The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-21
SUPERVISING THE RAILROADS.

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 SUPERVISING THE RAILROADS.
 The painstaking and discriminating correspondent of the Springfield Re- publican at Washington is the authori- ty for the statement that a recent din- ner attended in that city by well known railroad men brought forth discus sion of the extent to which the rail- road company represented by each had been forced to reduce the employment | of operatives. Tn the end paper was passed around the table, and each off, ficial wrote down upon 1t the number of operatives which his individual road | had laid off already. The total number of men thus thrown out of work on the few roads represented proved to be no less than 1s5,00o when the paper had made the circuit of the table and the figures had been added up''
 { This is significant statement to en- counter on the day which brought to light the letter which President Roose- welt had written to the interstate com merce commission, directing that body to investigate and ascertain whether in the case of any railroad its manage ment was justified in thus forcing idle ness upon any considerable number of employees President Roosevelt predi- cates his act upon the assertion of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad com pany that it has been driven to reduce the wages of its employees on account of the drastic legislation which has been enacted by congress and by State legislatures and which has interfered with the independent management of the property. This leads the President to infer that a consequence of this re- duction, and of possible reductions in -ther railroad properties, will be se- / ries of industrial disputes. In order that the merits of each dispute may not be lost in the confusion which fol- lows the outbreak of an industrial controversy the President asks that the necessary steps be taken to find out now whether the proposed reduc- tion in wages is warranted or not. He  takes the broad ground that if the business depression which forces this action is due to natural causes the public should know it. If, on the oth- CT hand, the depression is due to ad- verse legislation the congress and the State legislatures should know it. If it is due to business misconduct on the part of railroad managers then ev- erybody should know it." The Presi- dent advises the interstate commits sion that it possesse power of a con cliatory and arbitrating character and that on that account 1t is in 8 posi- ton to collect now the information which may. lead later to career of educational usefulness.
 This counsel on the part of the President of the United States. togeth- CT with the probable investigation of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad company by the interstate commerce commission, takes us still another step away from the old-fashioned theory of corporate independence in business management. Doubtless it will be construed as another irritating inter- ference on the part of the president with railroad management, but it is very doubtful if such a View will long stand the test of thoughtful examina- ton The enforced idleness thrust up- . on thousands of men who are willing to work and work faithfully is of it. self most disturbing incident in the life of a great and rich country, and warrants the most searching investi-
 
 such enforced idleness necessary to the preservation of vested rights. The country would like very much to know, and it is knowledge which it ought to have if it is obtainable, just what the this exacting period of business de. pression, whether we are to look tc or both for an explanation; whether natural causes have operated to pro. yoke it; or finally whether corporate misconduct is at the bottom of the mess. Nor Is if an improper use tc make of commission power, though il must be admitted that 1t is depar. ture from the traditions and prac. tices of the past As has been sait in these columns time and time again the inevitable consequence of yieldins monopolistic powers to corporations preconceives such organized and off cial examination into their conduct al is necessary to protect the publi, against extortion and their emplove! against injustice To complain agains such examination is to run the risk o tustifying suspicion of corporate in