The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-02-29
PRESIDENT MAKES SUGGESTION
TO INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION.
Action Of Railways in Giving Notice
Of Reduction Furnishes the Occasion
Commission May Be Called Upon
to Act in conciliatory Capacity, and
Should Be Informed.

dustrial disputes in prospect were in
the mind of President Roosevelt when
he wrote letter to the interstate COM
merce commission early in the week
and just made public. He says that
information has reached him that on
account of the enactment of drastic
laws by the congress and by the vari-
GUS state legislatures it is regarded as
necessary by railroad companies to
reduce 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 a board of Cancellation. He
suggests, therefore, that the interstate
commerce commission make such an
investigation as will enable it to fur
nish data concerning wage conditions
on various railroads that may relate
directly or indirectly to the possible
impending controversy.
The Presidents Letter.
The text of the presidents letter fol-
lows:
II am informed that a number of
railroad companies have served notice
of a proposed reduction Of wages on
their employees. One of them, the
Louisville & Nashville, in announcing
the reduction, states that the drastic
laws inimical 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
requiring the reduction.
Under such circumstances it is pos
sible that the public may soon be con-
fronted by serious industrial disputes,
and the law provides that in such case
either party may demand the services
of your chairman and of the commits
sioner of labor as a board Of mediation
and Cancellation. These re6uctions in
wages may be warranted or they may
not. AS to this, the public, which is
party, can form no judgment without
a more complete knowledge of the es-
sential facts and real merits Of the
case than it now has or than it can
possibly obtain from the special plead
ings certain to be put forth by each
side in case their dispute should bring
about serious interruption to traffic.
IF the reduction in wages is due to
natural causes, the loss of business
being such that the burden should be,
and is, equitably distributed between
capitalist and wageworker, the public
and congress should know it, and If
it is caused by misconduct in the past
financial or other operations of any
railroad, then everybody should know
it, especially if the excuse of un-
friendly legislation is advanced as a
method of covering up past business
misconduct by the railroad managers
or as justification for failure to treat
fairly the wage earning employees of
the company.
Disorders Likely.
Moreover, an industrial conflict be-
tween a railroad corporation and its
employees offers peculiar opportunities
to any small number Of evil-disposed
persons to destroy life and property
and foment public disorder. OF course,
if life, property and public order are
endangered, prompt and drastic meas
ures for their protection becomes the
first plain duty. This vital considera-
ton should be ever kept in mind by
all law-abiding and far-sighted men,
bers of labor organizations.
fore, that any wage controversy that
may arise between the railroads and
their employees may find a peaceful
solution through the methods of con-
Citation and arbitration already pro-
vided for by congress, which have
proven SO effective during the past
year. To this end the commission
should be in position to have avail
able for any board of Cancellation or
arbitration relevant data pertaining to
such carriers as may become involved
in industrial disputes. Should concili-
1IAOAo Ao4 " OAOCt q SCILlOAu0At anu
arbitration be rejected, accurate In
formation should be available in order
to develop properly informed public
opinion.
Il therefore ask you to make such
investigation, both Of your records and
by any means at your command, as
will enable you to furnish data con-
corning such conditions obtaining on
the Louisville & Nashville and any
other roads as may relate, directly or
indirectly, to the real merits Of the
impending controversy"
No More Rice Throwing.
Chicago, Feb. 22-No more rice or
other missiles for the gay bridegroom
and blushing bride who go on their