Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-02-20
PROSPECTS OF
INDUSTRIAL
STRIFE
RAILROADS DETERMINE
ON WAGE REDUCTIONS
President Warns Federal Board
of Cancellation to Be Ready
to Handle Situation Under
Eardman Act,

to Handle Situation Unde
Eardman Act.
GBv Morning journal Special Leased Wire
Washington, d. c., Feb. l9.-Seri
Gus disputes in prospect were in tn,
mind Of President Roosevelt when he
wrote letter to the interstate COM
merce commission yesterday which
was made public today, He saws that
information has reached him that ow-
ing to the enactment of drastic laws
by the congress and by the various
state legislatures it is regarded as
necessary by railroad companies to re
duce the pay of employees He points
out that under the law either party
may demand the services of the chair
man of the interstate commerce COM
mission and of the commissioner of
labor as board Of conciliation He
suggests, therefore, that the Interstate
commerce commission make such an
investigation as will enable it to fur.
hlsh data concerning wage conditions
on various railroads that may relate
directly or indirectly to the possibil-
ltE OF impending controversy.
The text of the presidents letter,
follows:
ITO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission:
Il am informed that number of
railroad companies have served no.
tlce OF a proposed reduction of wages
on their employees.
zone of them the Louisville and
Nashville, in announcing the reduc-
ton states that the drastic laws In
imical to the interests of the railroads
that have in the past year or two
been enacted by congress and the
state legislatures are largely or chiefly
responsible for the conditions reouir-
ing the reduction.
Under such circumstances it is
possible taat The public may soon be
by serious industrial dis
putes, and the law provides that in
such case either party may demand
the services Of your chairman and of
the commissioner of labor as a board ,
Of mediation and cancellations These ,
ed or they may not. As to this, the
public which IS a vitally interested q
party, can form no judgment without +
4 more complete knowledge of the es-
5ential facts and real merits of the
'ase than it now has or than it can a
possibly obtain from the special plead =
ngs certain to be put forth by each -
side If the dispute should bring "
1 ;V,t !
f the reduction in wages is due TO
natural causes the loss Of business be- %
ng such that the burden should be, II
md is equitably disribted between ',
apitalist and wage worker the pub u
ic and congress should know it and =
it is caused by misconduct in the
'ast financial or other operations Of
my railroad, then everybody should n
now it, especially if the excuse of Is
ntricndly legislation is advance as b
method Of covering up past lsi- p
ess misconduct by the railroad IAN 81
gers, or as a justification for failure
. treat fairly the wage earning ON h
loyes of the company. n,
Moreover an industrial conflict be- &C
%een railroad corporation and Its SC
mployes offers peculiar opportuni-
es to any small number Of evil dis NJ
osed persons to destroy life and cl
loperty and foment public disorder
f course, if life, property and pub 70
order are endangered, prompt and ca
rastic measures for their protection tn
acomes the first plain duty. All 9TH H
q duties then become subordinate to tic
le preservation of the public peace 10,
I'D the real merits Of the original an
'ntroversy are lost from view. This
tai view should be ever kept in mind 81,
= all law abiding and far sighted re-
embers of labor organizations. fo
TT is sincerely to be hoped there of
re, that any wage controversy that N
ay arise between the. railroads and ~,
cir employees may find a peaceful
luton through the method of con- -,
liation and arbitration already pro- tia
ded for by congress which have ~,
oven so effective during the past Se' o..
ar To this end the commission 10,
ould be in a position to have avail -, .1''
lie for any board of Conciliation or r''
reVelent data pertaining pi'
such carriers as may become in "a
lved in industrial disputes. Shoald ou
nciliation fail to effect a settle 20
ant and arbitration be rejected, ac- pel
rate information should be avail !
lie in order to develop a properly gai
formed public opinion as
u therefore ask you to make such the
'estigation, both Of your records, fac
d by any means at your command,
will enable you to furnish data Of
ncerning such conditions obtaining Ne
the Louisville and Nashville and
y other roads as may relate, direct AN
or indirectly, to the real merits Of
possibly impending controversy.