Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-11-18

The following is n synopsis OF the
report OF the Labor Commission an.
pointed by President Cleveland to in
vestigate the troubles between labor
and capital, growing out of the great
strike. Tho report is addressed to
the President and IS signed by La
bor Commissioner Carol ID. Wright
and Special Commissioners John ID.
Herman and Nicholas Il. Worthing-
ton:
Referring to the General Managers
Association. who encomp passed the de-
feat OF the American Railway Union,
the report says: 1t is capitalization
OF twenty-four railroads. Directly in
the association WIS two billion, two
hundred and eight millions OF dollars
and the number Of employees two
hundred and twenty thousand.
Then the association agreed to as.
sist eacn other in case OF trouble with
employees, securing men through it's
agencies to replace strikers, etc.
The report considers the features
on tho association that have come to
light rs illegal.
Railroad charters do not authorize
roads to form associations to fix wa.
ges, nor to force their acceptance, nor
to battle with strikers. The association
is an illustration of persistent and
shrewdly disguised plan OF the cor
porations To overreach their limita-
tions and usurp indirectly the powers
and rights not contemplated in the
charters.
The extension OF this associa ton
would result i'll aggregation Of power
and capital dangerous TO the people
and their liberties, as well rs to their
employees and rights.
w .en railroads are allowed to com.
bine to fix wages for their Joint pro-
lection it is rank injustice to every
right of labor upon railroads to unite
for similar purposes. Until railroads
set the example great unions OF
railroad employees never was at
tempted.
The refusal Of the General Mana.
gers Associationto to recognize and deal
with such combination Of labor as the
American Railway Union was AFRO
CANT and absurd.
Tho report censures the Pullman
company for reducing wages, but not
reducing rents and not reducing sala.
ries OF the various managers md
superintendents OF the company.
1t commends the conduct OF the
Pullman strikers rs dignificd, manly
and conservative.
1t condemns the refusal OF the
Pullman Company and Railway
Managers Association to arbitrate.
The report approves the sending Of
troops to Chicago and absolves the
officers OF the 4. Il. U. OF participat.
ing in or adviring violence or destruc-
ton OF property.
Tho people through their lcgisla.
lures should control monopolies and
corporations, protect the rights of
labor and redress its wrongs.
Tho Commissioners reU ,mmend
first. Il permanent Strike Commission
Of three members to investigate dis.
putes and make recommendation
similar in power to tho Interstate
Commerce Commission.
That power he given the United
States Court to compel railways
to obey the decisions OF the Commits
sion.
Railroads shall not discharge ON
ploycs except for incilicinccy, viola.
ton Of law or neglect OF duty. nor
for unions to take part in strikes, nor
alnll IL be lawful for employee dur.
ing the period To quit the service
without thirty days notice in writing.
National trades unions shall add
tn their constitutions, sections de.
priving Il member Of his member.
ship IL hc engages in acts OF
violence or destruction during n
strike.
Contracts requiring men not to Join
labor organizations should be made II.
legal.
Tho Commission recommends en-.
ployers to recognize labor organi.
zatiOns and to recognize that tho in.
tcrcsts Of labor and capital aro iden.
tical.
Ifcapital will consult labor mt crit
ical times, tho scvcrity ot strikes will
be tempered and thoir number great.
Iy rnIp,nI