The Ordway new era., 1908-02-28
PRESIDENT ON
RAILROAD PAY
LETTER TO INTERSTATE COM
MERGE COMMISSION ON
CUTTING OF WAGES.
WANTS INVESTIGATION
PUBLIC ENTITLED TO KNOW "
REDUCTION IN WAGES is
WARRANTED.

Washington. Serious industrial dis
putes in prospect were In the mihd oi
President Roosevelt when he wrote
letter TO the interstate commerce com
mission Tuesday. which was made pup
lie Wednesday.
He SAYS that information has
reached him that on account of the en-
actment of drastic laTs by the Con
gress and by the various State l.egis-
la,ures. 1t is regarded rs necessary by
railroad companies TO reduce the pay
OF employees.
He points out that under the law
either party may demand the services
OF III. chairman of the Interstate com
merce commission and OF the Commis-
sioner OF labor as a board OF Concilia-
tiOn.
He suggests. therefore. that the in
terstate commerce commission make
such an investigation as Will enable
II TO furnish data concerning wage
conditions on various railroads that
may relate directly or indirectly to
the possibly impending controversy.
The text of the Presidents letter fol
lows:
To the Interstate Commerce Com
mission
Il am Informed that number OF
railroad companies have served no
tice OF a proposed reduction of wages
on their employees. One Of them. the
Louisville a. Nashville. in announcing
the reduction. states that the drastic
laws inimiCal to 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 the conditions
requiring the reduction
u ader such circumstances Il Is
possible that the public may soon be
confronted by serious industrial dis
putes. and the law provides that in
such case either party may demand
the services OF your chairman and OF
the commissioner OF labor as a board
OF mediation and ConCillation
These reductions in wages may be
warranted or they may not AS TO
this, the public. which is vitality in.
terested party. can form no Judgment
without more complete knowledge
OF the essential facts and real merits
Of the case than It now has or than
it can possibly obtain from the special
pleadings certain To be put forth by
each side in case the dispute should
bring about serious interruption 10
traffic
II the reduction in wages Is due 70
natural causes. the loss Of business be.
inc such that the burden should be.
and is. equitably distributed between
capitalist and wage worker. III. public
and Congress should know It. and +,
u Is caused by misconduct in the pas.
financial or other operations n aur
railroad. hen everybody should know
1t. especially L the excuse o, ua.
friendly legislation il advanced BY the
railroad managers. or a. a Jus t!fcatlon
toT failure 70 treat fairly the wage
earning employees Of the company.
Moreover. al industrial conflc. he
tween 4 !airoat corporation and It's
empio?es "1srs peculiar opportunities
TO zny small number Of evil disposed
persons 10 destroy life and property
ana soCeat public disorder.
=. D, curse, /. life. property and pub.
nc oiceF are endangered. prompt and
ll@sl4c measures for their protection
becomes The first plain duty. All other
---eA 'aea oecone subordinate to the
p'eseiTa a;ioa Of the public peace and
'h= t@a4 merits OF the original con.
Lro'='sT are necessarily lost from view.
] Us Flizl consideration should he
e's' s%pt in mind by all law.abidinp
eno 'zr-sishted members Of labor or.
Eznizz,iors. '"''' 'F'
u is sincerely TO be hoped ,bers.
lore. ths, any wage controversy Tho,
NAY Tse between the railroads and
men employees may find a peaceful so.
Luuon n through the methods of con.
cilation and arbitration already nrn-
Fided for BY Congress. which b,vo
year. 'he past
10 this end the commission sbou,d
De IN a position to have ayaiIahIo 90.
any board of conciliation or arb,,r..
uon relevant data pertaining 70 .uoh
carriers as may become involved in
industrial disputes. !"
should cancellations fai, 70 oro,.
settlement and arbitration be reiec,es
accurate Information should no avail
ao,e IN order to develop n nroneriv
informed public opinion.
therefore ask you to mako .u,,
lhsesugations. both of your record.
anu uy any means at your commord
VIII enable you to furnish data
concerning such conditions obta,njnv
on 'ne Louisville & Nashville ana
any o,ner roads as may relate d;recti.
y. inuirectiy. to the real merits ~ .
possioiy impending controversy
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.