The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-11-14
RECOMMENDATIONS.


either" - 20
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Suggestions as to the Method of
Avoiding Strikes.
The commission deems recommendations
OF specific remedies premature. Such
problem for instance, as universal govern
ment ownership of RAILROADS is too vast
many sided and far away. if attempted,
to be considered an Immediate practical
remedy. 1t belongs to the socialistic group
of public questions, where government own
ership is advocated iof Ronopolies such as
telegraphs, telephones, express companies
ana municipal ownership of waterworks
gas and electric lights and street railways
These questions are pressing more urgently
as time goes on. They need to be we'll
studied and considered in every respect by
all citizens. Should continued combinations
and consultations result in relief of a dozen
or less oWnerships of our railroads within
a few years, as is by no means unlikely
the question of government ownership will
be forced to the front and we need to be
ready to dispose of it intelligently. We
need to fear everything revolutionary and
wrong, but we need fear nothing that any
nation can successfully attempt in directions
made necessary by changed economic or
industrial conditions. Other nations under
thelr conditions own and operate telegraphs
and railroads with varying results. Whether
it is practicable for this nation to do so
successfully when it becomes necessary to
save an investment or when the people de-
termine it shall be done. is an open and
serious question which cannot be answered
fully except by
ACTUAL EXPERIMENT.
We ought now to inaugurate permanent
system of investigation into the relations
between railroads and employees in order
to prepare to dsal with them intelligently,
and that we may conservatvely adopt such
remedies as are sustained by public opinion
for defects or wrongs that may from time
to time appear. The question of what shall
be done is therefore one of expediency and
not of power When railroads acted as
judge and jury in passing upon the COM
plants of shippers, the people demanded,
and congress granted a tribunal where rail-
roads and shippers could mest on equal
terms and have the law adjust their differ
ences. In view of the Chicago strike and
its suggested dangers, the people have the
same right to provide a government COM
mission to investigate and report differ
ences between railways and their employees
to the end that interstate commerce and
public order may be less disturbed by
strikes and boycCtts.
When railway employees secure greater
certainty of their positions and of the
right to promotion, compensation for in
jury, etc, it will be time enough to con-
slider such strict regulation for them as
whose rights are protected by laws and
guarded by all the advantages of greater
resources and more concentrated control.
The commission contends that law should
make it obligatory upon some public tri-
bunal promptly to intervene by means of
investigation and concilia ton and to re-
port whenever a difficulty of the charac-
ter of that occurring during the past sea-
son at Chicago arises. The commission
therefore recommends:
STRIKE COMMISSION
"First-That there be permanent
United States strike commission of three
members with duties and powers of in
Vestigation and recommendation as to dis
putes between railways and their en-
ployes similar to those vested in the inter-
state commerce commission as to rates,
etc. ~ ~
"(a) That as in the Interstate COM
merce act power be given to the United
States courts to compel railways to obey
the decisions of the commission after
summary hearing unattended by technic-
alties and that no delays in the decisions
of the commission be allowed pending APP
peals.
"(b) That whenever the parties to
controversy in a matter within the juris-
d1ctlon of the commission are one more
railroads side, and one or more
national trade unions Incorporated under
chapter 567 of the United States statutes
OF 1SS5-S6, or under state statutes, upon the
other, each side shall have the right to
select representative who shall be APP
pointed by the president to serve with
temporary member of the commission in
hearing, adjusting and determining that
particular controversy. This provision
would make it for the interest of labor
organizations to incorporate under the
law and to make the commission a prac-
teal board of Cancellation. 1t would also
tend to create confidence in the commits
sion and to give to that body in every
hearing the benefit of practical knowledge
of the situation on both sides.
20 That during the tendency of a pro-
ceedng before the commission Inaugural ted
by national trade uniCus or by an incor-
pOration Of employees it shall not be lawful
for the railroads
TO DISCHARGE EMPLOYEES
belonging thereto except for inetficiency,
violation of the law or neglect of duly: nor
for such unions during such tendency to
order, unite in, aid abet strikes or boy
colts aginst the railways complained of;
nor, for a period of six months after de-
cision for such railroads to discharge any
such employees, in whose places others shall
be employed, except for the causes afore-
said; nor for any Such employee during a
like period to quit the service without CIV
ing 80 days written notice of int antion to
do SO, nor for any such union or incO"pora-
ton to order, counsel or advise otherwise.
"Second-That chapter 567 of the United
to require national trades unions to provide
in their articles of Incorporation and in
their constitutions rules and bylaws that
a member shall cease to be such and forfeit
all rights and privileges conferred on him
by law as such by partcipa ting in or by in
stigating force or violence against persons
or property during strikes or boycotts or
by seeking to prevent others from work.
ing through violence, threats or in
timidation; also that members shall be no
more personally liable for corporate acts
than are stockholders in corporations.
"Third-The commission does not feel
warranted with the study it has been able
to give the question to recommend positive
ly the establishment of a license system by
which all the higher employees or others, Of
railways engaged in interstate commerce
should be licensed after due and proper eX-
animation, but it would recommend, and
most urgently, that this subject be careful
ly and fully considered by the proper COM
and some railway officials examined, and
many others who filed their suggestions in
writing are in favor of some such system.
"0D-O The commission would suggest
the considera ton by the states Of the
adoption of some system of
CANCELLATION AND ARBITRATION
like that, for instance, in Massachusetts.
That system might be improved by addi-
tional provisions giving the board Of
arbitration more power to lnvesti-
gate all strikes whether requested
to do so or not, and the question
might be considered as to giving labor
organizations a standing before the law,
heretofore suggested, for national trade
unions
go Contracts requiring men to agree
not to join labor organiZat ionS or to leave