The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-31
RAILWAY LABOR PROBLEMS.
Prof. Lindsay on the Relations OF
Employer aud EmpIoye.

NEW YORK. oct. Sl---The Relations
Of Railway Employers 10 Their En-
uLoyes' was the subject Of an address de-
liver+d last night before the School OF
Commerce. Accounts, and Finance of the
New York University by Samuel McCuuC
Lindsay. Professor Of Sociology in the
University of PenDsyIVaaia, and Presideu-
OF the American Academy Of Political aad
Social Science.
Prof. Lindsay's address is Of special in
terest 10y reason Of the fact that he has
now in press a report on the subject q
railway labor which Will appear as
volume Of the United States Industrial
Commission report
After being introduced by Dean Hos
kins. Prof Lindsay said that there are
over 100000 men employed in railway
service in the United States. and prob
ably nearly 5oog,O19 persons dependent
on the earnings Of railway employment
The engineers. hremen, and conductors
alone constitute an Industrial army Of
li0.y5 men. Including other traiumyn.
station agents, swltchmeu, telegraph Op--
ratDfS, ana ussVatchyrs. One-third OF
the million employees are cuE8 ged directly
In the operating Of trains over $1,000
men are needed to keep tho tracks IN re-
ptlr, while another 1ah.uo are required IN
shops and elsewhere To maintain the
plant All OF the mechanism Is directed
by less than 1900 officers. with the aid OF
5000 clerks.
Railway business" he said. lis quasi
public in character. tho responsibility Of
the employer for the acts of his enpIove
Is greater, the risks run by both employ
Ct and cmpiOye. largely financial IN one
case and dangerous TO life and limb IN
the other. are vastly more important
than ~ any other q neral ocrsaFtiau \
more efficient system Of recruiting rail
way employees examining IN, ir previous
record. testing their qualifications edu-
az
ing them for violation Of rules has been
evolved IN railroad business than any
other lines Of industry No one can study
lnt problems anu lie Of railway men
without realizing that he IS dealing with
labor
Railway employees. added Prof Lind
say, have their grievances. There is
some complaint Of su-Caued bIaCkIistiug
or combined cftort on IN, part Of railroad
officials 20 drive men out Of the railway
occupation because of activity in labor
Organizations in participation i'm strikes
Such complaints come from a few iudiv3-
uaI cases which may DE- wei founded blt
more often from SprDhsalS who are being
Eeeded out for inetlCieucy- There are a
very few Indications of any present tea
deuCy in the direction of blaCklistiuE and
many more proofs that practices Of this
sort are things Of the past. The ma lori ~
Of the men approve OF Stricter GiScipIia-
airy measures intended 10 improve the
service.
The railway corporations are doing
much 20 cemen: the ties that bind them
to their employees by providing easy meth
DDS for their men 20 secure sick and acct
dent assurances through relief depart
ments established by the companies. 10
provide for their families through death
benefits. and, finally 20 provide for old
age and incapacity through pensions.
largely paid out Of the funds OF the com
panies as "A reward for long and efficient
service and not as a charity"
Prof Lindsay described the pension f,.a-
lures OF the Pennsylvania Railroad as a
model in the direction Of the private in
dustriai system. Railroad COMBINATIONS %
he said. ARE stimulating their employees
TO save money and TO invest il in rail-
road securities. They have. By reason
Of the peculiar character Of their business
every economic tnducement to deal fairly
with their men. to promote their welfare
in order 10 secure greater efficiency. and
the larger and wiser corporations are Co
ing this as a necessary element in me
severe competition for business. ana not
from the motive OF making their labor
force dependent and servile. nor the OBJ
jects OF benevOlence. Prof Lindsay
spoke in COMMUNICATION Of the Brown sys-
TEN of discipline without suspension.