New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-21
Belmont Says Politics
Would Sway Acts of
industrial Council"
GEES RISK IN UNION
ON PETERBOROUGH
FinanCierS Review Condi-
tions-Strike Problem
Still an Enigma.

Jacob ~ SchiF believes that fed
,..l cmu.oymen. bureau could find
,ors FOR an the unemployed.
Angus, Belmont asserts that strikes
sill come So long as the worker does
~, regard his employment as a contrse,
with his employer. 20 be terminated
when either is justihably dissatisfied.
Angus, Belmont further believes that
concentrated industrial council
would be ineffective IN settling dis
,g,c, between labor and capital. be
,,sse such 81 body would likely lie too
strongly rcrmcstcd with politics.
They said this Yesterday when testi-
t,irc q, the City Hall before the Fed
,-.l Commission on Industrial Rela-
uors. which IS anxious TO learn how
ne unemployed may get work, what
,ss causes o. industrial unrest are,
how wages may be increased and hours
s,orte0c6. how strikes may be settled
end how strikes may be prevented.
The attitude Of Mir. Belmont on the
-sist,ors OF the marlborough 20 union
labor was the principal subject OF his
exam nation. IN outlining 1t he re
ferred 20 the subway strike OF March,
1905.
shortly after p. m. Mr.. Belmont
reached tho Aldermanic Chamber,
where tho afternoon session was held.
Dr. Jacob H. Hollander, professor O.
POLITICAL economy IN Johns Hopkins
Ja,yers O.. was then on the stand.
Spectators Favor Unions.
"po sou ovr many shares in indus
trial concerns o" asked Frank 2. Walsh.
chairman. Of Mr. Belmont
40. he rebled. He has no interest
;r manufacturing companies.
After he had testified that he was
chairman OF the board OF directors o.
,he lnterborouCh Rapid Transit Com
rzay and the Rapid Transit subway
Construction Company he was asked
ly Nr Walsh:
"Vha- Information do you possess
sbou. labor conditions in the com
paries iu which you are interested o.
81 nave taken little active interest
FOR scyera. years in that feature OF
ry connection" he answered, and then
went or:
a director rarely has anything 10
do with labor matters unless strike
comes or something equally serious
arises"
Does the general manager grant TO
the men the opportunity 10 talk with
him when they are dissatisfied see
him personality
Every emplove has the right 10 go
20 him personally and report on any
subject Of COMPLAINT
"Will he see man as representa-
tive, as spokesman. Of group Of en-
Dloyes o.
NO. sir. No group can appoint a
spokesman FOR them. The cases must
he ;rested individuality
Belmont Aid for Workers.
VI. Belmont could give no figures
on the hours OF the various divisions
Of subway and elevated employees. nor
q The increase in salaries IN the last
zen wears He told OF establishing four
c.uorooms for the men. giving the
building personally
VT. Walsh asked MIN 20 detail the
policy % the marlborough as 10 the
right Of men 20 Join labor unions. This
Mr. Belmont did not answer directly.
lie made this reply;
"a the time Of the strike there were
tgo corporations the subway and the
elevated lines. We made an agree
nent with the men in each branch Of
the service, but they went out and
made secret agreement between the
;Vo sets Of employees. The men came
70 us with several questions 10 dis
clss. We said we wouldn't discuss any
olssuons until they discarded their
secret agreement. They refused to do
So The matter was brought to the at
'srtion Of the national body, which
tetded IN our favor. The men re