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

cannot be answered fully except by &C
| tual experiment. We ought now to in
augurate a. permanent system of in
vestgation into the relations between
railroads and employees in order to b,
prepared to deal with them intelligent,
and that we may conservatively adop
| such remedies as are sustained by pub
lie opinion for defects or wrongs tina
may from time to time appear.
What Shall Be Done.
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 upoT
complaints of shippers they demanded
and the congress granted, a govern
ment tribunal where shippers and rail
roads could meet on equal terms and
nave the law adjust their differences
In view of the Chicago strike and IFS
commission to investigate and report
suggested dangers the people have
the same right to provide a government
commission on differences between rail
ways and their employees to the end
that interstate commerce and public
order may be less disturbed by strikes
and boycotts.
When railway employees secure
greater certainty of their position and
VI liiC llSiI " COnlDe0SH-
ton for injury, etc, it will be time
enough to consider such strict reguIa-
ton for them as we can now justly an
ply to railroads. whose rights are pro-
tected 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 such
public tribunal to intervene by means
of investigation and Cancellation and
to report whenever a difficulty of the
character Of that occurring during the
season at Chicago arises. The COM
mission therefore recommends:
"First-That there be a permanent
United States strike commission of
three members with duties and powers
or investigation and recommendation
as to disputes between railways and
their employees; similar to those in
vested in the interstate commerce COM
mission as to rates, etc.
'A-That as in the interstate COM
merce act, power be given to the Unit
ed States courts to compel railways to
obey the decisions of the commission
after summary hearing unattended by
technicalities, and that no delays in
sion be allowed pending appeals.
"B-That whenever parties to a con-
troversy in a matter within the juris-
diction of the commission are one or
more railroads on one side and one or
more national trades unions incorpor-
ated under chapter SGT of the United
States statutes of 1886, or under the
states statutes, upon the other, each
side shall have the right to select a
representative who shall be appointed
by the president to serve as tenn
porary member of the commission in
hearing, adjusting and determining
hat particular controversy. This
provision would make it for the inter-
est of the labor organizations to in
under the law, and to make
the commission a, practical board of
1t would also tend to
create confidence in the commission
and to give to that body in every hear
ng the benefit of practical knowledge
Of the situation on both sides.
"C-That during the tendency of pro-
,eeding before the commission inaugur-
lted by national trade unions, or by
IN incorporation of employees, it shall
lot be lawful for the railroads 10 dis
,harge employees belonging thereto ex-
,ept for ineffieiency, violation of law
" neglect of duty; nor for such unions
Turing tendency, to order, unite, aid
II abet strikes or boycotts against the
complained of, nor for a
period of six months after decision
or such railroads to discharge any
such employees in whose places others
hall be employed, except for the causes
iforesaid nor for any such employees
Turing like period to quit the service
Without giving thirty days written
notice of intention to do so, nor for
my such union or Incorporation to
,rder, counsel or advise otherwise.
"Second-That chapter 567 of the Uni
ed States statutes of 1886 be amend
d so as to require national trades
lnions to provide in their articles of
and in their constitu-
ions, rules and bylaws that mem
yer shall cease to be such and forfeit
II rights and privileges conferred on
i'm by law as such, by participating
n or by instigating force or violence
gainst persons or property during
trikes or boycotts, or by seeking to
,revent others from working through
-iolence, threats or intimidation; also
hat members shall be no more perso-
ally liable for corporate acts than are
in corporations.
''Third-The commission does not feel
warranted, with the study it has been
BILE to give the subject, to recommend
positively the establishment of Ii
ense system, by which all the higher
Employees or others of railways en-
aged in interstate commerce, should
e licensed under due and proper eX-
but it would recommend, /
nd most urgently, that this subject be
arefully and fully considered by the !
roper committee of Congress.
New York railway employees and
ONE railway officials examined and
lany others. who filed their sugges- |
ions in writing, are in favor of some |!
ystem.
F'irst-The commission would suggest ,
ne consideration by the states of the
doption of some system of conciilia-
ion and arbitra ton like that, for in
lance, of Massachusetts. That system
tight be reinforced by additional pro-
isions giving the board of arbitration
lore power to investigate all strikes,
neither requested to do so or not, and !
ne question might be considered rs
} giving labor organization a stand
lg before the law, as heretofore sug
ested for national trades unions.
Second-Contract requiring men not
, join labor organizations, or to leave
lem as conditions of employment, !,
Mould be made illegal, as is already
one in some of our states.
III.
First-The commission urges employ
s to recognize labor organizations,
lat such organizations be dealt with
trough representative with special
ference to reconciliation and arbitra-
or when difficulties are threatened or
rise 1t is satisfied that employers
lould come in closer touch with labor
nd should recognize that while the in
yrests of capital and labor are not
they are reciprocative.
Second-The commission is satisfied
lat if employers everywhere will en-
savor to act in concert with labor:
nat If when wages can be raised under
.oHomic conditions they be raised vol
ntarily, and that when there are re