Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-08

its president had openly attacked ans
wrecked trade unions in his private
business. contented itself with grad
ually undermining the gas workers
union, through the payment OF wages
and bonuses superior to those paid by
other private employers of the dis
trict, and even in the case of unskillet
labor, superior TO those paid by The
corporation OF Sheffield.
Influence OF Wage Farmers.
The influence of wage earners
through their unions upon the condi-
tons of municipal employment in the
United States, has e complicated
through the presence and activity OF
practical politicians. In the munich
pal enterprises Investigated, except
South Norwalk and Richmond, The
eisht-hour day has been established
for the past ten or fifteen years for
all employees. whereas, in the private
companies the hours are longer or
Nhave mere recently been reduced for
a portion. but not all. OF their en-
ployes in the more skilled branches
Of work. This advantage in municipal
undertakings has been brought about,
not by a definite labor party. but by
the influence Of wage earners as vot-
ers unon the municipal officials.
Professor Commons Views.
The views expressed by Professor
Commons are IN many respects favor
able to municipal ownership. He
finds. however. that the proper meth
cd of dealing with employees is the
most difficult and critical problem of
municipal ownership. and he favors
recognition of organized labor as a
safeguard against the pressure of out
side (politicoD recommendations. on
this subject he says:
'"rhe appointment, promotion and
DISMISSAL Of employees and the wages
to be paid offer peculiar opportunities
for political and personal Influence
Inconsistent with efficiency. Civil
service reform, so-called. has been
found IN it's highest perfection in the
city of Chicago, but Il is evident by
comparison with a less perfect device
in Syracuse that its integrity depends
on the political influences that control
the mayor and the heads of depart
ments. II the head OF the depart
ment is Independent Of politics. as
shown in Cleveland. Detroit and South
NorWalk. the civil service commission
is not needed. The Chicago system is
a temporary bulwark built around
Nv Afilil AIltilAN uiAAll sui Alllif dn
The chief officer himself can also be
protected from political selection. This
is tha case in British cities where the
idea Of a civil service commission is
unknown. But even there. especially
IN tn Sheffield tramWaNs, appoint
nents have been made on the econ
Incndation Of couneillc"s. The rXue-
OF Glasgow is instructive. Eff
cen years g the practice of bring
employees on The recommendation Of
Councillors was universal in all de-
)artmcnts. But with the growth Of
municipal ownership it has almost
"Our Investigations have shown
hat the strongest safeguard for a
manager agatnst the pressure of out
See recommendations is the recbgni-
Ion Of organized labor within his de-
,artment. Wherever we have found a
lass of employees organized and dealt
With as such through then represent
.tiNes. we have found those positions
Exempt from politics. This follows
rom the nature Of labor organization
which CannOt survive if individuals
re given preference on political, re-
personal or any other grounds
han the character of the work they
Ia. Even in tho politically honey
ombed municipal undertaking at Al
aCneuN. the union Of electrical work
rs stopped the practice Of paying as
by its members for pOlit-
'al campaigns. The success of the
ivil service system of Chicago is oW-
~ more han anything else to The
act that organized labor has one of
he three members on each examining
GARD. The manager OF the Manches-
,r tramways ascrises his freedom
interference by individual coun-
TO his recognition Of the union