Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-08
Both Parties willing.

The officials of the Burlington rail-
road company and those authorized. to
speak in behalf OF the striking engineers
have expressed their entire willingness
that the issue between the company and
the engineers shall be investigated, as
has been proposed, by q committee of
congress. Each of the parties processes
to feel so entirely confident OF the right
and justice of its position as to desire
the fullest light thrown upon it and to
have no fears of an adverse verdict as
the result Of an impartial Investigation.
A candid estimate Of this sentiment and
spirit must lead to. the conclusion
that both parties. seriously feel
that a vital principle to each
is involved in the struggle, and
that it is not battle in which mer-
cenary considerations are the sole in
centive. -
The resolution introduced in con-
gress and referred to the committee on
commerce provides for an investigation
and authorizes the committee appointed
under the resolution to offer its services
for arbitrating the difficulty. If there
was substantial reason for believing
that the issue might be. settled in this.
way the proposed effort to do SO would
very likely have general approval. But
there could be no arbitration without
the consent of the parties to the contro-
versy, and this method Of reach
ing a settlement the Burlington
fAasa al {p3,
to adopt. When it was proposed
to them their reply was that there
was nothing to arbitrate. They are
doubtless Of this mind still, and there Is
no reason to suppose. that they would be
more likely to submit the matter to the
decision Of congressional committee
than to any other equally reputable and
intelligent body of citizens which could
be called together any day at Chicago
for the purpose OF arbitration. The
Burlington officials have virtually de-
clared that so far as they are concerned
there is no middle ground in the con-
tention, and therefore no basis for arbi-
tration. 1t is almost certain, therefore,
that any effort of IA congressional COM
mittee in this direction would be futile.
AS to an investigation by such COM
mittee, would it accomplish anything to
repay the time and cost that would be in
volvedp There is probably nothing of
Importance to be learned not already of
public knowledge. The causes of the
strike are we'll understood, and if there
are any motives behind it that have not
been made public it is not probable a
congressional committee would be able
to get at them. Such an investigation
might do the one thing Of ascertaining
approximately the extent to which the
trouble has been on injury to the public
interests, and if that information should
lead to legislation looking to the pre-
vention of such difficulties in future be-
tween railroad corporations and their
employees the Investigation would have
served good purpose. That there
will some day be demand
for such legislation, il the
time is not now ripe for it, there can be
no doubt. Every thoughtful man must
see the danger there is to the CONNER
cial interests Of the countryin the unre-
stricted freedom OF railroad corpora
tions and their employees to engage in
hostilities that may result in paralyz-
ing the whole carrying trade OF the
country. What is obviously needed is
more clearly defined responsibility for
the performance Of duties in which the
public is directly concerned on the part
OF both common carriers and their en-
ployes. The demands or interests Of
neither one nor the other should be
permitted to conflict with their public
obligations. Both should be subjected
to such restraints and conditions as
would compel them to adjust
their differences without abandon
ing any Of the duties which the public
has the ripht In exnact and renuire NJ