The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-13

chicago, NOV. 1L.-1he OnlteQ states
government report on the great rail-
way strike in connection with the Pull
man troble was made public today.
The report, which is signed by the
federal labor commissioner, Carroll D.
Wright, and his fellow investigators.
John d. Herman, of New York, and
Nicholas B. Worthington, of Illinois, is
addressed to President Cleveland and
ahounds in passa ges which will attract
wide attention, particularly the portion
referring 10 the now famous General
Managers' association. the organiza-
z<ion OF nigh railway officials that en-
compassed the memorable defeat of
the american Railway Union.
General managers Association.
The report says the capitalization Of
the tweaty-four railroads directly rep
resented in the General Managers as
ISOLATION was $2,f0S, 552, 81. The mum
her Of employees was 22I.097. The COM
lisSion continues:
"A This voluntarily uniucorporated as
Sociation was formed in 1885, In it's
Constitution the object of the associa-
-Sion is stated to be the consideration
4 of problems Of management arising
: from the operation OF the railroa IS ter
lninating or centering in Chicago
1T further provides that all funds
needed shall be raised by assessment
divided equally among the members.
There are no limitations as TO con
sidering OF problems or funds except
the will of the mana gers and the re-
sources OF the railroad corporations.
Until June, 1894, the associations
possibilities as a strii3e-1ighter and
wage-arbitrator lay dormant. It's roads
fixed a Chicago scale for switchmen,
covering all lines at Chicago. IN
March, 1898, the sWitchmen demanded
more pay from each road. The asso-
citation concluded they were paid
enough-if anything too much. The
roads so informed the men. The
Switchmen's Mutual Aid association Of
North America wrote to Mr.. St John,
as chairman, acquiescing. He, as
y chairman Of the General Managers as
gaciation, concluded his reply as fol-
Flows:
The association approves the
}course taken by your body and de-
sires 10 deal fairly with all employees
4 and believes our switcAmen are re-
4 ceiving due consideration
\ This seems TO show" the report
says, that employees upon association
roads are treated as under subsection
to the General Managers association"
and the report after detailing the ac-
ton of the association in establishing
agencies and employing men adds:
This was the first time when men
upon each SIDE were brought sharply
face to face with the fact that in ques-
lions as to wages, rules, etc, each line
vas supported by twenty-fOur COM
Ained railroads. This association like
Wise prepared for its use elaborate
s-ach edules of the wages paid upon the
entire lines Of the twenty-four mem
bers. The proposed object Of these
schedules was to let each road know
what other roads paid. Finding the
men upon some lines urged increases to
correspond with wages paid elsewhere.
committee of the association prepared
and presented q Uniform schedule for
all membership roads. 1t was deemed
wise not 10 act upon the report. It
was distributed TO members in NOvem-
per. 1898 This distribution alone en-
ab,ed the report TO be used with eff
cheney as an equalizer AS the result
during 1S9S-it being then well under
stood as to wages, etc. it was an in
cident of the General Managers assoc
cation to assist eacn road in case OF
trouble over such matters, one form Of
assistance being for the association to
secure men enough through its agen-
cies to take the places Of all strikers
reductions were here and there made
on the different roads, and the ten
dency and effort apparently being 10
equalize the pay on all lines.
1T is admitted the action Of the as
ISOLATION has great weight with out
side lines. and thus tends to establish
one uniform scale throughout the
country The further single step OF
admitting lines not running into Chi
cage to membership would certainly
have the effect OF combining all rail-
roads in wage contentious against ali
employees thereon.
No Legal Authority.
.oThe commission questions whether
any legal authority, statutory or other
wise. can be found to justify some OF
TIE features of the association which
have come to light in this investiga-
ton. If we regard its practical
workings, rather than its professions,
as expressed in its constitution, the
General Managers association has no
more standing in law than the old
trunk line pool. II cannot incorporate.
because railroad charters do not au
thorize roads to form corporations o:
associations to fix rates for services
and wages, nor 10 force their accept
ance nor 10 battle with strikers. 1t is
usurpatiOn Of power not granted: IL
such an association is necessary from
q business or economic standpoint, the
right TO form and maintain il must
come from the state that granted its
charter. In theory, corporations are
limited to the powers granted either
directly or by clear inference. We do
not think the power Silas been granted
! i'm either way in this case The asso-
citation is an illustration of a persistent
land shrewdly disguised plan Of cer-.
Rorations to. overreach their liinita-
4ioOe =, ~ a,c,1rr indiraetlv nN,-or- ., ~