New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-09
coon REPORT.

The State Board Of Mediation and Arbitra-
ton has never accomplished much nor been
thought TO amount to much in any way. Bui IL
Is inst 10 saw that this general disregard Is due
less 70 the Board than to the conditions or lis
existence II has no power except To investigate"
and ronort and its recommendations have sell
dom been treated with respect-sometmeS Win
considerably less respect than they deserved
It's latest appcarancc in a public capacity may
excite only n feeble interest in the Legislature
to which II officially addresses Itself. nut ms
will not he its fault by its report upon the
trolley rajlroad strike the Board has established
a strong claim 10 public esteem. and may prop
erlv demand at lcast "A serious and dSpassional"
consideration Of lis proposals. Not one OF them
is omen 10 objection on any ground excepting
that of doubt as to the possibility of lis prar
teal enforcement. or unworthy of men sincerely
desiring To find safe way of escape from great
and increasing evils. If they could he put and
kent in operation. we have no doubt that the
consequences would be Of immense advantage
10 the people
They provide that the service OF railroads. shai
be a public service, To he entered upon for Il
definite period by agreement. after cXainiia-
ton for ply steal and mental fitness and TO be
left for cause given after due notice ana a r'a-
sonable interval. except in extraordinary cases
of obvious propriciy; that wages shall be cStab
lshcd in advance and changed only by agree
ment or in submission to Il fairly arranged arm
1raton: that promotions shall be made in ac
cordance with mutually accepted system; mat
q combination Of two or more persons 10 INFER
r,,pt the operation Of railroad shall he Il ms
dcmeanor and any act Of obstruction or violence
n felony: that "A relief fund for sick or disabled
employees and for the families Of those who nave
died in service shall he established: ana thai
membership in labor union shall not be Oar
TO employment. There is nothing fantastic or
anarchistic in these propositions, hut. ON 'ie
contrary. they are conservative Of law order.
nroDerty and personal rights, and the revolution
which they would produce If they accomplished
their purpose would be salutary revolution
Ii cannot he maintained that such provisions
for promoting the public welfare are outside the
province Of legislation. for railroad corporations
are the servants and agents OF The state which
created them and resigned 10 them large powers
for the purpose of being thereby benefited III
specific ways. The questions involved are
whether the so-callcd natural law OF compe'i-
ton Is in the long run more competent than any
artificial arrangement To secure the greatest
good Of the greatest number; ana, II not
whether this plan for avcrting great ana UNI
vcrsally acknowledged evils is worth tiying
The first Of these questions experience seems
10 us 10 have decided in the negative. The sec
ond is question which ought to he sobcrly
and impariially discussed. II cannot be ana
should not be answered offhand, either for ap-
proyal or condemnation. II dismissed now II
will inevitably recur hereafter in one form OF
another. and ultimately an intelligent ana de-
cisivc judgment must be rendered. That verdict
can he FASTENED by such consideration OF the
subject at this time aS the Board invokcs ana
has a moral right 10 invoke. And whether TINS
reasonable solicitation Of public attention IL sue
cessf,,l or not. we do not hesitate 10 say That
the Board has earned respect and conilnrIha'