see how the law operates, and
we begin to understand the significance
of restraining period of this character.
The first object and result OF such a law
is that it provides Il cooling off period,
in which both sides have an opportunity
to avoid hasty and precipitous action,
and to think over calmly the responsible
I ity and grave possibilities of the situa
tion.
| Hasty and thuoghtless action has
never helped any cause; II has never
moved America or her institutions for
ward one inch: il will never aid the
cause OF industrial peace.
| Compels Collective Bargaining.
The second object and result OF the
operation OF this law is to compel col
lective bargaining Nearly every mod
ern thinker on industrial and social top
les endorses the theory and principle OF
collective bargaining. IL il "A practical,
wise and efficient measure OF promoting
industrial peace and justice, II is urged
by newspapers, magazines and thinkers
generally, a. being the ultimate hope OF
all those who dong for industrial peace,
as being fair and just a. between cm-
ployer and employc.
This law compels the very thing that
j. declared to be 50 desirable; IL brings
the parties together compels them to sit
down face to face, to look each other in
the eve and talk over their differences.
The result of this il to cool both sides
down. and to climate large number
OF tne points OF ul-pute anu HllruiucT-
standing am prone to believe that
one-half OF all disputes between men
could be amicably settled If both sides
met face to face and talked things over.
| have been interested and amazed to
see the number OF misunderstanding
that exist between employer and en-
ploye, when there exists no way of com
pelling them to talk things over to-
gether. II is collective bargaining, too.
in tn. sense that the employer or en-
/ ploycrs in u group meet either the en-
ployes OF a single plant grouped togeth-
er, or the employees in AN entire craft to
be dealt with together.
Power to Ascertain Facts.
The third object aud valuable result OF
this law is that il provides for a pub
lie body with power to ascertain the
facts OF any industrial controversy. This
lack OF some authoritative body to as
certain the exact facts OF a controversy
has been admitted on all sides to be "A
serious handicap to clear understand
ing OF the issues in any industrial dis
pute. Each side has usually contented
itself by issuing bulletins and charges,
stating its own side of the controversy.
The public has not known what the
facts were, and every man has read those
facts which suited his own prcjudicc-
and has shut his efcs to the other side.
/ The Commission has power to subpoena
witnesses and put them under oath, ana
it exercises this power; it has power 10
go into the accounts and books of the
employer and the cmploye; to inquire
into the cost Of living, cost OF production,
state OF the market the effect OF freight
rates and every other factor which en-.
ter into the question OF wages and
hours. There are no limits to the Com
missions power TO get at the real facts.
| The fourth and final valuable result.
| from this law is that the facts when
once gathered by an authoritative and
impartial public body are given to the
public. and there results the widest pub
LEFTY OF all the facts bearing upon the
controversy. The public is Informed as
to the terms OF the dispute and the con.
illusions OF an impartial body as to the
merits OF that dispute. Publicity is given
to the findings of the Commission, and
it remains then for public opinion to do
tits work, an to compel both sides to ad-
just themselves to the award which the
Commission found to be just.
No Technicalities Allowed.
In the operation of the law certain
rules of procedure have been developed,
which reflect certain angles of the whole
labor question, and which would it be well
to state here These rules are in brief
as follows:
/. No technical rules OF procedure are
ever followed or permitted. The statute
provides for liberal construction and
Operation of its terms and the Commits
sion firmly insists upon this.
2. No technical form of notice is ever
required. 1t is sufficient if there be
actual notice to each side that the Com
mission is about to investigate.
3. The Commission may not wait for
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