The Washington times., 1908-02-19
Sends Letter to Inter
state Commerce Com
mission Urging I'M
mediate Action.
Proposed Plan of the
Chicago Great Western
Alarms Employees
Generally.

Following a conference at the
White House last evening, the Presi-
dent today addressed a letter to the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
directing that body to begin an in
quiry into the railroad conditions,
to determine whether OF not there
is just cause for a reduction of
wages, as proposed ty several lines.
This letter, which was made pub
lie this afternoon, is as follows:
The White House,
Washington
February IS 1908.
sion:
am Informed taar a number OF
railroad companies have served notice
OF a proposed reduction Of wages en-
their employees One OF them, the
Louisville and Nashville. In announcing
the reduction, states that the drastic
laws inimical 10 the interests Of tie
railroads that have in the past year or
TWO been enacted BY Congress and the
State Legislatures" are largely or
requiring the reduction.
Under such circumstance it IS pos
sible that the public may soon be con-
fTOnted by serious industrial disputes,
and the law provides that in such case
either party may demand the services
OF your chairman ana 5f the Commis-
sioner OF Labor as a hoard OF media
ton and conciIiatf0n. These reductions
In wages may be warranted. or they
may not. As to this the public. which
is vitality interested party, can form
no judgment withour q more complete
knowledge Of the essential facts and
real merits Of the case than il now has
or than it can possibly obtain from the
special pleadings certain 10 be put forth
by each side IN case their dispute should
bring about serious interruption 10
traffic II the reduction IN wages is due
to natural causes. the loss Of business
being such tHat the burden should be,
and is eCuitablV distributed between
capitalist and wagewOrEer. the public
should know lt. If tits caused Dy lesls-
laJiUu, the public and Congress should
know II, and If IL is caused by miscou-
duct in the past financial or other
operations of any railroad, then every
body should know H. especially IT tAe
excuse OF unfTiendly legislation IS ad-
yunced as q method of covering up past
business misconduct by the railroad
managers, or as "a justincauon Tor fall
ure % treat fairly the wage-e1rning en-
ployes OF the company
Moreover. an industrial conflict be-
tween a railroad corporation and lts
employees offers peculiar opportunities
tc any small nUmDer C eVli-dlsposed
persons to destroy life sHy. property ana
foment public disorder Di course, IT
life DroDeTtv, and public order are en-
"a Il
for their projection bGCDple the nrsL
plain duty. All other issues then be
come subordinate 10 the preservation OF
the public peace. and the real merits OF
the original controversy are nece ssaI-liy
lost from view. This vital consideration
should be ever keptlln mind by all law
abiding and far-Sighted members OF l2n-
o. organizations
that any wage controversy that may
arise between the railroads and their
employees may md peacetul soluJlon
through the methods OF ConclHatlon ana
arbitration already provided by Con-
greSs. which have proven so en- ectlEe
during the rast year. TO TINS ena iil-
commission should be i'm position 20
have available for any board OF concii-
i2tion OF arbitration relevant uata iieI
tatninc TO such carriers az may become
involved in industrial disputes. Should
Conciliation fail 10 effect settlement
and arbitration ice rejected accurate M
formation should be available IN order
to develop a properly informed pupilc
opinion.
1 therefore ask you TO make such in
vestigation, both Of your recorGS ana
by anV other meaBE at your cQnl9land.
rs will enable YOU TO furnish data eJn-
the Louisville and Nashville ana any
other roads, as may relate olFectis OF
Indirectly TO the real merits OF the pos
sibly impending controversy. .--.---,
u II