The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-08
TIE RECENT STRIKE.
Some Novel Suggestions as to Prevent

NEAE ~ I Mn
Some Novel Suggestions as to Prevent
i've Measures.
Mr.. w. B. Hotchkiss OF this city is in
receipt Of letter from leading railway
man, who gives some interesting ideas
on the strike, as follows:
note what you cay about law pro-
viding for compulsory arbitration. also
requiring labor unions to incorporate,
etc., but hardly think this is in the
right direction. My ideas on this sub
ject are that the United States govern
ment must extend its power of control
over railways engaged in carrying mails
and interstate commerce. 1t is evident
that we cannot leave labor organizations
and railway corporations to fight their
controversies out. for such contests re-
suit in so great injury to the public in
terests that it cannot long be permitted.
Now, as to the remedy. There is now
of which might be extended successfully
to this subject. Before railroads we're
in existence this country had to rely al
most entirely upon water navigation,
and congress took control OF such navi-
marine engineers, pilots and other Off
GERS necessary for the operation OF vessels
to take out licenses from the federal
authorities. Such licenses are issued
only upon thorough examination,
showing the fitness of the applicant to
discharge the duties of his position, and
when once in service he 10 not allowed
to leave such service except under con.
ditions which prevent any such thing as
@ strike upon veasel while it is under
way.
Now l propose that congress should
pass analogous legislation concerning
railroads; that it shall be provided that
no person or corporation engaged in OPP
Grating q railway upon which United
States mail or interstate commerce ia
carried shall employ any engineer, fire.
mau, conductor, brakeman or other en-
ployee necessary to operate railway
trains, unless such employee has OBJ
tanned from proper governmental su-
thority license, which license shall
only be granted after full investigation
and examination as to the character and
fitness of the applicant.
The law should further provide that
no such licensed railway employee shall
quit or desert his employment except
for good cause, such as sickness or con-
sent OF the employer, or, without such
consent, upon notice of, say, 80 days,
that the employee desires to terminate
his service. In other words, the en-
ployees engaged in the carving of in
terstate commerce and the United States
mail should not be allowed to desert
their employment. to the injury of the
public. any more than soldier is al
lowed to desert his ranks, to the dis
ruption Of the army.
Oi course it should be provided that
the employer should not be allowed to
discharge railway employee except for
cause or upon 30 days. notice. 80 that it
would not be in the power of the railway
companies TO oppress their employees.
BY this legislation there will be no
more strikes, and we would be able to
procure the very best men possible for
the service.
1t may be said that this legislation
would inure to the benefit OF railway
corporations and to the disadvantage of
the employees. In order to obviate this
objection | would aleo provide that a
fund should be set apart, to be under the
management OF proper officers of the
United states government, by means Of
which fund there shsll be provided a
life and accident insurance for railway
employees, and pensions for employees
who have completed torn OF honorable
service. This fund should be built up
by taking from the wages OF each en-
ployee certain per cent each month,
an equivalent amount to be contribu ted
by the railway corporation. In this way,
If an employee was injured in the SER
vice he could be provided with means to
live upon while out OF work through
such Injury. In case of the death of an
employee through accident in the SER
vice his family could he provided for,
and where employees had completed a
term OF say 10 or 10 years OF honorable
service then they could be given pen
sion OF cay half or quarter pay from this
fund.
With these provisions In favor of the
railway employee and his family do
not see any good objection which he
could make to this legislation, and it
would certainly have the effect OF doing
away with the violence and unlawful.
ness incident to labor organizations. r.
responsible men could never accomplish
the tying up of the railroads of the coun.
try; on the contrary, our railroads would
be entirely removed from the possibility
of strikes and our business would al
ways proceed without interruption,
whatever might occur in other indus
tries.