e. Such an outcome is to be expected, no matter
what the principles upheld by the central authority--provided they are
consistently upheld. Thus Judge Higgins records of the Australasian
experience that "It is quite common now for the parties to ask the
decision or guidance of the Court on a few main subjects in dispute and
then to agree as to all the other items--even hundreds of items--in the
light of the Court's findings; anticipating the application of the
Court's principles."[142]

Since we are on the subject of the method and machinery of application
of the policy of wage settlement, one other aspect of the matter may be
briefly noted. That is, that if any policy of wage settlement is to
succeed, the course of wage decision must be kept as free from all
political interference as possible.[143] Spending departments should not
be given powers of decision which clash with those of the central
authority. Appeals to the higher executive officers of the state must be
avoided to the utmost possible extent. Conjecture as to the measure in
which these conditions can be realized in the United States at the
present time may be withheld. But unless they are realized in a high
degree, wage settlement will continue to be a matter of force and
opportunism. Freedom from political interference can be obtained, and
the elimination of the necessity for frequent appeal to the higher
executive officers of the state will be possible, only if the policy of
wage settlement which is adopted has the vigorous support of all groups
immediately concerned in wage settlement.

FOOTNOTES:

[136] See for examination of this question, "Report of Wage
Boards and Industrial and Conciliation Acts of Australia and
New Zealand." E. Aves (1908), page 38. Mr. Henry Clay in a
review of the wage position before the National Council of
the Pottery Industry (Great Britain), made an interesting
statement in this regard. He said "... the one great lesson
which the war taught everybody (including Government
Departments) was that it was dangerous to make a change in
the wages or basis of earnings of one section of workers or
of one industry unless they considered what would be the
effect on all related classes and grades of workers."
Printed in the Staffordshire _Sentinel_, Oct. 8, 1920. See
also Chapter 39, Lord Askwith's "Industrial Problems and
Disputes" for a narrative account of the trouble caused by
sectional wage advances during the war.

[137] L