Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-20
PRESIDENT FEARFUL
OF INDUSTRIAL STRIFE
Interstate Commerce Commission
10 Look Into Wage Reduction
Of Railroad Men.
SAYS PUBLIC WANT THE FACTS
Wants Also to Prove, If Possible That
my Policies" Are No, Responsible
for the Proposed Reduction in
Wagea-Prcsldenrs Letter to Com.
mission Directing the Inquiry.
(Ily AssocInted prossl

WASHINGTON, ID. c. Feb. H.
Serious industrial disputes in pros
poet wore In the mind of President
Roosevelt when he wrote letter to
he Interstate commerce commission
yesterday which was made public To-
day. He says that information has
reached HIN that. OH account of the
enactment of drastic laws by Con
gross ana by various state legislatures
II is regarded ms necessary BY rail-
road companies to reduce the pay OF
their employees.
He points out that, under the law.
either party may demand the services
OF the chairman of the intcrstntc
commerce commission and OF the
commissioner of labor as u board of
cancellation. He says that the inter
state commerce commission will
make such an investigation as will
enable IL TO furnish data concerning
wage conditions on various railroads
as may relate directly or Indirectly
TO the possibility Imposing contro-
yersy. The full text Of the lettcr Is
as follows.
The White House. Washington. ID.
", fct|uarN lS, lpOS
ITO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission
II am informed that number OF
railroads have served notice of Il
proposed reduction of wages on their
employees. One of them, the Louis
Vile & Nashville. In announcing the
reduction. states that the drastic
In t,,t -.
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 nos
siblc that the public may soon be
confronted by serious Industrial dis
putes, and the law provides in such
case they probably may demand the
services of your chairman and OF the
commissioner OF labor us board of
meditation and concillation. These
reductions IN wages may be warranted
on they may not"
Real Facts Must be Known.
"As 10 this the public which is n
vitality interested party can form no
knowledge of the essential facts and
| real merits of the case than ii now
has or then il can possibly obtain from
the special pIeadings certain to be
put forth by each side in case thei.'
dispute should bring about serious
interruption to traffic. If the reduc
| ton III wages is due 10 natural caus.
es, the loss OF business being such
| that he burden should be, and Is
cquitably distributed between capt.
talist and wage worker, the public
should know IL. If II Is caused BY
legislation, 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 and espe-
| cially if the excuse of unfricndly leg
islntIon is advanced as method of
covering up past business miscon-
duct by the railroad managers or as
iustihaiion for failure to treat fairly
The wage earning employees OF the
company
Danger of Industrial Conflict.
Moreover, an Industrial conflict
between a railroad corporation ana its
employees Offers peculiar opportuni-
ties to any small number of evil dis
posed persons to destroy life and pro-
perty and foment public disorder. OF
course II life, property and public or
der are endangered. the prompt and
drastic measures for their protection
become the first plain duty. Al!
other issues then become subordinate
TO the preservation of the public
peace and the real merits of the ori
ginal controversy are necessarily lost
from view. This vital condition
should be ever kept in mind by all
law abiding and far sighted members
of lalor organizations. 1t is sin
ccrcly to he hoped. therefore, that any
wage controversy that may arise be-
] tween the railroads and their en-
ploycs may find peaceful solution
through the methods OF Cancellation
and arbitration already provided by
Congress. which have proven SO cf-
fectivc during the past year.
TO this end the commission should
be in n position 10 have available for
any board Of Cancellation or arbltra-