Arizona republican., 1904-05-01

ed to applications for employment, to time allowed for travel at night. to hos pital regulations, to transportations for l committees to company Headquarters, and so forth, some of which, MT. Ken. {! drick explained, were practically the same as the rules already in force.
 Rule Twenty provided that printed copy of these rules and regulations shall be framed and posted in conspicuous place in each shop and roundhouse on all leased and operated lines" MT. Kendricl< replied:
 "The officers of this company will es- tablish all the rules that may be neces- sary for the government of it's shops and the employees working therein,' and he added
 "In general it must be clearly appar- ent to anyone reading these rules that therehas neen organized in the shops Of this system, a body, CT Instrumental it,. for the purpose of exercising cer- tain degree of control over the opera ton of said shops, which cannot right fully attach to any one but the owners thereof. Not only has it been sought to increase the compensation of eni- ployes very materially, by the mod:- fcation, or introduction, of certain practices and rules, but it has also been sought to establish an instrumentality for the purpose of securing concerted action, which may be used to enforce demands that are not entirely reason able, or that may, in fact, be very uu- reasonable. It is sought, as has been pointed out. to establish a minimum wage rate, and to monopolize nearly every kind of work, no matter how un- important, for the benefit of the men who have. or who may be. alleged to have, learned the machinist trade. It matters not, whether skill is required for the prosecution of certain work pr not it is proposed to force this com pGny to pay for that work, not what the individual performing it could properly be considered as fairly hay ing earned, upon the basis of the wages that might prevail at that time, but rate of pay incorporated in q hard and fast agreement. The fact that the company voluntarily made substantial increases in the rates of compensation is entirely ignored. The schedule of rules as proposed. lessens. and distrib- utes the work of the machinists, as far as practicable; increases, and makes uniform the rates of compensation in certain districts, and must necessarily. according to the experience of the off cers of this company, and every one else who has had to do with such prob lens, result in decreased efficiency. and output, by the mechanics of this com pany, which will in turn result in very large loss.
 ''To conclude, the officers of this company do not feel that its interests would be served by entering into an agreement with an organization which has never been helpful in any way: which publishes with considerable reg ularity notices to machinists belonging to the order to keep away from the road; which has, through its accredit> ed representatives, during the past nine months, advocated doctrines prej judicial alike to its interests, and these of the men employed by it. The com pany will guarantee to all workmen that are now, or that may hereafter be, employed by it, fair compensation, ab. solutely just treatment, and advance ment, in accordance with their loyalty to Its interests, and their individual ca pabilities. It reserves the right-which is the natural and inalienable preroga- tive of an employer-to judge of the capabilities of it's men, ard thei" worth, according to the standard of wages which may obtain from time to time.'