The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-25

engineers will faithfully abide by the
award during the period that It is to
continue. at the same time 1t can be
only temporary because Its fundamen-
tai basis is so insecure"
He dissents from the majority of
the board in their recommend ation
that wage commissions be establish
ed with power of compulsory arbitra-
ton, although he suggests that there
are some important activities to
which wage commissions might pro-
fitably give their attention.
A striking suggestion IL made in his
recommendation that hereafter arbi-
tration boards should be SO consti-
tuted that none Of the parties COM
posing them-not even representa-
tives Of the pubiic-shouid have a
majority Of the members; that the
majority should be constituted by
Representatives OF at least two of the
parties agreeirE Mr. Morrissey's
dissenting report concludes with the
statement:
Opposes Compulsory Arbitration.
Il wieh to emphasize my dissent
from that recommendation OF the
board which in its effect virtually
means compulsory arbitration for the
fahTUduS anu tfNDlUyNSs re
gardless OF any probable constitu-
tional prohibitions which might ope-
rate against 1t being adopted. 1t Is
wholly impracticable. The progress
toward the settlement OF disputes be-
tween the railways and their empl Dyes
without recourse to Industrial war
fare has been marked. There is moth
ing under present conditions to pre-
vent ats continuance. 1t will never
be perfected. but even 50 1t will be
UNNECESSARILY better than II would be
under conditions such as the board
propose. The peace that would sat
isfy such an ideal condition as that
had In mind by those making the rec
oYnme ndation woaiu be too o., Il ~
bought, even II II could be attained.
To insure the permanent Industrial
peace SO much u@streu Miii ed
broader statesmanship than that which
would snackie the rights of large
group of our citizens"
Mr. Morr.ssey recognizes the inn
portancc TO the engineers of the eff
fects of such increases In wage rates
and the esta bl.shing of such uniform
rules of service as the board have
granted. There has been,' he says,
gain IN essentials ana a step for
ward has been taken in the standard
ization in engineers rates and OF con-
ditions for the Eastern district"
Mr.. Wfilards Statement
The statement of Daniel willard.
president OF the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad system, follows:
'lnasmuch as the innings and con-
illusions of the board are not unani-
nous. think II n proper that should
briefly state my position as represent
ing the railroads In this matter.
When requested by the railroads
to serve as their representative. il was
understood that eiIssl LIS ~ouis be naue
to secure as the actual arbitrators In
this case five men of the highest char
acter and ability. 1t was recognized
by all that the two members named
by the parties In interest, while given
under the terms of the agreement,
equal staSding with the proper me m
bers of the board. would also neces-
sariiy occupy the position of advocates
representing the parties by whom they
were selected.
II have felt from the first that il
was desirable to secure. II possible. a
unanimous report. and in view OF the
fact that the Ave members appointed
by the chief justice and his ASSIST
ants, as provided by the agreement Of
April seth. have. after a most search
ing Investigation, reached unani-
nous conclusion. tt seems to me that
ought also to sign the report in or.
der that ] may, by SO doing, plainly
signify its acceptance by the parties
was chosen to represent My ac-
ceptance Of the award as a whole DOGS
not signify my approval of all the
findings In detail. 1t is intended, how
ever, to indicate clearly that. aith ough
the award is not such as the rail-
roads had hoped for, nor In II such az
they felt would be justified by full
consideration Of all the facts. yet. hav-
ing decided to submit their case to ar
biiration. and having been given am
and arguments In support of their
position. they new aecep without uues-
ton the conclusion which was reach
ed by the board appointed to pass
upon the matters at issue"