Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-27

JUDGE w. L. CHAMBERS.
A statement Issued by the federal
board Of mediation on settlements 1t
had conducted was regarded as signih-
can in connection with the brotherhood
strike situation. 1t described a report
about to be made to the Senate, which
will disclose that in every case of set
Elements conducted under the old Erd-
man act or later Newlands law, sub
stantial advantages have been won by
the employees through arbitration. The
only instance recorded where the men
did not benefit was a settlement made
eral mediators.
The scope of the report includes all
arbitration proceedings covering con-
troversies between railroads and their
employees connected with transporta-
ton service No controversies settled
wholly by mediation or direct negotta-
ton are included. Altogether the re-
suits of twenty-five formal arbttra-
ton proceedings. covering the period
1s9S-1915, have been enelyzed-
The general method pursued has
been to compare rates of pay and
working conditions prior and subse-
quent to the awards of arbitration
boards. with the object in view OF as
certaining changes in rates of pay and
working rules. which were the outcome
of the arbitration proceedings.
Provisions of New1ands Law.
A summary of this report, given out
at the headquarters of the board, Is as
follows:
THE present law relative to media
ton and arbitration Is the so-called
Newlands law, approved July 10, 1913.
1t created the offices of commissioner
of mediation and Cancellation and as
sistant commissioner of mediation and
Cancellation, and further provided that
the President shall also designate not
more than two other officials OF the
government, who have been appointed
by and with the advice and consent OF
commissioner Of mediation and con-
Citation, shall constitute board to be
known as the United States board OF
mediation and Cancellation.
"In August, 1916. the board was IN
creased to three members by the
designation by the President OF the as,
sistant commissioner OF mediation ana
Cancellation as a member of the board.
THE law provided for three-member
boards Of arbitration as previously au-
thorized by the Erdman act, but IN
addition, in order to meet the criticism
of, three member boards placing TOO
much power in the hands of the neu-
trail arbitrator 1t provided further for
six-member boards OF arbitration, COM
POSED of two representatives from
each side to a controversy. and Two
neutral members representing the pub
lie.
Emphasis Placed on Arbitration.
Tn the enactment of federal legisla-
ton emphasis was placed upon arbitra-
tion>as a method of settling disputes
between transportation companies and
their employees.
Under the operation of the various
Iaws-the act Of 1888 and the Erdnnan
law of 1s9S-it soon became evident,
however that mediation proceedings
were to take the leading part. There
were in all forty-eight cases settled on
request of the parties either by media
ton under the Erdman law or by arbi-
trations IN accordance with Its pro-
visions.
Seven of these cases were concerted
movements, involving many of the va
rious classes of employees and involving
in each instance a large number of
railroads; in one case as many as sixty
four roads OF these forty-eight cases
coming under the Erdman law during
the fourteen years of its existence
twenty were settled through mediation,
arbitration and four by arbitration
alone.
I'm the remaining sixteen cases the
services of the mediators, requested by
one of the parties, were either refused
by the other or dir.ct settlements were
reached between re parties after the
services of the mediators were invoked
without employing them or resorting
to arbitration.
Adjustments of Controversies.
"since the Newlands law was ap-
proved. July Is. 1913. sixty controver-
sizes have been brought to the atten-
ton of the board of mediation and con-
Citation, and have been adjusted as
follows:
"Forty-nine cases have been settled
by mediation. Eight cases have been
settled by arbitration. One case, arbi-
tratton arranged to take place shortly.
Two cases pending.
"A settlement has been promptly Sc
cured either by mediation or arbitration
in all of the cases which have been
brought before the board.
THE list of arbitration proceedings
which have taken place under the pres
ent law is as follows:
AFFILIATIONS Under Newlands Act.
81 Farty-two eastern railroads VS..
conductors and trainmen.
"2 Chicago and Western Indiana
railroad VS.. engineers. flremen and
trainmen.
"3. Chicago Burlington and Quincy
railroad vs. conductors and trainmen
81 Wheeling and lake Erie railroad
vs. teIegraphers.
rs. Southern railway VS.. maintenance
of way employees.
IS New York. Chicago and st. Louis
railroad VS.. telegraphers.
'7 Ninety-etght western railroads vs.
engineers and firemen.
"8. Arbitration now arranged, four
teen railroads VS.. switchmen and
yardmen.
Cases Considered in Detail.
The report Of the board takes up
each of these arbitrations in detail. as
well as those cases held under the pro-
visions of the Erdman law. The changes
in the rates of pay and working condi-
lions as the result of the decision of
each arbitration board are set forth
at length AS the information has been
prepared and presented on a uniform
basis. q comparison may be made OF
rates Of compensation between the
present and past yearA"