Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-13

| from wage reductions on different lines,
olaekl,stng; ETC. and from IN tn the c recent
Managers Association, which seemed to
them a menace
Upon July Ii the American Railway
Union, through the mayor OF Chicago, sent
a communication to the General Managers
Association offering to declare the strike
| OF, provided the men should be restored
to their former positions without prejudice,
except in cases where they had been con-
victed of crime. The General Managers
Association in advance advertised that 1t
would receive no communication whatever
| from the American Railway Union, and
when received returned 1t unanswered.
Conclusions and RecOmme EN- dnt lions.
THE commission has tried to find the
| drift of public opinion as to strikes boy
colts and labor disputes upon railroads,
and to find their remedy. The invitation
freely extended in this direction has
| brought before the commission many ex-
| pressions of views, orally and by written
| communications. 1t is encouraging to find
general concurrence, even among labor
| leaders. In condemning strikes, boycotts
and lockoutS as barbarismS unfit for the
| intelligence of this age, and as economical
| ly considered, very Injurious and destruc-
| tive forces. Whether won or lost is broad
| ~ imnaterial They are war-internecine
war-and call for progress to a higher
| plane of education and intelligence in adj
| justing the relations of capital and labor.
| Official reports show that much progress
has been made in the more sane direction
| of Cancellation and arbitration even in
| America. Abroad they are In advance of
| US in this policy. In fifteen of our states
| arbitration in various forms is now pro-
| vided by law; the United States and eleven
| states have sanctioned labor organiZa-
| tons by statute. Some of our courts, how
| ever. are still porting over The law reports
| OF antiquity In order TO con5true conspiracy
| out of labor unions. We also I ave employ
| ObStrnct
| and misapplying the law of supply and de-
! maEd and who, while insisting upon in
| dividualism for workmen, demand that
| they shall be let alone to combine as they
| please and that society and all it's forces
shall protect them in their resulting con-
| tentions.
| The general sentiment of employers,
| shared in by some of the most prominent
| railroad representatives We have heard,
| Is now favorable to organization among
| employees. 1t results in clearer presently
| ton and calmer discussion of differences,
instils mutual respect and forbearance.
| brings out the essentials, and eliminates
| MISUNDERSTANDING and immaterial mat
| tiers. To an ordinary observer. argument
| to sustain the justice and necessity of labor
| unions and unity of action by laborers Is
| superiiuouS.
las authorized by statute, the commits
sion has decided upon certain recommended
| tons and certain suggestions, growing out
| or its study Of the Chicago strike and boy
| colt. These recommends tons and SUCCESS
tons are upon three lines: First, for
| congressional action, secor d, for state
| action, and third, for the action of corpora
| tons and labor organizations. 1t readily
| sees the improperly to certain extent of
making any recon n. endation for state
action, yet feels 1t a duty, as a result of
| Its Investigations. to make such suggestions
| as will enable citizens interested in state
legislation to benefit by it's experience, and
| also 10 make such suggestions to corpora
| tons and labor organiza tions as shall tend
| to harmonic some of the existing diff
culties.
Permanent Strike COmmissiOn.
| THE commission therefore recommends:
| ID That there be permanent United
States strike commission of three members
| with duties and powers of Investigation
and Recommendation as to disputes between
railroads and their employees similar to
those vested in the Interstate commerce
commission as to rates, etc.
| That, as in the interstate commerce act
/ power be given TO the United States courts
| to con pei railroads to obey the decisions
of the commission, after summary hearing
unatteId ed by technicalities and that no
| delays IN obeying the decisions of the COM
| mission be allow I'd pending appeals
| That, whenever the parties to a con-
| troVeisy IN a matter within the Jurisdiction
| of the commission are one or more rail-
| roads upon one side and one or more ma
| uonal trade unions. incorporated under
| chapter 56I of the United States statutes of
l. looO-oO, OF unuer state statutes, upon the
| other, each side shall have the right to
| select representative, who shall be ap-
| pointed by the President to serve as a tenn
porary member of the commission in hear
| ing, adjusting and determining that par
| ticular controversy.
This provision would make IL for the
| interest OF labor organizations to incOrpor-
| ate under the law and to make the commits,
| sion practical board of Cancellation. 1t
| would also tend to create confidence in the
| commission, and to give TO that body in
every hearing the benefit of practical
| knowledge of the situation upon both sides
THAT, during the tendency of a proceed
| ing before the commission inaugurated by
| national trade unions, or by an incorpora-
ton of employees, 1t shall not be lawful for
the railroads to discharge employees belong
| ing thereto except for inefficiency, violation
| of law, OF neglect of duty; nor for such
| unions or Incorporation during suck pen
dency to order. unite in, aid, or abet strikes
| or boycottS against the railroads conf
planned Of; nor, for period of SIX months
after decision, for such railroads to dis
charge aby such employees in whose places
! others shall be employed, except for the
causes aforesaid; nor for any such en-
ployes, during a like period, to quit the
| service without giving thirty days written
notice of intention to do so. for any
| such union or incorpora ton to order, coun l.
| sci, or advise otherwise.
THAT chapter 56I of the United States
| Statutes of 1SS5-'S6 be amended so as to
require national trades unions to provide
| in their articles of Incorporation, and I'm
| their constitutions. rules, and bylaws that
| a member shall cease to be such and for
| felt all rights and privileges conferred on
him by law as such by participating in or
| by instigatiug force or violence against
| persons or property during strikes or boy
colts, or by seeking to prevent others from
| working through violence, threats, or in
| Limitations; also, that members shall be no
| more personally liable for corporate acts
| than are stockholders in corporations
"(3) The commission does not feel war
| ranted, with the study II has been able to
give to the subject, to recommend positively
the establishment of a license system by
| which all the higher employees or others of
| railroads engaged in interstate commerce
| should be licensed after due and proper eX-
| animation, but 1t would recommend, and
most urgently, that this subject be carefully
and fully considered by the proper commit
tee of Congress- Many railroad employees
and some railroad officials examined, and
| many others who have filed their sugges-
tons in writing with the commission, are in
favor of some such system. 1t involves too
many complcat tons, however for the COM
mission to decide upon the exact plan, If
| any, which should be adopted.
| Action by the States.
90 The commission would suggest the
| consideration by the states of the adoption