The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-22
THE STRIKING ENGINEERS.

REPORT or THE MASSACHUSETTS RAILROAD
COMMISSIONERS scATHIsG CONDEMNATION
or THE ACTION OF THE BI.oTHEGHooD AND
THEIR cHTEF--PENAL LAWS PROPOSED TO
CHECK ABUSES.
Dy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BosToy, Feb IL 1871
The railroad commissioners OF Massachusetts sub
mi;tcd u report the Boston and Maine slrikc this
afternoon. which OF importance and interest
road employees and corporations throughout tho
country IL gives elaborate aud detailed
history OF tho strike, and denounces II IN the
most emphatic terms as movement wholly
unwarrantcd aud unprovokcd. Referring TO the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers under tho
leadership OF Grand Chief Arthur. speaks OF other
strikes where they have carried their points aud
then goes to say that they longer believed tina,
any corporation could stand out against them, that
another strike meant anything but new triumph.
The commissioners entertain no doubt mat IL
this sentiment among them which led TO tho otherwise
inexpcabie action OF the Boston and Maine engineers
on the 18th instant 1t was little hotter than
wANroy EXHIBITION POWER
The commissioners have idea that either Grand
Chief Engineer Arthur the members OF the Brother.
hood engaged in the strike, viii for instant accept
this explanation OF their conduct Mr. Arthur, indeed,
which would have been udicrous had II under the
circumstances alarming, dwct with great adroit
in his statement at the hearing the tact tia,
the Brotherhood was opposed to all strikes, and had
recourse to them only In the last resort TINS may
have been originally the Gaze, and OF the recent
strikes which have taken place under its aus.
pces the members OF that board arc Informed
only through Mr.. Authurs' own statement 10 them.
AS to the strike OF tho l2,h inst however alter listen.
Ing TO the evidence OF the parties and endeavoring to
lruVs he Gana ln annf 1ha
soners ieci compelled 10 say that II the acs presented
to Us Will justify railroad strike under the protection
OF the brotherhood oil Locomotive ENGINEERS, with al
its attendant losses, dangers ana Inconvenience TO the
public, the community has no projection whatever.
DANGEROUS POWER
IT. moreover, tho influence OF the Brotherhood Is
indeed exerted in the interests OF peacs and WILL
II only DO SAID that Whatever his secret counscls
may have been, Mr.. Arthur's own puolic uttcranccs
and kilograms IN connection with the recent diiicul.
ties IN Boston have been singularly unfortunate. Ho
has to say tho least, allowed ms zeal and sympahes
TO get very complete mastery over his discretion In
language, tho significance OF which II Is charitable TO
suppose he did fully appreciate nc, cll,zcn OF
OHIO, chef OF secret organization having rainica-
tons IN Massachusetts, has ventured TO intimate tnat,
uhdcr existing circumstances, II depended on him
only whether the movement on the whole railroad
system OF the State SHOULD not be brought to stand
sum- power which the Legislature itself would not
dare to exercise an alien to our laws claims to hold
Certainly II for reasons of accuracy or better education
the locomotive engineers OF Massachusetts were class
of English and Germans instead OF being OF American
birth, people would hardly tolerate the presence
! OF an cmissary of Queen or Emperor who proclaimed
aud threatened to exercise such power over
them. II IL not easy TO where tho distinction lies.
Our railroad corporations wholly subject TO the
laws of Massachusetts cannot escape from them,
and there ~ assurcdy no reason why AN organization
which specify proclaims practical power of stop.
ping action porations oud not
also be subject To those laws else cease to exist
within the limits of the state II the issue Is TO be IA
this shape the sooner and moro squarcy Il Is pre-
senteu the better Tho Commissioners believe they
speak within bou and say only what II IL their duty
to say when they express that the condition OF affairs
disclosed in our railroad system. In the result OF tie
strike OF the Eth inst, is wholly Incompatible with
| thA N Thrnl IN Vas finns
the members OF tho Board have looked ut the question
SIMPLY in lis public bearings
! RIGHTS PUBLIC
With the Boston and Name Railroad as such they
| have not concerned themselves That corporation OF
any other aud It's employees may enter into what dis
putes between themselves may seem good 10 them
Neither party, however, can TOR moment be per-
mted to make the public the chief sufferer IN the
test. upon TINS point NJ least no room Tor douot
should exist The railroads OF Massachusetts, are les
arteries; II TO secure some trivial and private end
either party n conflict undertakes to wantoniy stop
the flow through those arteries, II becomes question,
not between private parties ou' between Tue common
wealth and a public enemy. Undoubtedly the en-
ployes Of corporation have right TO leave It's service.
they can do so snnly or In abody The company
has also rights In the matter Those employees have
right to take out trains loaded with innocent trav-
ellers-pcrhaps as IN the case OF the recent Grand
Trunk strike, IN the most Indictment season OF
Indictment climate with the deliberate intention, IN
| certain contingencies, OF stopping the train and
! abandoning II at given hour A pot might well
srike" and abandon has ship lee shore. II such
an uct Is not criminal offence 1t should be made
II, however, employees, IN IA reasonable and proper
manner with due regard to their oblIes-
tons to tho public, have q right to leave
the service OF tue corporation, ON the other
hand the corporation mas equal right TO
70 into the labor market and employ substitutes
the place OF those who have lett It's service, aud
those substitutes entitled to protection IN working
tor IT, They have right to be guarded from Intrusion
who Ia the line Of their duty we'll as from insult
and violence. &c. again, the law Of this State, under
heavy penalties, requires railroad corporations TO
haul the Of other corporations over their
lines TO their destination when called upon
10 do. During the recent strike locomotive
engineers lines connecting with the Bos.
ton Maine road have undertaken to say
that In this respect the corporations employing them
should not do what the law of the state specifically
says they should do They have refused TO haul
trains containing Of the Boston and Maine road,
thus setting allegiance to brotherhood above allc.
glance TO the law.
LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED.
In concluding their report the Comm ssloners recon-
mend the early passage OF penal statutes to cover the
following oneuccs:-
FUsiTbe abandonment by locomotive engineers OF
their locomotives upon railroads IN iurtherancc OF
combination tor strike except at The regular schedule
destination OF such locomotives.
Second-The obstruction oi railroad or the injury
obstruction Of the property OF railroad corporation
IN the iurtherance OF tho objects OF IA strike.
Third-fhc interference with "a railroad enploy6
while performance OF his duties the prem.
ises OF the company.
Fourh--Thc refusal OF any locomotive engineer OF
railroad empioyc, turthcacnce OF tho object of
strike, ard IN tho running upon the tracYs OF the
corporation employing him oil the cars o other
poratons.
BELLEVUE COLLEGE COMMENCE.
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