Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-09

NEWARK, Del. Dec 9. - Elisha Lee,
general superintendent OF the PhiIadei-
phia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad.
iii a startling address before the students
Of Delaware College today declared the
railroads are facing grave labor troubles,
and sounded a note OF warning to the
public.
'There is serious problem confront
ing both the railroads and the public.
said Mr.. Lee. 1T is a problem that you
younger men will have TO wrcstle with as
citizcus refer to the labor problem.
and particularly the railroad labor prob
tenn.
IL will quote the concluding words OF
ihe arburators between the locomotive
engineers and the eastern railways In 1872,
which gives warning Of situation TO
which the public has been sngularly
indifferent.
1.-THE food and clothing Of our pco-
pie, the industries and the general
welfare of the nation cannot be per-
mitted to depend upon the policies
ard the dictates Of any particular
group Of men, whether employers or
employees nor upon tho determination
OF 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 inter-
r,uted. and means must he worked
out which will guarantee the result
adjustment of working conditions has
been considered a matter of private con-
cern affe tins only employer and en-
ployed." Nr Lee continued. Yet the
rnilvay provides service which Ia a
necessity of tn. crtirc people. and the
interruption OF this service would prove
to be a national calamity Wage in
creases in this industry are usually sooner
or later shifted to the shoulders OF the
people AZ large in the form OF Increased
rates TIE publiC's interest In railway
labor controversies IL supreme and should
asset Itself far more effectively than IL
has thus far in the consideration or adop-
tion ot any plans for wage regulation.
'sAt tSc present time We see very little
In the papers about the labor movement
and tie railroads but, as matter OF
fact. :ae pot is seethn- hot. move
menr " now on foot to secure the asso-
citation ~ all the train organizations in
one united demand upon the roads. ON
many of the railway systems federation
of the four brotherhoods Is In erect. ana
on others working agreements exist be-
tween two or three of the ORGANIZATIONS.
aced by this new ideal Of a united labor
force in an undivided country. the public
may well give heed and devote its best
thought TO a consideration of its own IN
terest in the outcome.
ONE WAGE SCALE DEMANDED.
"in recent negotiations and arbitration
proceedings demand for Standardization
has he, more or less vigorously pressed
the same pay for the same work in the
same class o. service, whether train
operation is or single or double track, in
mountainous or level country, IN hranch
main line service. on lines Of heavy
or llgI.: traffic But the standardization
wanted is standardization upward, as vas
very frankly stated. in a recent contro-
yersy, ~ ono OF the labor leaders, and
leaves tie high spc's plainly in view.
The result of such Standardization Is
to raise the lower end of the wage scale
regardless of work performed or respon-
sibility incurred. Results obtained under
such conditions have been attained In a
haphazard fashion and are attended by
much discrimination
There has been little In the process up
to the present time that could be desis-
mated as scientific such questions often
being settled from the standpoint of i'm
mediate eXpedienCy.
do not think | am critiCising tn" in
dlvidual or the great mass OF railroad en-
ployes | know of no finer body Of men
generally than the employees Of the rail-
roads today. They are hard-WOrlling
conscientious mon who are sincerely and
devotcdly doing their work-often under
most trying circumstance AT great per
sonal Inconvenience and discomfort and
sometimes even at personal risk and dan
ger. would venture the guess that we
have very slight. If any. fault 10 find with
eS per cent, Of the employees. and | am
proud Of the fact that il is my good for
tune to work with them.
This Is a question however, that Is
not only taxing the brains of the officials,
but is also uppermOst i'm the minds Of
many of the rank and tile and We are
all endeayoring seriously to find an ad-
justment fair and equitable to all parties
concerned