New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-22
A RAY OF SENSE.

The main accusation brought against the
transportation companies both In Brooklyn ana
! Manhattan by the strikers spokesman is that
the ten hour law is violated. That Is serious
| COMPLAINT, and of course ii is not disproved Dy
being contradicted. 1t is said that the matter
was formally called to the attention OF the State
authorities on Thursday, and yesterday Master
Workman Pines OF the Brooklyn district pub
licly announced that it was his intention to be-
gin proceedings against Mr.. Rossiter as soon as
possible for violation of the law. In our opinion
II is desirable that Mr.. Pines should carry out
his intention for the issue is one which not only
the employees OF the railroads but all the people
In whose name the law was passed should WISH
70 have authoritatively settled. But the ques-
ton naturally arises why the labor leaders did
not take legal action at an earlier day, instead
of waiting until an extremely foolish strike had
virtually ended in a complete failure. They
would have had no more trouble then than they
will have now in resorting to judicial proceed
,ngs for the purpose Of establishing their conten-
ton. and 1t cannot be,supposed that the cost OF
presenting their case deferred them, inasmuch
as they were willing to incur the vastly greater
expense Of a long strike. 1t Is much to be re-
GREETED on all accounts, but chiefly for their own
sake. that the test which Is now proposed was
not made at least a week ago.
II is declared on behalf OF the dissatisfied en-
ployes Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit and Met
ropolitan companies that the ten hour law is
broken not occasionally and accidentally, but
constantly and Systematically, and hence, OF
course with deliberation. AS we have said this
Is a serious charge II it Is true it needs to he
proved and the men under whose orders the OF
fence Is committed should be brought up with
round turn. Mr. Rosster and Mr. Vreeland, on
the other hand, positively assert that the charge
is false, and that while the vicissitudes or the
TRANSFORMATION business from time to time pre-
vent an absolutely rigid compliance with the
exact terms of the law it's requirements are
carefully respected and substantially carried
out. The issue Is therefore clearly drawn, and
there would seem to be no serious difficulty in
nscertaining the exact facts Public opinion has
been against the strikers for good reasons. They
were small minority of the companies en-
ployes they acted without self respect or COM
mon sense in permitting themselves to be the
tools Of "a clique Of stock jobbng politicians"
and they have not succeeded in convincing the
community that they were not in measure re-
coo1sible for many acts Of violence and one
obc-ninable crime. But public opinion will not
De DOSte 10 IneUl III TtSuldi hClioh "hiNh
may be brought on their behalf under the pro-
visions Of the ten hour law.
The transportation companies, and the Metro
politan in particular, are not extremely popular,
and It Is certain that the general state of public
feeling with regard to them would give them no
undue advantage in proceedings brought to de-
termine whether or not they were violating the
law Mr. Pines and his associates are sure Of
perfectly fair chance to prove their case If they
actually resort to an action.