Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-25

determination of a group of employers
and employees combined The public
utilities of the nation are of such fun
damentaI Importance to the whole peo-
PIE that their operation must not be
interrupted. and means must Be work
ed out which will guarantee this re-
suit"
The report Is signed without reserve
by Charles Il. Van Hise. Madison. Wis.
chairman; Oscar S. Straus. New York:
Albert Shaw. New York: Frederick n.
Judson, st. Louis, and Otto NJ. Ed
litz, New York, who were appointed by
the chief justice of the supreme court
of the United States, the United States
commissioner of labor and the pre-
siding judge of the United States
commerce court, and by Daniel Will
lard, president of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad, representing the rail-
roads.
p II. Morrissey. former grand mas
ter of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, representing the engineers
wrote Il dissenting opinion in which he
expressed the belief that the award
would have the effect of retarding the
progress OF arbitration in the settle
ment Of industrial disputes on the
railroads.
Mr.. Morrissey contends that the
award does not settle the important
principles raised by the engineers and
claims that it is based upon statistics
what are not only unreliable for the
purposes for which the board used
them but that the board also erred in
! the application of these wage statis
tics.
For this reason, says Mr.. Morrissey,
while the engineers will faithfully
abide by the award during the period
that it is to continue, at the same
| time it can be only temporary because
its fundamental basis is so insecure.
Mr.. Morrissey recognizes the i'm
portance to the engineers of the eff
| fects of such increases in wage rates
| and the establishing of such uniform
awadred.
| There has BEEN he says, "a gain
! in essentials and a step forward has
been taken in the Standardization in
engineers rates and of conditions for
the Eastern district"
| Mr. Morrissey dissents from the ma
! iority of the board in their recommen-
| dation that wage commissions be es
! tablished with power of compulsory
arbitration, although he suggests that
| there are some important activities -
which wage commissions might profit
ably give their attention.
A striking suggestion is made in
I his recommendation that Hereafter ar
| hitration boards should be so consti-
1 tuted that none of the parties COM
posing them-not even representatives
of the public--should have majority
i of the members; that the majority
should be constituted by representa-
tives of at least two of the parties
agreeing.
Mr. Morrisseys dissenting report
concludes with the statement:
II wish to emphasize my dissent
!, from that recommendation of tho
board which in its effect virtual,
means compulsory arbitration for thu
: railroads and their employees. Regard
/ less of any probable constitutions
| prohibitions which might operate
Z, against its being adopted. it Is who'll,
Il .mpraeticable. The progress TOWARD
: the settlement Of disputes between ihs
81 railways and their employees withcu
1, recourse to Industrial warfare ha:
{ been marked. There is nothing under
: present conditions to prevent its con
e tinuance, 1t willneYer be perfect, pu