Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-21
POWDERLY ON MEDIATION,
Recommendations for Disposing OF Labo
Disputes on the Railroads.


Disputes on the Railroads.
Under the headings, 'The New York arbitra
tors-their unfair, untruthful and malicious re
ports" General Master Workman Powderly
will come out in today 3 issue of the Journal o.
the knights of Labor in q three-column arraign
ment Of the New York board of arbitration de
nouncing its recent report on the New Yorl
Central railroad strike.
The article boldly begins thus: ''If anything
were required to give to the people of the state
Of New York a reason for the speedy dissolution
of the state board of mediation and arbitration
the biased report presented to the legislature las
week by that board will furnish it.
1t is unfair, untruthful and misleading. It il
more than that, it is mislicious. and plainly ex
hibits the car-marks of men who could moi
Withstand honest criticism and who made q
state document the vehicle through which tc
convey spiteful thrust which they should have
done in their individual capacity, if at ALL"
The statement by the board that it had com.
municated prior to the strike, with represen.
tatiyes of both parties il challenged. as is also
the assertion that an investigation was COM
menced during the first week of the strike
Mr.. Powderly accuses the board of being in
spired by personal venom in making charges
against himself. The truth of the charges, one
of which was that he had counseled postpone
ment until the presidential year, or 1892, he
vigorously denies.
The assertion in the boards report that the
railroad is IA great highway of public travel
marily for their own use and benefit" is char
acterized as plain, unadulterated buncombe, "
inasmuch as the Vanderbilts now own and con
troll the road.
Mr.: Powderly speaks Of the seven recon.
mendations Of the board as ''marvels of insane
drivel," and suggests the following in lieu
thereof:
Mr. PowDERLYs RECOMMENDATIONS.
l. The railways of the state arc public high.
ways and the law-making power of the state
shall exercise control over them.
2. In disputes neither employer nor employe
should take advantage of the other and there
shall be no cessation Of work until the fullest
and fairest investigation shall have been made
by the state board Of mediation and arbitra-
ton.
8. In order to render labor disputes unneces
sary or reduce them to the minimum every
dollar of stock shall represent one dollar
worth of material. and there shall be no divis-
ion OF profits except such as are realized on an
honest investment.
tration shall be made up of men who are moi
unde- the influence Of corporate power. and
| shall not accept passes, gifts or other favors
from corporations. They shall have authority
TO act promptly In all cases OF dispute between
employer and employee and shall have the right
to compel each side to submit to investigation
and arbitration.
s. Should the decision Of the state board o.
meditation and arbitration prove distastefu
to the parties to the controversy a receive,
shall be appointed to take charge Of the affair
Of the road until such time as the difficulty il
adjusted, but there shall be no cessation Of
operations or discrimination against employees
6. The condition Of the employe. his ability
to support the family on wages received, the
effect Of restrictions, rules. &C., imposed by
the corporation shall be subjects for investi
cation on the one hand and the amount of in
vestments of directors and stockholders. profit,
of the concern and the expenses incurred il
running the same, on the other hand, shall BIZ
subject to investigation by the state board Of
mediation a3d arbitration.
In conclusion the article reads ''The repor
of the board Of mediation and arbitration o.
the state of New York is unfair and misleading
it is unworthy the representatives of the EN-
pire state, and the legislature should recon-
mend to the governor that he ask for their res
ignations at once, and, unless the law unde,
which they operate is changed, the vacancies
should not be flied, for the board is neither
useful nor ornamental"