The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-04
Wheelinq. March Q.
THE AI,BIrI,ArloN BILL.

A Significant Recognition of tho Govern.
mout's Duty.
NeIo FORK Herald
The passage OF tho arbitration bill by
tho house Is significant recognition OF
tho fact that i. Is abou. timo for tho
government to do something for the
protection OF tho people and the public
interests against the disastrous conse.
quenccs OF railway strikes.
These strikes arO steadily growing
more serious in their results and moro
monacing in their possibilities. Tha.
at Chicago last year interlered with bus.
mess and disturbed tho peace OF the
community moro than any previous
railway strike in tho county. aud the
recent strike in Brooklyn was even more
injurious and threatening to tho general
public than the western troubles.
In these cases it is a mistake to as-
sumo that tho railways aud their strik.
ing employees are tho only parties to tho
controversy, or that their rights and in.
terests arc the only or even tho main
ones TO be considered. The chief party
is really the public. The people are tho
greatest sufferers. On them tho great.
est inconvenience and heaviest losses
fall. No moro forcible illustration OF
this fact Is needed than Is afforded by
the recent railway strike in Chicago
and the trolley strike In Brooklyn.
No railway or trolley company has
any right to para we business and in.
tilct widespread damage on the com.
munity when these consequences can
be avoided, and none should be per-
mitted to do so. Such corporation
has not the rights or independence OF n
private employer. 1t is tho creature
and tho servant OF the state. 1t re.
ceivcs from the government valuable
privileges and assumes we'll defined OBJ
legations to the people. It is engaged
not in private, but public,
business. Its officers are not, as indi-
vidual employers are, at liberty to carry
on their business aa il 1t were their own.
As agents OF the people they are en-
ployed in the peoples business. They
must conduct it with due regard to the
rights and interests OF the public It is
their legal duty to maintain an efficient
continuous service, and they fail in that
duty when they lot traffic become sus-
pended, paralyzed or crippled by dis.
pute with employees over mere mat:er
OF dollars and cents.
That railway traffic 10 public BUSH
ness. subject to governmental control
and regulation, is recognized princi-
pie OF constitutional law and public
policy. Tho principle has been acted
on by every state in the union and by
Congress. Laws have been passed
limiting freight and passenger rates,
recurring the use OF safety appliances,
forbiddin9 transportation abuses and so
on. All this has been done for the bene-
fit OF the public. Why should not the
government protect the public against
tho disastrous consequences Of railway
strikes by reasonable legislation do
signed to avert such troubles?
Tho bill passed by the house aims to
do this. 1t is, therefore. n timely and
important step in the right direction,
but il does not 60 far enough. 1t pro.
vidos for voluntary arbitration-thnt is,
the agreement OF both sides to submit
their differences to arbitration. When
this is dono tho bill compels both to
abide by the decision.