New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-19

The railroads really put the pubic
interest first when they took The Trib-
une's advice TO arbitrate the dispute
act. The public wins through The
Tribunes victory. 1t will be spared the
disaster that stoppage Of railroad
traffic in large section Of the country
would occasion. No interest that the
public had was so great az the avoid
ance Of strike. BY the ending OF the
controversy the cause Of arbitration is
greatly advanced. In disputes between
employers with the sense Of responsible
ivy that the railroads have and labor
unions Of the superior character OF
those among the railroad wofkmen the
country has now, without law 70 that
effect. practically compulsory arbitra-
ton.
Neither side TO this controversy
wished strike, and neither side was
willing 10 face hostile public opinion
10y becoming responsible for one The
nremen were sure Of their ground in
standing by the legal method OF arbi-
tration and insisting upon having il
surrounded by those judicial safe
guards which the people had decreed.
And the railroads. when the weakness
of their position was pointed out by
The Tribune, had too much respect for
public opinion 10 persist in 1t.
The consideration which the rail
roads have shown 10 the public entities
them 10 look for consideration from
ire public. This arbitration which has
now been agreed upon will unQuestion-
ably award an increase of wages 10
the firemen. The railroads concede
that an increase is due. The only ques-
ion is how much the increase should
hc. The engineers have already re
ceived an award Of increased wages.
After the demands of the firemen have
been disposed of the other classes OF
railroad labor are expected also TO pre-
fer demands. A scaling up Of wages
all along the line is looked for. The
uayroll Of the railroads will be many
millions larger when the process Is
ended The public is being saved from
loss and Inconvenience in adjusting
these wage differences. The railroads
haye Just consented TO form Of arbi-
tration which they felt 10 be defective,
because the public decreed that form
and because the public insisted upon it.
The least that the public can do after
public commissions have determined
the size of the new payrolls is 10 give
the railroads q fair and unprecedented
hearing If they find the returns from
present freight rates TOO low to meet
their Increased charges
As for the Erdman act. the dispute
has revealed its faults. Ii was passed
when wage dispute was regarded as
an affair merely between employer and
workman, and the public is not sutii-
ciently represented upon an arbitration
commission appointed under it. This
defect was not enough 10 justify re-
fusal 10 arbitrate under the law, but
II IS enough 10 call for its prompt
amendment The Tribune is glad TO see
that the firemen are 10 join with the
railroads in urging Congress TO amend
the act so as 10 provide for larger
commissions with more neutral NELL
bers Such an amendment would pre-
vent any such dispute as this one from
arising IN the future by making arbi-
tration possible before q commission
adequately representing the public and
yet with the legal safeguards as TO EVIL
dence that the firemen have rightly
enongh insisted upon.