Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-03
TEE RAILROAD EMBARGO.
Complete in Oregon and NOPrO-
lection Given.
NATIONAL ARBITRATION THE REMEDY
Pay Rolls on English and Ameri-
can Railroads.
THE EMBARGO COMPLETE.

There should be some high court
Of arbitration to which great contests
between capital and labor could be re-
ferred for settlement. The public
should not be made the foot ball of
{ .ese contentious between unions and
managers. The railroads are common
carriers to which the people have the
right of use on equa, terms. The
ranchise of a railroad should not be
annulled by a quarrel oyer wages, and
the people be made to suffer incalcula-
oe loss by quarrel in which they
I'VE nothing to gay.
WHO SHOULD DECIDE?
AS this effects Interstate traffic, the
decision of such great strikes must be
referred to the Interstate commerce
commissioner or some one created by
national authority and backed ty
national law, where all the facts and
arguments of both sides could be sub
United and the public in the mean
time not be deprived of mails, means
of intercourse or facilities for transpora-
ton to some such tribunal the railroads
and the men should be forced to sub
init their respective grievances for
peaceful arbitration.
WHAT ARE THEIR RIGHTS?
Have the railway employees any
rights in the present great strike? Have
they right to contend for good wages
under any circumstances On the
other hand it might be asked what
right have railway presiden to receive
a salary of four times as much as a
member OF the cabinet, and fat places
for all their sons, cousins and nephews?
The plain facts are that In Great
Britain twenty men are employed on
each mile of road, against five men per
mile In this country. In Great Britain
$4,000 mile of road Is paid in wages, as
against $2lOO in our country. The men
get less but more have permanent em-
ployment. As long as the official man
ayers pay themselves what they please
the men have right to good wages.
STATE AUTHORITIES.
The Oregon Railroad commission has
taken no official action Oh the situation,
only one member, President Macrum
being present at the regular monthly
meeting at Salem Monday. The board
may meet in Portland this week. Sew
eral overland trainloads of passengers
are held at Ashland aud Governor
Pennoyer having received telegram
from them Monday he sent the follow
ing letter to the railroad commissioners:
Enclosed flnd telegram from Ash
land. l trust your board will do all
that can be done In the premises. /
deem II most reprehensible in the
Southern Pacific Railroad company by
stopping other cars than Pullmans to
seriously dlsoommode the travelling
and business public for the sole purpose,
II would seem, of settling IA dispute be-
tween an exacting monopollst aad his
employees, by full strength Of Its
power to be reinforced by the power of
the federal government, which dispute
should be settled by arbitration"
II would seem that for all the money
paid by the people toward a railroad
an executive authority
lffords them no protection.
HOW LONG WILL 1T LAsrg
That Is the great question of the day
II the state or national governments
possessed the craftsmanship TO propose
N acceptable arbitration, or meditation
Il the situation, the embargo upon
raiflc might be raised, But this Is not
kelly. The necessary wisdom Is not
ylng around loose. II II were, the
trikers might not accept any. form OF
The federal government
nIght compel the strikers 10 haul the
nails, but cannot force them to haul or
ADdls the Pullman cars.