Page images
PDF
EPUB

§ 12. When it becomes necessary to submit a matter in controversy to the umpire, it may be in form, as follows:

We, A, B, C, D and E, representing employers, and G, H, I, J and K, representing workmen, composing a tribunal of voluntary arbitration, hereby submit and refer unto the umpirage of L (the umpire of the tribunal of the trade), the following subject-matter, viz. (Here state fully and clearly the matter submitted) and we hereby agree that his decision and determination upon the same shall be binding upon us and final and conclusive upon the questions thus submitted, and we pledge ourselves to abide by and carry out the decision of the umpire when made

Witness our names

this
(Signatures)

day of

A. D.

$ 13. The umpire shall make his award in writing to the tribunal, stating distinctly his decision on the subject-matter submitted, and when the award is for a specific sum of money, the umpire shall forward a copy of the same to the clerk of the proper court. [Approved March 6, 1886.

KANSAS.

An Act to establish boards of arbitration, and defining their powers and duties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

SECTION 1. That the district court of each county, or a judge thereof in vacation, shall have the power, and upon the presentation of a petition, as hereinafter provided, it shall be the duty of said court, or judge, to issue a license, or authority, for the establishment, within and for any county within the jurisdiction of said court, of a tribunal for voluntary arbitration and settlement of disputes between employers and employed, in the manufacturing, mechanical, mining and other industries.

§ 2. The said petition shall be substantially in the form hereinafter given, and the petition shall be signed by at least five persons employed as workmen, or by two or more separate firms, individuals or corporations within the county, who are employers within the county; provided, that at the time the petition is presented, the judge before whom said petition is

presented may, upon motion, require testimony to be taken as to the representative character of said petitioners, and if it appears that the requisite number of said petitioners are not of the character they represent themselves to be, the establishment of the said tribunal may be denied, or he may make such other order in that behalf as shall to him seem fair to both sides.

$ 3. If the said petition shall be signed by the requisite number of either employers or workmen, and be in proper form, the judge shall forthwith cause to be issued a license, authorizing the existence of such a tribunal and containing the names of four persons to compose the tribunal, two of whom shall be workmen and two employers, all residents of said county, and fixing the time and place of the first meeting thereof; and an entry of the license so granted shall be made upon the journal of the district court in the county in which the petition originated. $ 4. Said tribunal shall continue in existence for one year from the date of the license creating it, and may take jurisdiction of any dispute between employers and workmen in any mechanical, manufacturing, mining or other industry, who may submit their disputes in writing to such tribunal for decision. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the tribunal shall be filled by the judge or court that licensed said tribunal. Disputes occurring in one county may be referred to a tribunal already existing in an adjoining county. Said court at the time of the issuance of said license shall appoint an umpire for said tribunal, who shall be sworn to impartially decide all questions that may be submitted to him during his term of office. The umpire shall be called upon to act after disagreement is manifested in the tribunal by failure to agree during three meetings held and full discussion had. His award shall be final and conclusive upon such matters only as are submitted to him in writing and signed by the whole of the members of the tribunal, or by parties submitting the same. And the award of said tribunal shall be final and conclusive upon the questions so submitted to it; provided, that said award may be impeached for fraud, accident or mistake.

§ 5. The said tribunal when convened shall be organized by the selection of one of their number as chairman, and one as secretary, who shall be chosen by a majority of the members. $ 6. The members of the tribunal and the umpire shall each receive as compensation for their services, out of the treasury

of the county in which said dispute shall arise, two dollars for each day of actual service. The sessions of said tribunal shall be held at the county seat of the county where the petition for the same was presented, and a suitable room for the use of said tribunal shall be provided by the county commissioners.

§ 7. All submission of matters in dispute shall be made to the chairman of said tribunal, who shall file the same. The chairman of the tribunal shall have power to administer oaths to all witnesses who may be produced, and a majority of said tribunal may provide for the examination and investigation of books, documents and accounts necessary, material, and pertaining to the matters in hearing before the tribunal, and belonging to either party to the dispute. The umpire shall have power when necessary to administer oaths and examine witnesses, and examine and investigate books, documents and accounts pertaining to the matters submitted to him for decision.

