St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03

all the evils that came with the revolu-
ton IN commerce caused by the dcvel-
opment of the rail- ways, the greed, the
rapacity, che extortions, the defiance OF
law, would pass away with the passage
OF the control from these birds OF prey
into the hands Of prudent, careful, con-
sentative men, whose capital was in
vested In them, and whose sole desire
would be safe investment. bringing
small returns. But the recent exploit
Ing OF the Reading, the Santa Fe, the
Northern Paciic and other roads shows
that that hope Is yeta deferred one.
The rati way problem Is with US. Ev-
cry state has made longer or shorter
steps In Its solution. The "granger
cases" established the power Of the
states to control rates OF freight aud
passenger traffic. The nation asserted
its right In the interstate act The
commissions OF the states all tentatively
control the roads. The right of state
control is firmly established. only the
degree is uncertain. One party plainly
demands the naturalization, the owner
ship ana operation OF the railways.
Men in other parties look ON that with
misgivings as the only solution. The
recent strike has given an immense i'm
petus to the idea. From the side of the
railways we find ideas whose logic leads
to the same end.
The editor of the Northwest Maya
zine in the August issue advocates ''the
enlistment otlthe men for term of years,
with pensions for disability, increase Of
pay for re-eniistments,as assurance of pro-
motion for merit. aud retiring allow.
ance as veterans when old age makes
labor no longer possible" II this
means anything it means the establish
meDt of such a system by act of con-
gress, for it is the EN- ptiest of senti-
ment to deem it possible as the volun-
tary effort of any railway system now
In existence. and the millennium is yet a
long ways OFF. 1t would mean the fix
ing of the status of the employees. their
periods of service, and their pay by act
Of congress. This Is long advance
from that earlier position OF railroad
men when they talked of private prop
erty and its rights.
ayers association during the strike, was
asked by the arbitration commission
what remedy he would suggest for
strikes. He would have 1.-THE United
States issue license to every employe
above common laborer and print on
its back the rules that would apply to the
class of laborers for which the license
was issued. The establishment Of a
code Of rules and schedule Of wages.
- and In some way bind the EN-
pl0yes. as we'll as the railway companies,
to adhere to them" As we had the ed
itor, so here we have railway manager
advocating the interposition of the fed
eral government, establishing rules.
fixing wages, licensing men or enlistlng
them, and providing suitable punis h.
msnt for their infringement. for. Of
course, this is what Mr.. Egan means by
binding the men and officers.
We are making rapid progress after
all. The right of the government to fix
rates is established, and that is a long
stride in central. Then we have estab-
lished at Chicago the power of the gov.
eminent to compel the operation of
trains by the military arm. Now we
have railway managers suggesting the
naturalization OF the officers and men
in the railway service. Pray how III NC h
farther have we to. go to reach govern
mental operation of the roads?