ARBITRATOR. In Practice. A pri vate extraordinary judge, to whose decision matters in controversy are referred by con sent of the parties. Worcester, Diet.
Referee is of frequent modern use as a syno nym of arbitrator, but is in its origin of broader signification and less accurate than arbitrator.
2. Appointment. Usually, a single arbi trator is agreed upon, or the parties each ap point one, with a stipulation that, if they do not agree, another person, called an umpire, named, or to be selected by the arbitrators, shall be called in, to whom the matter is to be referred. Caldwell, Arb. 99; 2 Vern. 485; 16 East, 51; 9 Barnew. & C. 624; 3 Barnew. & Ald. 248; 5 Barnew. & Ad. 488; 7 Scott, 841; 9 Ad. & E. 699; 6 Harr. & J. Md. 403; 17 Johns. N. Y. 405; 1 Barb. N. Y. 325 ; 2 M'Cord, So. C. 279; 4 Rand. Va. 275 ; 15 Vt. 548; 2 Bibb, Ky. 88; 4 Dall. Penn. 471; 9 Ind. 150. In general, any objection to the appointment of an arbitrator or umpire will be waived, by attending him. 2 Eng. L. & Eq. 284; 9 Ad. & E. 679; 8 East, 344; 1 Jac. & W. Ch. 511; 1 Ryl. & M. 17; 3 Ind. 277; 9 Penn. St. 254, 487; 10 B. Monr. Ky. 536.
Any person selected may be an arbitrator, notwithstanding natural incapacity or legal disability, as infancy, cove.rture, or lunacy. Watson, Arb. 71; Russell, Arb. 107; Viner, Abr. Arbitration, A 2; 8 Dowl. 879; 1 Pet. 228; 7 Watts & S. Penn. 142; 26 Miss. 127; contra, Comyns, Dig. Abatement, B, C; West, Symb. Compromise, p. 164, 23, 26; Brooke, Abr.; 10 Ad. & E. 775; 11 Q. B. 7 ; or disqualification on account of interest, pro vided it be known to the parties at the time of making the submission. 9 Bingh. 672; 2 Vern. Ch. 251; 1 Dowl. 611; 5 id. 247; 4 Mod. 226; 1 Jac. & W. Ch. 511; 1 Caines, N. Y. 147; 1 Bibb, Ky. 148; Hard. Ky. 318; 14 Conn. 26; 26 Miss. 127 ; 27 Me. 251; 2 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 32. In the civil law the rule was otherwise. Domat, Civ. Law, 1112, 1113; D. 9. 1.
3. The proceedings. Arbitrators proceed on the reference as judges, not as agents of the parties appointing them. 1 Ves. Ch. 226 ; 9 id. 69. They should give notice of the time and place of proceeding to the parties inte rested. 3 Atk. 529; 8 Md. 208; 6 Harr. & J. Md. 403; 3 Gill, Md. 31; 7 id. 488; 24 Miss. 346; 23 Wend. N. Y. 628 ; 6 Cow. N. Y. 103 ; 12 Mete. Mass. 293; 1 Ball. Pa. 81; 4 id. 432; 1 Conn. 498; 17 id. 309; 2 N. H. 97; 6 Vt. 666; 3 Rand. Va. 2; Hard. Ky. 46; 32 Me. 455, 513. They should all conduct the investigation together, and should sign the award in each other's presence, 4 Mo. 468 ; but a majority is held sufficient. 1 Wash. C.
C. 448; 11 Johns. N. Y. 402; 3 R. I. 192; 30 Penn. St. 384; 2 Dutch. N. J. 175; 9 Ind. 150; 7 id. 669; 14 B. Monr. Ky. 292 ; 21 Ga. 1.
In investigating matters in dispute, they are allowed the greatest latitude. 13 East, 251; 9 Bingh. 679; 1 Bos. & P. 91; 7 Betty. Rolls, 455; 14 Mees.' & W. Exch. 264; 5 C.
