tion and administrative orders to prevent strikes which are in operation in certain European countries have been presented in order to show the wide difference between this form of legislation and that of other countries. The history and operation of conciliation and arbitration legislation in the United States, together with measures now proposed by way of addition and amendment to the existing law, are presented for purposes of comparative study. The official publications of the different countries under consideration have constituted the principal sources of information used. A number of special reports of the labor department of the British Board of Trade have been found to be of great value, especially a report entitled "Memoranda on Strikes and Lockouts," issued in 1912, which reviews in an exhaustive way antistrike legislation in the British Empire and in other countries. This report has been mainly relied upon as a source of information in the analysis of European and Australasian legislation, its subject matter being supplemented by further research and brought down to date. Through the cooperation of Hon. T. W. Crothers, Canadian minister of labor, and Hon. F. A. Acland, registrar of boards of conciliation and arbitration, the latest data as to the operation of the Canadian industrial disputes investigation act were secured. In the preparation of this work the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation was fortunate in securing the services of Mr. W. Jett Lauck, Statistician, Washington, D. C., who was assisted by Mr. Lindley D. Clark, of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. II. COMPARATIVE SURVEY AND ANALYSIS. A survey of the legislative and other measures which have been adopted by the leading commercial and industrial nations for the prevention of strikes and the promotion of the peaceable adjustment of disputes between employers and employees in the transportation industry and other public utilities reveals a remarkable lack of uniformity. Each country or section seems to have worked out its own system from its own experience. In only one or two cases was it found that one nation had adopted the plan of another. In the study of this class of legislation, however, one fact stands out prominently. Two factors have been responsible for antistrike legislation and legislation for the orderly settlement of industrial disputes. One group of countries in framing such legislation has primarily had in mind the protection of the public against the injurious effects of industrial warfare in the railway and other publicutility service. Such reasons are evidently responsible for the legislative enactments in Canada, France, Italy, Russia, Roumania, Spain, and Portugal, and the attitude of the railway administration of Germany. On the other hand, the preservation of industrial peace and the advancement in economic welfare of certain classes have been primarily considered in framing the legislation of Australasian countries, and the prevention of industrial conflicts in the railway service has been incidental to these broader purposes. 1 Strikes and lockouts. Memoranda prepared from information in the possession of the labor department of the board of trade relating to the text and operation of certain laws in the British Dominions and foreign countries affecting strikes and lockouts with especial reference to public-utility services. London, 1912. COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION. The following statement shows in a summary and comparative form the status of existing legislation relative to strikes and the maintenance of industrial peace on the railways and in other publicutility service of the leading commercial nations of the world. A comparison is made of the following features of such legislation:1 (1) Conditions under which lockouts or strikes are prohibited. (2) Penalties for the enforcement of antistrike legislation. (3) Legal machinery for the adjustment of disputes. (4) Private or semiofficial machinery for the adjustment of disputes. Any unusual or striking features of existing legislation or any important facts relative to the administration of the laws are referred to in the last column of the tabular statement. The countries for which information is shown are arranged in alphabetical order. 1 A more detailed account of legislation by countries will be found in succeeding sections of the report. Name of country. Antistrike and industrial conciliation legislation relative to public utilities, by countries. Court of conciliation and arbitra- or supreme In New South Wales the law is Name of country. Antistrike and industrial conciliation legislation relative to public utilities, by countries-Continued. Legal machinery for the adjustment of disputes. Conditions under which lockouts Penalties for enforcement of antistrike legislation. Remarks. All strikes and lockouts are illegal. A fine of £500 may be levied against an association and a similar fine of £500 against a person, or three months' imprisonment. Fine of £20 or three months' imprisonment for picketing. Fines are made a charge against funds of associations and on wages over and above £2 a week. An employer who refuses to employ or a worker who refuses to accept work, where there is an industrial agreement or award in operation, may be fined. Strikes and lockouts on public Union may be dissolved and funds Before forming a union, the organutilities are prohibited. and property seized. ization must notify the Government authorities and send them a copy of the constitution and |