New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-30
CAUSES OF THE CAR STRIKE
REPORT OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
THE MAJORITY THINK THAT TIE TIIIED-AYE. ROAD
HAs NOT VIOLATED ITS CnARIEE.

ALBANY, April 29.-'rhc report of the Rail
road Commissioners in the matter OF the Third Avenue
Road made public this evening. The document con-
-ist- of - majority report signed by Commissioners
Herman and Rogers and minority report signed by
Commissioner ODonncll The majority report gives the
grievances the strikers aud the Of Lcsiike rs
Won u defence Of tho company. ana adds; while
fully iusyirc the company in firmly REJECTING Tie de-
maud made to dischar ding men. the Board considers
representing hs comnany prior 10 the striko to
have been hasiy ana unwi-cy con-ierae in their roa1
ment of the men and grievances and not to have dts
charged tAeir important duties well toward cithor tho
company or the public though thcy hal compiled the
rejection Of tho improper demands with coolness dc
liberation manifest desire Ia he Just In other re-
spects. The Third Avenue Company seemed willing to
prec tate conflict upon the unirst demand presented
rather than enioasOr compel its withdrawal BY ary
aud deliberately considering those thar tho
had right 10 present Had ths course been followed
the sirt, might have been ayctc bnt "a least the
con,p,uy would have shared responsibility Tor ITS
coming The demand made FOR the perempcry discharge
of men the service OF the company IN the opinion
OF tho Board properly rejected. The right to hire and
discharge its IL commensurate with tue pubic
duties imposed upon corporation aud honre the ulti
mate decision OF all questions relating to the hiring and
tischarcin Of meu must he loft where the law places IT,
in the railroad management.
a quasipublc corporation cannot yield to the dlcta-
on of employees nor a-bitrate upon This question be-
cause it by such rel eve tsef OF iOta
OF It's LEGAL responsibility FOR ts Servants and their
duct. As a matter OF good policy and Justice the
psny should have given the men bearing, hut notice
was posted 10 effect that the comrany wolli .rc tho
discharged men satisfaction This a hal sh rule.
but until the law changed the employees have no re-
dress. Throughout its hearing aud presence IN New
York the Board endcavored to these views upon
those representing the employees and to thom to
withdraw their demand, ehn- that certain men should
discharged that the question OF thor iii char Sc
Mould be arbit.atc Had the employees witAiawn tins
demand as the beginning OF the hearing done I'm
tbs end. the complication arising from the hiring ~
mary men would havc been avoided and would not
have been the only final obstacle to prevent settle
mcnt
On Sunday the 13.n and the next dav until p. III.
the road made attcmpt 10 although the com
pany had under pay for that purpose. The officers
OF the road explain that this taken sunday
to preserve the and the next day bcr'usc the
ohc roads -i up and the police could not protect
much property. The Board, having investigated,
find that the police declared their ability to protect the
roil, AID they deny having advised the stoppace,
H. ugh 'hny acquiescel under tho circumstances on
the pert o. tho eipoye il insisted that intention
of using force and violence existed ant their
uou is BONE out By the fact that during frday and
saturday end since Monday last there has been sub
stantial violence or rloous opposition
To hold that . temporary unavoidable stoppage OF
operations enforced by strike constitutes violation OF
cnartor obligations would he a. far from the law
thDdgh it shOIld he held that road temporarily pre-
vented operating lis ne by ihe Burning OF its cars
washOni of 1t, track hal thereby riOatcd its charter
such cons ruct0n converts the law into club hu
by tue striker agan tue company On the other
,iI The company c4nu,t under sres. o. 4 strike sit
down, iod rs hands and shut It's eyrs 10 he puzzle
ms Board doe no. fnI iat The road has violated its
charter. On, two days II did not Try Ia run and o. ono
1t PROBABLY actc' wisely, especially as the police
ursccd o. Monday when tie .t,pI age of the general
Empire Protective Assoc for ordern- general
roads, the weight Of cyicl &c being strongly
against tie trath Of that statement The rppostiou 10
Tbr'te the road once ac eltei aS 10 all disputed
questions concerning hours ami wages. emhr cing some
>l>tten Toms The rpaI refuse Q" hrpl rae TIC qu".
ing seven obiectlonn lr men, for tne reason that its
Board e" directors was the sole AMI final arbitrator III
Il tno Board had been appe .lcd to before the
ra-Ol "a tine srIAc 10 nvcsl cate ana re1.eSS grew
IL ience abund'nty proves that even from
the standpoint Of the employees these grievances could
innocent puhIic the wrongs and irconvcbe lcie
III lcnth 10 strike. aud nlon the employees the nar
upon corporations fntncih loss. he proper methoi
authorities OF the raroa L. II they are denied hearing
rect wit refusal or an unrca-onaIlc denial then
ihey suOud present them to thi, Board IAN nyestl
cation presents issues clearly, cnrrects ininderSt'n1
ms cool, passions and Restores the sway OF rea.on.
Pubic opinion, under [ i4ht of shch investigation
auo-t invariably rompe' he relre>s o. ust ere' anrNs
BY hastily foc t,ti"e stric' which an ct the public.
'ains them in all Just demands"
Commissioner OlJOhneI SlZHS the ulnOry report lie
the right OF Ia strike unpuesOned. Recent
facts show tat almost all he made 10 lat Dr
Lave been brought ahOn ms strikes. The general strike
ordered under mishI prrhcnsOn and was unjust,
bu the o. the InrI Avenue Road. public $cnti
mont in favor u the strike and tne be % the
strikers prOyerAiav admirable That the road has
Opcri ted required ny it, chsI ters mani
fest a {, re Iuirr no arslmrnt.
According TO all statements holy OF skilled iaborers
stand re dy % operate the road The onlJ reply In
effect. That It will compel the 70 ID u more that
employ moro hands. Tire matter oi the wan Of COOL
ih he art ~ the road in keeping the very letter
the reemcnt mado with their emp Dyes after the strike
anCcs alleged. taf the road did not pas tine rate OF
pail the other roads the city and that
the honis Of labor demanded Of the violation
have been ecd the road long before strike
was prccIptatcd. The increase OF dem nded ap
pears In gross 10 nave D,rn about 80 par day The
statement the giving Of iue prominence
the last OF list OF some sixteen grievances hardly pre-
SCENTS to the public all Of the facts. All of sixteen
grievances not presented to the Board OF hi ecDrs
hut only the last one about dischaI -ing men, which
not dcensibe one Of the bitter complaints made By
the ,mmitiee nc ore the Commission that This
rOmT Iaint alone gwen to the public by the
The UrpOS" or exciting prejudice agan, the men, while
the long lit or real grievances suppressed. Only
n or the examination by the Board griev
unces generally given to the public. This to sal the
east unfair the part OF tho road the inevitable
eAult being 10 provoke resstaur while the employees
we're smaItins under The sense vi this injustice"