B. 211, 581; 6 Cow. N. Y. 103; 1 Hill, N.
Y. 319; 1 Sandf. N. Y. 681; 1 Dall. Penn. 161; 6 Pick. Mass. 148; 10 Vt. 79; 2 Bay, So. C. 370; 1 Bail. So. C. 46. But see 1 Halst. N. J. 386; 1 Wash. Va. 193; 4 Cush. Mass. 111 ; 7 Hill, N. Y. 463; 2 Johns. Cas. N. Y. 224; 1 Binn. Penn. 458. They are judges both of law and of fact, and are not bound by the rules of practice adopted by the courts. 3 Atk. Ch. 486; 1 Ves. Ch. 369; 1 Price, 81; 11 id. 57 ; 13 id. 533 ; 1 Swanst. 58; 1 Taunt. 52, n.; 6 yd. 255 ; 13 East, 358; 9 Bingh. 681; 2 Barnew. & Ald. 692; 3 id. 239; 4 Ad. & E. 347; 7 id. 601 ; 1 Dowl. & L. 465; 1 Dowl. & R. 366; 17 How. 344; 2 Gall. C. C. 61; 7 Mete. Mass. 316, 486; 36 Me. 19, 108; 2 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 276, 368 ; 3 Du. N. Y. 69; 1 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 85, 265; 5 Md. 353; 19 Penn. St. 431 ; 21 Vt. 99, 250; 25 Conn. 66; 16 Ill. 34, 99; 12 Gratt. Va. 554; 7 Ind. 49; 2 Cal. 64, 122; 23 Miss. 272. Thus, the witnesses were not sworn in Hill & D. N. Y. 110; 28 Vt. 776. They may decide ex ceguo et bond, and need not follow the law : the award will be set aside only when it appears that they meant to he governed by the law but have mistaken it. 9 Ves. 364; 14 id. 271: 3 East, 18; 13 id. 351; 4 Tyrwh. 997; 2 C. B. 705 ; 3 id. 705 ; 2 Gall. C. C. 61 ; 1 Dall. Penn. 487; 6 Pick. Mass. 148; 6 Mete. Mass. 131; 7 id. 486 ; 6 Vt. 529; 21 id. 250; 4 N. H. 357 ; 1 Hall, N. Y. 598. See 19 Mo. 373.
4. Under submissions in pais, the attend ance of witnesses and the production of papers was entirely voluntary at common law. 1 Dowl. & L. 676 ; 2 Sim. & S. 418 ; 2 Carr. & P. 550. It was otherwise when made under a rule of court. Various statutes in England and the United States now _provide for compelling attendance. 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 42, 40. And see the statutes of the various states.
Duties and Powers of. Arbitrators cannot delegate their authority : it is a personal trust. 2 Atk. Ch. 401 ; Croke, Eliz. 726; 9 Dowl. Parl. Cas. 1044; 6 C. B. 258 ; 4 Dail. Penn. 71; 7 Serg. & R. Penn. 228; 1 Wash. C. C. 448. The power ceases with the pub lication of the award, 9 Mo. 30; and death after publication and before delivery does not vitiate it. 21 Ga. 1. They cannot be com pelled to make an award ; in which respect the common law differs from the Roman, Story, Eq. Jur. 1457; Kyd, Aw. 2d ed. 100; or to disclose the grounds of their judgment.
3 Atk. 644; 7 Serg. Fz* R. Penn. 448; 5 Md. 253; 19 Mo. 373.
An arbitrator may retain the award till paid for his services, but cannot maintain as sumpsit in England without an express pro mise. 8 East, 12; 4 Esp. 47; 2 Mann. & G. 847, 870; 3 Q. B. 466, 928. But see 1 Gow. 7; 1 Bos. & P. 93. In the United States he may, however. 1 Den. N. Y. 188; 29 N. II. 48.
The powers and duties of arbitrators are now regulated very fully by statute, both in England and the United States. See Sus missioN, and also ARBITRATION, where a list of authorities on the subject is given.