The San Francisco call., 1907-03-01
Declares Great Injustice
Is Done the Carmen
Majority Is Scored for
Praising Trolley Deal

. impose ''moral obligation" page 1@ in or
Ger that men may be sentenced 10 work for
wages which q common labOrer would refusef
Leaving an other considerations aside the
strike itself settled Tor al time the obligation
~ ne contract contract . a treaty and a
battle When nations hght the former
treaties between them DO not revive when
peace Is made. New treaties are concluded.
50 when the carmen appealed TO the arbitra-
ment of war and the company accepted the
lions ended. The two parties are now en-
gagged IN making new treaty and Il would be
lusi as Illogical 70 conclude Il under the moral
obligation of the old contract as II would be
m hold that the affairs OF modern Europe
should be ruled by the family compact or the
win say now that had considered that the
contract imposed q moral obligation the men
time sitting on this board OF arbitration. In
tne face Of the plain declara ton by the repre-
sentauyes OF the company that they waived none
~ their rights my sole cuty would have Deen
20 exhort the men 70 render 10 Calhoun the
things that are Calhouns. Moreover IL the
majority Of the board had decided at the outset
that the contract ruled the proceedings ] should
aVe considered AZ my duty TO advise the men
not 70 waste their money on arbitration pro-
ceeoings, but 70 seek some other means 70 re-
dress their grievances
EIGHT HOURS PRACTICABLE
I do not agree with the Interpretation which
the majority decision places upon the mems de-
mands for a uniform eight-hour day and nat
rate of three dollars a day II is only common
sense that words should bear the meaning that
iufenC
is Otherwise clearly made manifest The repre-
sentatives OF the carmen made Z evident during
tic hearing of the case that they were not
AtklnE Iof - absolute eight-hour cay F an
absolute wage OF So. They were asking for
tine tables based upon the esght-hour day and
lney were asking Tor the opportunity 10 make
the minimum wage Of SO day by eight hours
WORK. AL this Is clear from the testimony and
the declaration 0f the presiding arbitrator page
l5l. I'd is evident that counsel for the com
pany 50 understood the demand.
IT IS evident that the men admitted that there
r. Nrrnr Nnr# sid ms HNrrr
fore can see particular use IN the board
u arbitration,s deciding at great length that
street railroading under present conditions. when
nobody claims there can. But there is sub
which hy the terms Of agreement the board was
bound 10 decide and which the majority OF the
board has declined 10 decide. mean the Ques
u0n' ~ The eight hours. Tie decision says
But II We felt competent to deal wisely with
. question involving so many difhculues as the
arrangement 81 time tables for the roads op-
Grated hg this company, there would be no
prac-icai object thaf We could accomplish by a
decision .lIu0n this point in the present case
Tor nearly six months of the eight months be-
tween The date 10 which this award rela tes
i.enf. s. 1906 and the expiration 81 the exist
slc contract between The parties May I. 1907
hrFc already elapsed Tic men have all the
r'mc been actually working under the tables
Trained 'lsln tle fen hour standard We cannot
eifc them back those extra hours Of. labor II
rsnsatiou Tor what they have done 10y determin
ne at what rate pcr hour they must be paid
Having liked Just rate OF compensation per
fnuT. Tie matter. Of rearranging the time tables
nsE be safely left 10 the company and the
men,
Bnt tie chief reason FOR the existence Of this
board of arbitration was that the principles on
wiieh Lie time tables should be- arranged could
rot bc safely left % the company and the
men, o. The board ~ arbitration was not asked
90 sirTarec time~tahles. i was asked 70 declare
chat eight hours a just workday for men
engaged in the street car business. IT merely
GRADES the question when Il says that the
matter Is ~ no practical Importance because so
much time has elapsed II would be Of great
practical importance 10 the men II they received
overtime; IL would be- Of stin greater practical
Importance III even fOr Two months the eight
hnrr Ror.laE Mnrn fnirnluced.