The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-21

served at all Hazards.
Washington, February -9.-Serious
industrial disputes in prospect were
in the mind OF President Roosevelt
when he wrote letter to the inter
state commerce commission yesterday
which was made public today. He
says that information has reached
him that, On account of the enact
ment of drastic laws by the congress
and by various state legislatures, It
Is regarded as necessary by railroads
to reduce the pay of their employees.
He pointed out that, under the law,
either party may demand the services
of the chairman of the interstate com
merce commission aud of the COM
missioner of labor as board of con-
Citation. He suggests, therefore. that
the interstate commerce commission
make such an investigation as will
enable it to furnish data concerning
wage conditions on various railroads
as may relate, directly or indirectly,
to the possibility of the impending
controversy
The full text OF the presidents let
ter is as follows:
The White House,
washington, teDruary Is.
To The Interstate Commerce Com
mission:
| am informed that a NUMBER of
railroad companies have servedsnotice
of a proposed reduction OF wages on
their employees One of them. the
Louisville and Nashville, in announc-
ing the reduction, states that 1.-The
drastic laws inimical to the interests
- 4 l14 A. hn% 10
year or two been enacted by con-
gress and by the state legislatures"
are largely or chiefly responsible for
the conditions requiring the reduc-
ton.
Under such circumstances it is pos
sible that the public may soon be
confronted. 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 conciliation. These
reductions in wages may be warrant
ed, or they may not. AS to this the
public, which is a vitally interested
party, can form no judgment without
knowledge of the essential facts and
real merits Of the case than 1t now
has or than it can possibly obtain
from the special pleadings certain
to be put forth by each side In case
their dispute would bring about Sc
rious interruption of traffic, If
the reduction In wages is due to natu
raj causes, the loss of business being
such that the burden should be, and
If equitably distributed between capi-
talist and wage-worker, the public
should know 1t. If 1t Is caused by
legislation, the public and congress
should know it, and IL it is caused
by misconduct in the past financial
or other operations of the railroads,
then everybody should know 1t. espe-
cially If the excuse of unfriendly leg
islation is advanced as a method OF
covering up past business misconduct
by the railroad managers, or ASIA
justification for failure to treat fairly
the wage earning employees of the
company.
Moreover, an Industrial conflict be-
tween a railroad corporation end it's
employees offers peculiar opportuni-
ties to any small number of evil dis
posed persons to destroy life and
property and foment public disorder.
OF course, If life, property and pub
lie order are endangered, prompt and
drastic measures Tor their protection
become the first plain duty. ALI other
issues then become subordinate to
the preservation of the public peace.
and the real merits of the original
controversy are necessarily lost ffom
view This vital consideration should
be ever kept in mind by all law abid-
ing and far-sfghted members OF lab
or organizations.
1t is sincerely to be hoped. there
fore, that any wage controversy that
may arise between the railroads and
their employees may find a peaceful
solution through the methods OF con-
ciIiation and arbitration already pro-
vided by congress, which have proven
so effective during the past year. To
this end the commission should be IN
position to have available for any
board of concilition or arbitration
relevant data pertaining to such car
riers as may become involved In in
dustriaI disputes Should conciliation
fail to effect n settlement and arbi-
tration be rejected accurate fnfor-
nation should be available In order
10 develop properly Informed public