§ 8. The said tribunal shall have power to make, ordain and enforce rules for the government of the body, when in session, to enable the business to be proceeded with in order, and to fix its sessions and adjournments; but such rules shall not conflict with this statute, nor with any of the provisions of the Constitution and laws of the State; provided, that the chairman of said tribunal may convene said tribunal in extra session at the earliest day possible in cases of emergency.

§ 9. Before the umpire shall proceed to act, the question or questions in dispute shall be plainly defined in writing, and signed by the members of the tribunal or a majority thereof, or by the parties submitting the same; and such writing shall contain the submission of the decision thereof to the umpire by name, and shall provide that his decision thereon after hearing shall be final; and said umpire must make his award within five days from the time the question or questions in dispute are submitted to him. Said award shall be made to the tribunal; and if the award is for a specific sum of money, said award of money, or the award of the tribunal when it shall be for a specific sum, may be made a matter of record by filing a copy thereof in the district court of the county wherein the tribunal is in session. When so entered of record it shall be final and conclusive, and the proper court may, on motion of anyone interested, enter judgment thereon; and when the award is for a specific sum of money, may issue final and other process to enforce the

same; provided, that any such award may be impeached for fraud, accident or mistake.

§ 10. The form of the petition praying for a tribunal under this act shall be as follows:

To the district court of county (or a judge thereof, as the case may be): The subscribers hereto, being the number and having the qualifications required in this proceeding, being desirous of establishing a tribunal of voluntary arbitration, for the settlement of disputes in the manufacturing, mechanical, mining and other industries, pray that a license for a tribunal of voluntary arbitration may be issued to be composed of four persons and an umpire, as provided by law.

PENNSYLVANIA.

An Act to establish boards of arbitration to settle all questions of wages and other matters at variance between capital and labor.

Whereas, The great industries of this Commonwealth are frequently suspended by strikes and lockouts, resulting at times in criminal violation of the law and entailing upon the State vast expense to protect life and property and preserve the public peace:

And, whereas, No adequate means exist for the adjustment of these issues between capital and labor, employers and employes, upon an equitable basis where each party can meet together upon terms of equality to settle the rates of compensation for labor and establish rules and regulations for their branches of industry, in harmony with law and a generous public sentiment; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted, et cetera, That whenever any differences arise between employers and employes in the mining, manufacturing or transportation industries of the Commonwealth which cannot be mutually settled to the satisfaction of a majority of all parties concerned, it shall be lawful for either party, or for both parties jointly, to make application to the Court of Common Pleas wherein the service is to be performed about which the dispute has arisen to appoint and constitute a board of arbitration to consider, arrange and settle all matters at variance between them, which must be fully set forth in the application; such application to be in writing and signed and

[ocr errors]

duly acknowledged before a proper officer by the representatives of the persons employed as workmen, or by the representatives of a firm, individual or corporation, or by both, if the application is made jointly by the parties; such applicants to be citizens of the United States, and the said application shall be filed, with the record of all proceedings had in consequence thereof, among the records of said court.

§ 2. That when the application duly authenticated has been presented to the Court of Common Pleas, as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for said court, if in its judgment the said application allege matters of sufficient importance to warrant the intervention of a board of arbitrators, in order to preserve the public peace or promote the interests and harmony of labor and capital, to grant a rule on each of the parties to the alleged controversy, where the application is made jointly, to select three citizens of the county, of good character and familiar with all matters in dispute, to serve as members of the said board of arbitration, which shall consist of nine members, all citizens of this Commonwealth; as soon as the said members are appointed by the respective parties to the issue, the court shall proceed at once to fill the board by the selection of three persons from the citizens of the county of well-known character for probity and general intelligence, and not directly connected with the interests of either party to the dispute, one of whom shall be designated by the said judge as president of the board of arbitration. Where but one party makes application for the appointment of such board of arbitration the court shall give notice, by order of court, to both parties in interest, requiring them each to appoint three persons as members of said board within ten days thereafter, and in case either party refuses or neglects to make such appointment, the court shall thereupon fill the board by the selection of six persons who, with the three named by the other party in the controversy, shall constitute said board of arbitration. The said court shall also appoint one of the members thereof secretary to the said board, who shall also have a vote and the same powers as any other member, and shall also designate the time and place of meeting of the said board. They shall also place before them copies of all papers and minutes of proceedings to the case or cases submitted.

§ 3. That when the board of arbitration has been thus appointed and constituted, and each member has been sworn or

« PreviousContinue »