The Washington critic., 1888-01-31
WASHINGTON. JAN. 81, 1883.
THE READING STRIKERS AND
THEIR PETITION.

The petition of operatives from the
Philadelphia and Reading and Lehigh
Valley Railroad companies and the
Reading Coal and Iron Company,
asking Congress to investigate an al
legged conspiracy on the part of these
corporations "to raise the price Of coal
to an unreasonable figure" suggests a
serious question, or rather several
serious questions, as to the necessity
of adjusting which, some way or
other, there can be no doubt.
The petitioners state that they rep
resent $4,000 workingmen. They
probably do, and many more. Indi-
rectly they represent many thousands
Of citizens engaged in other pursuits
than themselves, for what affects the
interests of a hundred thousand wage
earners in Pennsylvania concerns also
the interests of all who use the pro-
duct of their labor.
AS to remedies for a condition of
things, which upon the side Of the
corporations is charged up to the fault
of their employees, and upon the other
side, to unlawful acts and combina-
tions on the part of their employers, it
is natural and proper that the parties
most aggrieved should call upon Con-
gress for relief. If not to the law
making power of the people, where
else can they look?
Although courts are supposed to be
established for the poor as we'll as the
rich, it isa lamentable fact that the
processes of judicial tribunals are in
many instances too slow and exhaust
i've to be depended upon by men who
have to work by the day for subsist-
ence, or, being out of work, are COM
PEELED to live on the pittances of a
strikers fund.
The House of Representatives. as
elected directly by the people, and in
the direct interest of the people,
should be able to devise some means
for the speedier ascertainment and
determination of matters in contro-
versy between capital and labor. 1t
has never done 80 yet. 1t has never
even found out how far it may 90 in
the direction of an investigation in
volving the business affairs and con-
tidences of great corporations. 1t has
never yet developed the requisite de-
gree of craftsmanship TO deal eff
fectively and intelligently with the
labor question.
A new opportunity is now pre-
sented, and the question at once
arises whether the desired investiga-
tion should be made through Com.
mittee of the House or through the
Interstate Commerce Commission, en-
larging the powers of the latter body
If it be found necessary. AS a bust
ness proposition the reference of the
Reading petitions and all matters con
nected Herewith to the Commission
instead of the Committee seems tC
be the wisest and best. Little if any
good is ever accomplished by a Con
gressional Commission. Its inquiries
as rule, are as meagre in results al
they are voluminous in bulk, and tn,
time thus spent is so much taken ou
Of time that might otherwise be giver
= taay useful and practical legislation
-quce than that, the investigation o
r. economic problems of the charac
ter suggested-of everything relating
TO pools, trusts and combinations a
affecting the rights of labor or the gen
eral public-is only to be conducte,
honestly and satisfactorily whei
wholly removed from the domain o
party politics.
Let the petitions of the Reading
operatives 60 then to the Interstat
Commerce Commission. 1t will
be sure to give them the candid
prompt and unprejudiced hearing
which they deserve.