Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-20
TO HEAD OFF STRIKE.
Roosevelt Asks Information on
Threatened Wage Reduction.
SENDS NELL TO INVESTIGATE

President, Learning That Various Rail-
roads Arc Preparing to Cut Salaries,
Asks Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to Ascertain Facts.
Washington, Feb. 20. - President
Roosevelt, having been informed that
the railroads Of the country are pre-
pairing to reduce wages, has under the
Erdmann act started an investigation
with the idea, first, of discovering
whether the proposed reduction is the
result of necessity or of mismanage-
ment, particularly high financiering,
and second, il such wage reduction,
from whatever cause, is likely to bring
on strikes that will endanger life and
property. In that case, the president
says, drastic measures for the protec-
ton of life, property and the public
peace will be necessary.
Under the Erdmann act Chairman
Knapp Of the interstate commerce
commission and Charles P. Neill, com
missioner of labor are the arbitrator.
President Roosevelt called these two
into conference. As a result Mr.. Neill
started west to investigate the wage re-
duction on the Chicago Great Western
and other roads, and Chairman Knapp
is having compiled all the figures In
the possession of the interstate COM
merce commission bearing on the
question.
Tho Presidents Letter.
The president sent the following let
ter to the interstate commerce commits
sion:
am informed that a number Of rail-
road companies have served notice of a
proposed reduction of wages on their en-
ployees. One of them, the Louisville and
Nashville in announcing the reduction
states that "the drastic laws inimical tc
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 tho
conditions requiring the reduction.
Under such circumstances it is posi-
BILE 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 commission
err of labor as board of mediation and
Cancellation.
These reductions in wages may be war
ranted or they may not. AS to this the
public, which Is vitality interested par
ty, can form no judgment without q more
complete knowledge of the essential facts
and real merits of the case than 1t now
has or than 1t can possibly obtain from
the special pleadings certain 10 be put
forth by each side in case their dispute
should bring about serious interruption to
traffic.
Public Should Know II.
II the reduction in wages is due to nat
ural causes, the loss of business being
such that the burden should be and Is
equtably distributed between capitalist
and wageworker, the public should know
1t. II 1t is caused by legislation, the pub
lie and congress should know II. and IL II
is caused by misconduct in the past finan-
cial or other operations of any railroad.
then everybody should know IT, especially
II the excuse of unfriendly legislation Is
advanced as a method of covering up
past business misconduct by the railroad
managers or as a justification for failure
TO treat fairly the wage earning en-
ployees of the company.
Moreover. an Industrial conflict be-
tween a railroad corporation and its EN-
ployees offers peculiar opportunities to
any small number of evil disposed per-
sons TO destroy life and property and
foment public disorder OF course II
life. property and public order are en-
A.. N<ARf and lFsoo 10
for their protection become the first plain
duty. All other issues then become sub
ordinate to the preservation of the public
peace, and the real merits OF the original
controversy are necessarily lost from
view. This vital consideration should
be ever kept In mind by all lawabiding
and farsighted members of labor organ
izations.
Get All the Facts.
II Is sincerely to be hoped. therefore,
that any wage controversy that may
arise between the railroads and their EN-
ployees may find a peaceful solution
through the methods OF Cancellation and
arbitration already provided by congress,
which have proved so effective during the
past year. To this end the commission
should be In position TO have available
for any board Of Cancellation or arbitra-
riers as may become involved in indus
trial disputes. Should Cancellation fail 20
effect a settlement and arbitration be re-
jected. accurate information should be
available in order to develop a properly
Informed public opinion.
I therefore ask you to make such in
vestigation. both of your records and by
other means at your command. as will
enable you to furnish data concerning
such conditions obtaining on the Louis
VILE and Nashville and any other roads
as may relate. directly or Indirectly, 10
the real merits Of the possibly impending
controversy.
Informed by Labor Leader.
The fact that the railroads are pre-
pairing TO cut wages was called to the
attention Of the president by W. :.
Stone. grand chief Of the Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Engineers. According
to his information. the Chicago Great
Western Is TO start the movement.
The Louisville and Nashville and the
Southern railroad. labor leaders have
told the president. are trying to renew
contracts with their employees at re-
duced figures. using the argument that
this Is a panic year and also that the
two cent passenger rate law passed by
several states has cut the revenue 50
that it is unfair for the labor unions to
expect more and impossible for the
railroads To pay the old scale.
In both these arguments the presi-
dent secs attacks on his policies. He is
that the railroads shall not
reduce wages and charge the necessity
10 him or 20 the enforcement Of laws