New-York tribune., 1894-04-08
LABOR'S RIGHTS DEFENDED.
IMPORTANCE OF JUDGE CALDwELLs De
CISION AT OMAHA.
RECOGNIZING THE BENEFITS OF oRGANlzATlCN
OF EMPLOYEES CONTRACTS MUST BE OBJ

prcocN1zyNG THE BENEFITS OF ORGANlzATlcN
or employees CONTRACTS MIST BE OBJ
SERVED BY THE UNION PAClFfc
Tho dec,s,on Of Judge Henry Caldwell. Of the
United States Circuit Court at Omaha. In when ne
sus,ains the contention of the Union Pacihc EN-
Moves as to their rights under their wage as'e'
ment with the receivers OF the COMPANY mas ~
cited considerable interest in Wall street ana Ia"-
wav circles The decision is directly opposed 10
that OF Judge Jenkins at Milwaukee IN 4 S''Hna,
case affecting the Northern Pacihc' ara WIN
nrobablv he determined by future litigation. Judge
Caldwell practically overrules the previous ut''So'
OF Judge Dundy which caused cohs'er'a''S" "a
labor circles Judge Caldwell In his opinion gives
this tribute TO the efficiency for good or labor or
ganizatons ~
.Thssa labor organizations. like the rules reSu-
,at,ons and schedules had become established III
stltutions on the system many years DeIore '"e "P
pointment of the receivers. TWO OF inv "
railway managers ever in the service OF 'i'S -
tom and probably as able as any this country mas
ever produced-S. II. II. Clark ana td"aru N
,,son nov general manager OF the road-'eSulH
that these labor organizations on this system ""u
improved the morals and eihcehcy "' '''e III"
had rendered valuable aid TO the company J." Pc
fecting and putting into force the rules anu i's"
lations governing the operation OF the Oihoh id-
cidc Railway which confessedly have ihdne II '"'
OF the best managed and conuuc'ea i'"'' - ~
country. , ,reon,onts
The Court holds emphaticaIlY 'ha' "s'' | NC
between employees ana their emi'oS't' -
sacred as a contract between ralrOau 'p
tions The Judge defends the rights OF the hi-'
TO secure reasonable w"ges in spite Oh 'ne 90 ~
oces that may be involved from security hoiu'' .
The decision saws: "An essential and lndlsPens"""'c
requisite to the safe and successful oITn't1upent
the road is ne emPGGS Pp.Gn en for that purpose
When road comes under the hiamasfi ci 70 have
court in which the employees are cohceuvi ~ ~" ia
ali these qualifications, and that ',mrt viii
made in the fullest manner here. ' 'nteneDaa with
not upon light or trivial srounuH' And when the
tbeir services or reduce their wages Anu Gourt
schedule of wages in force at the .it ' ,hc result
assumes the management OF lhe 90 comoanv and
of mutual agreement between the vo,'pT t ppaaTs the
the employees which has been IN Ioie N vreasoIabe and
Court will presume the scheuut - isnrnnt,on will
inst and any one disputng that pTeSulnp 'Ur ,roor
be required TO o,srhrGw u OH has not done
the receivers although ,nfy bs rts belief that the
receivers made the request ignoran'H va a. tbeir opin-
Of them is a practical railroad man am ei ,s Con-
FssadiY nf little value The Court shares an ',b bs
anxiety have an economical in the property
and nave liens upon 1t may get out hs 1i y dssTabe
Iairy tte'i h aes Of the men not be reduced
heInw reasonable and just compensation 10. hmgh o
seSes TheS are pa on he a' stock interest
paid the bonds Is par & o. WI IlI take judicial
0ntice that for the first s6@ of stock iss9s se
this company received less than Wo rpresen ed
~, o,;sanding bonds was &3s293S g. There wou1n s
seem TO De no equfs What is reasonable and just in
order to pay dividends on stock ana interest o'
poTs OF the receivers oadopt ther
schedules cannot be accepted by the C9uTt n,bmt aI,
otneI 20 ,he mon or their representatives, any
anforfuntv 10 be heard. This was IN vlola.ion "a "a
cPp0aaorne,nen. existing between the company anu
th rfsn bv the terms OF which no change OF @ NE
schedues was TO be made without hGttGe Tt s ~ "a a
men and granting theEi nearing i"i' " "
In conclusion Judge Caldwell said IN MS declson On
he infulged In giving eAtTtSSiOi ~ NV
hone that in future differences about wages between
nor+s and their employees. at least-and we Wouln
cou S - az ar hot vcen all employers and employes-re-
sort may be had reason and not to passion on 10 ,
tha law and not violence 10 the courts anu ho ~
q strike II is a reproach TO our civ1hzatioh Ina'
smch differences should result as they olte nav
- narsonal violence loss OF life destruction OF prop
er+y loss of wages 10 the men and loss OF earnings
to ihe employer and when they occur on great i,es &
~ railroad great damage and inconvenience u 'he
rnhli