Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-02-27
A PROPOSAL. TO CUT WAGES
OF RAlLRoADERS ATTRACTS THE
PRESIDENTS ATTENTION.
He Asks Interstate Commerce Com
mission to Ascertain Whether Such
Reductions are Necessary.

Washington, d. C. - Serious in
| dustrial disputes in prospect were in
the mind of President Roosevelt when
he wrote letter to the interstate
commerce commission which was
| made public Wednesday, He says
that information has reached him that
on account of the enactment of dras-
tic laws by congress and by various
state legislatures it is regarded neces-
sary by railroad companies to reduce
the pay of employees
He points out that, under the law,
either party may demand the services
of the chairman of the interstate
commerce commission and of the
commissioner of labor as board of
cancellation. He suggests that the
Interstate commerce commission
make such an investigation as will
enable 1t to furnish data concerning
wage conditions on various railroads
as may relate to the possibly impend-
ing controversy. The letter follows:
ITO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission: | am informed that a num-
Der 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 inter
estS of the railroads that have in the
past year or two been enacted by con-
gress and the state legislatures are
largely or chiefly responsible for the
conditions requiring the reduction.
Under such circumstances the pub
lie may soon be confronted with seri-
Gus industrial disputes and the law
provides that in such cases either
party may demand the services of
your chairman and of the commission
er of labor as a board of mediation
and conciliation. These reductions
in wages may be warranted, or they
may not AS to this the public, which
is vitally interested party, can form
no Judgment without more complete
knowledge of essential facts and real
merits of the case than it now has or
it can possibly obtain from the special
pleadings 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
should know it, If it is caused by leg
islation, 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 unfriendly legislation
is advanced as a method of covering
up past business misconduct by the
railroad managers, or as a justifica-
ton for failure to treat fairly the
wage-earnfng employees of the com.
pany.
Moreover, an industrial conflict
between railroad corporation and
It's employees offers peculiar oppor-
tunities to any small number of evil
disposed persons to destroy life and
property and foment public disorder.
OF course, If life, property and pub
lie order are endangered prompt
measures for their protection become
the first plain duty. All other issues
then become subordinate to the pres
ervation of the public peace and the
real merits of the original contro-
versy are lost from view. This vital
consideration should be ever kept in
mind by all law-abiding and far
sighted members of labor organiza-
tionS.
Il therefore ask you to make such
investigation as will enable you to
furnish data concerning such condi-
tions obtaining ON the Louisville g.
Nashville and any other roads, as may
relate to the real merits of the pos
sibly impending controversy"