New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-25
ENGINEERS STRIKE AWARD.


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ENGINEERS STRIKE AWARD.
Z The most important recommendation
of the arbitrators between the rail-
roads and their engineers is that state
and federal wage commissions be ere
ated with authority to settle similar
wage disputes for the future. That Is.
as Mr.. Morrissey. the representative OF
the engineers among the arbitrator,
points out in disagreeing with the ma
iority, the report favors compulsory
arbitration in labor disputes Of pubic
service corporations. The circnm-
stances Of this dispute give force 10
this recommendation A strike upon
all the railroads in the northern sec
ton Of the country east Of Chicago mas
been averted only by the intervention
Of public authorities and by months or
labor on the part of the public spirited
men who made up this board OF arbl-
| tration. But the award Of the aroitra-
tors is binding only until next May.
| In May the engineers, who nave oo-
| tanned only a small part Of what they
asked for, will be free TO renew thelr
demands. 1t may he that the weight
OF this present determination with the
| public will be enough to prevent the
men from threatening 10 strike again.
But peace is only temporary. Ana
meanwhile there are the firemen S
claims to higher pay. These will have
to he settled. And other classes OF
railroad labor will he heard from.
In arguing for system that VIII
| remove the dangers TO the pubic
which lie in the present methods OF
wage bargaining between unionized
labor and the railroads the arbitrator
make the same point which The TriD-
une has often made. 1t requires no
stretching of the conception to regard
the occupation of the railway employe
as affected with a public interest
The interests OF the public IN a rail-
way strike are. says the board OF arDl-
traitors. paramount to those of the en-
ploying roads and their employees. And
IL records a profound conviction that
1.-THE food and clothing Of our people
"tbe industries and general welfare OF
! "the nation. cannot be permitted to de-
pend upon the policies and the die
''tates Of any particular group OF men,
whether they be employers or en-
"ploves. nor upon the determination OF
"a group Of employers and employees
combined. The public utilities OF the
nation are Of such fundamental I'M
.portance To the whole people that
their operation must not be interrupt
led. and means must be worked out
(which will guarantee this result.
There is no sound reason Of justice or
public policy why labor should not he
made 10 recognize that when II under
takes its part in the performance OF
public service il assumes special ana
unusual obligations. just rs capital has
hpen made to recognize the correspond
ing special Obligations which it as
sumes in the same circumstances
Indeed. regulation which covers rates
hut does not extend TO wages is almost
certain TO he ineffective even as TO
rates. Railroads and their employees
will be sure TO he found working to-
gether seeking 10 force Increases OF
rates by agitations over increases OF
wages. If railroad managers cannot
obtain the consent Of the authorities 10
higher charges in any other way their
employees will need little encourage
ment to demand wages which cannot
he paid without higher charges.
That issue. whether the railroads
could afford TO pay their men better
wages. entered in the present dispute.
| The arbitrators did not pass upon il.
| but sent the railroads TO the Interstate
| Commerce Commission if they could
not pay the wages awarded out OF
| their present earnings. Since the bur
| den OF the increases awarded falls
| chiefly upon the weaker railroads. the
more prosperous lines already paying
wages as high or higher than the
| minima now ordered, the question
what the Interstate Commerce Com
mission will do for the lame ducks.
| whose claims for consideration were
rejected when the rate increases were
not sanctioned. will come mp again IN
more acute form. The arbitrator
have decided that the lame ducks
must pay fair wages. That is the way
the decision works ont for the most
part. The flame ducks will ask the
commission How