the grounds of said controversy from the parties to the same; and if, in their judgment, there shall be occasion so to do, they shall have the right to propose to the parties to said controversy, or to any of them, that the same shall be settled by arbitration; and if the opposing parties to said controversy shall consent and agree to said arbitration, it shall be the duty of said Board of Public Works to provide in due form for the submission of the said controversy to arbitration, in such manner that the same may be finally settled and determined; but if the said corporation or the said person in its employment or service, so engaged in controversy with the said corporation, shall refuse to submit to such arbitration, it shall be the duty of the said Board of Public Works to examine into and ascertain the cause of said controversy, and report the same to the next General Assembly.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That all subjects of dispute arising between corporations, and any person in their employment or service, and all subjects of dispute between employers and employees, employed by them in any trade or manufacture, may be settled and adjusted in the manner heretofore mentioned.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That whenever such subjects of dispute shall arise as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for either party to the same to demand and have an arbitration or reference thereof in the manner following, that is to say: Where the party complaining and the party complained of shall come before, or agree by any writing under their hands, to abide by the determination of any judge or justice of the peace, it shall and may be lawful for such judge or justice of the peace to hear and finally determine in a summary manner the matter in dispute between such parties; but if such parties shall not come before, or so agree to abide by the determination of such judge or justice of the peace, but shall agree to submit their said cause of dispute to arbitrators appointed under the provisions of this act, then it shall be lawful for any such judge or justice of the peace, and such judge or justice of the peace is hereby required, on complaint made before him, and proof that such agreement for arbitration has been entered into, to appoint arbitrators for settling the matters in dispute, and such judge or justice of the peace shall then and there propose not less than two nor more than four persons, one-half of whom shall be employers and the other half employees, acceptable to the parties to the dispute, respectively, who, together with such

judge or justice of the peace, shall have full power finally to hear and determine such dispute.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That in all such cases of dispute as aforesaid, as in all other cases, if the parties mutually agree that the matter in dispute shall be arbitrated and determined in a different mode to the one hereby prescribed, such agreement shall be valid, and the award and determination thereon by either mode of arbitration shall be final and conclusive between the parties.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful in all cases for an employer or employee, by writing under his hand, to authorize any person to act for him in submitting to arbitration and attending the same.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That every determination of dispute by any judge or justice of the peace shall be given as a judgment of the court over which said judge presides, and of the justice of the peace determining the same; and the said judge or justice of the peace shall award execution thereon as upon verdict, confession or nonsuit; and every award made by arbitrators appointed by any judge or justice of the peace under these provisions of this statute, shall be returned by said arbitrator to the judge or justice of the peace by whom they were appointed; and said judge or justice of the peace shall enter the same as an amicable action between the parties to the same in the court presided over by said judge or justice of the peace, with the same effect as if said action had been regularly commenced in said court by due process of law, and shall thereupon become a judgment of said court, and execution thereon shall be awarded as upon verdict, confession or nonsuit; in the manner provided in article seven of the Public General Laws of Maryland; and in all proceedings under this act, whether before a judge or justice of the peace, or arbitrators, costs shall be taxed as are now allowed by law in similar proceedings, and the same shall be paid equally by the parties to the dispute; such award shall remain four days in court during its sitting, after the return thereof, before any judgment shall be entered thereon; and if it shall appear to the court within that time that the same was obtained by fraud or malpractice in or by surprise, imposition or deception of the arbitrators, or without due notice to the parties or their attorneys, the court may set aside such award and refuse to give judgment thereon. [Approved April 1, 1878.

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 settlements of disputes between employers and employed in the manufacturing, mechanical, mining and other industries.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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 of the county in which the petition originated.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

The

SEC. 7. All submissions of matters in dispute shall be made to the chairman of said tribunal, who shall file the same. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 11. This act to be in force and take effect from and after its publication in the official state paper. [Published February 25, 1886.