New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-16
UNIONS TO FIGHT BILL.
JOIN THE CORPORATIONS.
Object to Utilities Board Establish
ing STANDARD for Employees.
TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.l

Albany. March 15.-Labor unions are going 10
Join hands with the big corporations In oppos-
ing tho Governors Public Utilities Commission
Dill. Letters being sent to legislators urging
them to work against the bill unless II Is
amended to suit the labor unions. First IN thls
field is the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers. one of the strongest labor bodies IN THIS
country.
According to letter sent to Assemblyman
Rogers by ]. E. Clark. a member Of the eXecu-
tive committee of the brotherhood. and one oI
its legislative representatives the opposition to
the bill is two-fold. The chief objection from
the engineers is to that section Of the bill which
permits the public utilities commission 10 es-
tahiish standards of competency for employees.
This may make it very bad for us Mr.
Clark writes. "and think it should be left be-
TWEEN the railroad companies and their en-
gineers.''
Singularly enough, this clause is said by one
of the representatives OF a big New York city
corporation to be highly pleasing to the transit
interests though there IS some reason TO think
that it would not prove pleasing in actual
operation as It seems TO be to them now.
why. that's the grandest thing ever for the
railway companies" said this man. 1T viii
work this way. The commission establishes the
standard of perfection necessary for the en-
ployes. subway guard slugs a passenger in
the eye in moment of friskiness. Can that
passenger have any come back against the COM
pany? Oh, no. The company says TO him
when he makes a complaint: Why. my dear
sir. were very sorry; but that's not our fault.
You've come to the wrong shop. Go to the COM
missions office. They have certified to this
mans competency, or else we wouldn't be al
lowed TO have him. You'll have to take it up
with them or suppose another case. a bad
streetcar collision happens through the mistake
or ignorance of motOrman. Can the company
be held responsible If the commission has GER
tilted to that mans ability? Oh. that section is
fine for the companies"
This view. and that Of Mr.. Clark of the labor
union, 10 differ widely. but under the ap-
parent acceptance Of this provision by the
porations turks a decided objection according 20
the opinions of friends of the bill They declare
that in actual operation this would compel the
companies to have men Of much higher grade.
and of necessity 10 pay them bigger wages. and
therefore would be in direct opposition to all
accepted corporation procedure and precedent.
Another point in the bill which Clark OBJ
jected was the section to the giving OF rail-
road passes. He said II would prevent rail-
roads giving passes TO an employe Of another
road. and reminded Mr. Rogers that the rail-
road employees had killed a similar provision in
the Interstate Commerce bill
Il ask you TO use all your influence toward
the defeat Of this bill unless II Is amended IN
these particulars, was Mr. Clark's demand
Mr.. Rogers has replied. suggesting n talk with
pearance at the hearing on the measure on
March q.