New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-23
THE Bosroy AND nIlyE RIILW1Y STRIKE
REPORT OF TIE STATE COMMISSIONERS - PENAL
STATUTES RECOMMENDED.

REPORT OF TIE STATE COMMISSIONERS - PENAL
STATUTES RECOMMENDED.
The Railroad Commissioners OF NaSsacllu-
sets have presented the Legislature special report
uron The strike ~ the emena and engineers oi the Boston
and Name Railroad Trains, it VIII De remembered,
were abandoned wherever they might be on the me {"
the road al / O'Clock r. on the l@h INST Inc cause
f ris action on the part the road was alin- OIL 10
IL, business and general decrease IN ts net profits The
commissioners Say that the most noticeable thing about
t1e occurrence was the of any sufficient cause
for it, having taken place at an Tie pay Of the en-
gncars up to January 1876 had been increasing stead
il, for u years, and ,thcy now had regular employ
mcnt AZ rates only ton per cent less, II Is
safe to say, than - men out OF 20
among skilled worlmen. The reduction OF
wage. had been a general one, including al! the en-
pIoyc, OF the company. Nor the reduce
lower an those usually paid for the work by other
corporations. They remained fully up 10 the average
paid throughout Tie country The COMMISSIONERS say
that the numerou, witnesses among the engineers who
gave evidence the hearing, wholly failed IN assigning
common cause OF the strike, whether wages or anything
else Some said they struck because others did Others
had feared further reduction one acknowledged that
he struck brcaus ne had heard that the superintendent
WIS hostile 10 the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers
The commiss say that II the facts IN this ease pre-
scented to them Will justify strike, then amy facts vi"
Justify IT, the community have no protection whatever
The commissioners complain Of unWarlaHtrd inter
ference They cite Mr.. Arthur Grand Engineer OF the
Brotherhood, as saying that it depended upon him.
citiz.u OF Ohio chief OF secret organization having
qualifications In Massachusetts, whether the movement
on the whole railroad system OF IL State should not he
brought to a stand-st. Railway corporal ons In MaSsa
wholly subject to the laws OF Massachusetts,
and an organization openly claiming practical power
of suppng whole action of those corporations should
also be subject these laws, else to exist within
hc limits OF the state The condition Of affairs disclosed
by this strike is wholly Incompatible with the pubhe H.
rrrst The railroads Of Massachusetts are its arteries
II to secure some trivial and private end, either
party to a conflict undertakes to stop tie flow
through these arteries, it becomes question
not between private parties, hut between the Com
monWealth and a public enemy. The commissioners
speak in terms of strong Of the conduct OF the
engineers in abandoning trains loaded with innocent
passengers sometimes III the most Indictment Of
an Indictment climate, as in the Of the late Grand
Trunk strike. If such act, they say, not Grim
nal onense il should be made The early passage
Of penal statutes to cover the following ocnscs * sus
gcstel:
FIRST The abandonment by engineers Of their locomo
tivcs in hcrance Of strike, except at their regular
schedule point of destination.
SccOd Tic obs truction uf railroad the injury
abstraction of any property Of railroad corporation IN
furthcrancc OF the objects Of a strike.
mart Interference with a railroad cmplOye while In
the performance of his duties the premises OF the
company.
Fourth The refusal of any locomotive engineer or
railway employee IN furthcrancc of a strike to aid in the
movement on the tracks Of the corporation employing
him Of the ears Of other corporations.