Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-02-28
.PFRESID)ENT51ON }
iaa ! 3 RAILR0ADsPAY
LETTER TO iNTERsrATe coM.
MERcE'l COMMISSION ON {,
a CUTTING OF WAGES. 40.
WANTS INVESTIGATION
PUBLIC ENTITLED TO KNOW "
REDUCTION IN WAGES 10
WARRANTED. l.--s1

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Industrial dis
putes in prospect were In the mind OF
President Roosevelt when he wrote .
letter 10 the interstate commerce com.
mission Tuesday. which was made pub
lie Wednesday. =
He says that information has
reached him that on account OF the en-
actment OF drastic laws by the Con-
gress and by the various State Legis-
latures. II Is regarded as necessary by
railroad companies TO reduce the pay
Of employees. ....r
He points out that under the law
either party may demand the services
OF the chairman OF the Interstate com.
merce commission and Of the commits.
sioner OF labor as board OF concilia-
ton.
He suggests, therefore. that tho In
terstatc commerce commission make
such an investigation ms will enable
Il to furnish data concerning wage
conditions on various railroads that
may relate directly or Indirectly to
the possibly impending controversy.
Tho text of the Presidents letter fol-
lows:
ITO tho Interstate Commerce Com
mission:
Il am informed that number OF
railroad companies have served no
tice OF n proposed reduction Of wages
on their employees. One Of them. tho
Louisville h Nashville. Ia announcing
the reduction. states that the drastic
laws inimicnl to the interests OF tho
railroads that have In the past year
or two been enacted by Congress and
the State Legislatures arc largely or
chiefly responsible for the conditions
requiring the reduction
"uadcr such circumstances II 10
possible that the public may soon be
confronted by serious Industrial dis.
putcs. and the law provides that in
such case either party may demand
the services OF your chairman and OF
the commissioner Of labor ms n board
Of mediation and Cancellation.
These reductions In wages may bc
warranted or they may not. As to
this. the public. which In n vitality In.
tcrcstcd party. can form no Judgment
without n more complete knowledge
OF tho essential facts and real merits
Of the case than II now has or than
II can possibly obtain from the special
plcndin.s certain to be put forth by
each side In case the dispute should
bring about serious Interruption 10
traiiic.
IF the reduction in wages Is due TO
natural causes. the loss Of business be-
Ing such that the burden should be.
and is. cquitably distributed between
capitalist and wage worker. the public
and Congress should know II. and II
II is caused by misconduct In tho past
financial or other operations Of any
m hAt -.
II. especially II the excuse OF un.
friendly Legislation Is advanced by tho
railroad managers. or as n Justification
for failure to treat fairly the wage.
earning employees Of the company.
Moreover. nm Industrial conflict be-
tween railroad corporation and its
employees offers peculiar opportunities
to any small number Of evil disposed
persons to destroy life and property
and :oment public disorder.
"Of course. II life. property and pub.
lie order nre endangered. prompt and
drastic measures for their protection
becomes the first plain duty. All other
duties then become subordinate to the
preservation Of the public peace and
the real merits Of the original con-
troversy nrc necessarily lost from view.
This vital consideration should be
ever kept in mind by all law.abiding
and far.siEhted members Of labor or.
ganizations.
1T is sincerely to be hoped, there
fore. that any wage controversy that
may rise between the railroads and
their employees may find n peaceful 30.
luton through the methods of con.
ciliation and arbitration already pro-
vided for by Congress. which have
proven SO effective during the past
year.
ITO this end the commission should
be In n position to have available for
any board of conciliation or arbitra.
ton relevant data pertaining to such
carriers as may become involved in
Industrial disputes.
should cancellations fail to effect a
settlement and arbitration be rejected.
accurate information should be avail.
able in order to develop a properly
informed public opinion.
Il therefore ask you to make such
Investigations. both Of your records
and By any means at your command,
as will enable you to furnish data
concerning such conditions obtaining
on the Louisville & Nashville, and
any other roads as may relate. directly
or indirectly. to the real merits Of a
possibly impending controversy.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT