The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-21
An Interesting Point.


 A question fraught with the greatest importance to capital and labor Is now being arbitrated in this city by Patrick Calhoun, representative of Brown Bros, of New York, and President Mahon Of the Street Car Men 8 National Union. The S.G00 street car employees of this city pre- scented fifty-one demands that included everything from permitting a small bull letln board to hang in the car barns to the hiring and discharge of men and hours and wages. The union men insisted that no operative should be employed uns til his qualifications had been passed on by a committee of the union and that no union man should be discharged with out hearing before the committee. Any complaints on the part of citizen against an employe must be heard before the committee which was to have the right to question the complainant. The United Railroads refused to subject any complaining patron to the possible boy colt of 10000 union men in San Francisco and also declined to surrender its right to hire and discharge its own employees. lengthy conference decided to leave, these points for future consideration, agreed on the forty-eight minor points and agreed to disagree on the question of hours and wages and to leave 1t to arbitration, Calhoun and Mahon to select the third arbiter. The demand is for a nine-hour day with an increase in wages from 25 cents to 33 1-2 cents per hour.
 For the first time in the history of trades -unionism 1t Is expected that the is- sue will be squarely drawn and the em- ployers profits be considered In the fix ing of employees wages. The union men say that the profits of the United Rail- roads are to be taken into account. that the law of supply and demand Is not to be recognized as the sole basis on which Df h hnr dhall 10 estimated The Car Men will urge the principle of shar- ing In the dividends of the United Rail- roads, They say that empowers very readily invoke the right 10 cut wages when business Is bad and contend that when business Is good" there should be corresponding increase in wages.
 The contention made by the union in wolves a principle that labor-unionism has been advancing consistently and over which 1t has long been preparing to en- ter into contest with capital. The situ- ation here is arousing the keenest inter est among labor leaders of the East for in San Francisco the conditions. to them seem favorable for the entering wedge in forcing a recognition of their doctrine of distribution of profits. It is virtually conceded by the union that the high water mark" as MT. Calhoun describes it, is found In San Francisco in car mems wages. Comparison of schedules with other cities or America makes no argument that will be accepted conclu- svely by the union men nor will the ad- ditional comparison oS the cost of living The protest of the officials of the com pany against this basis of adjusting wages is vehement They are instant in disputlng such contention and say unhes- itatingly that they will give battle with out quarter on such a proposition. On the third man will undoubtedly fall the burden of deciding the momentous ques- ti1n. The agreement of arbitration makes no specifications as to the third arbiter and it Is possible that no suitable man will be found In the West