The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-05
Police SYSTEM OF
P. R. R. EXPLAINED
Continued From First Page.

examination against org nized labor and
intimidation of men.
1.-THE Pennsylvania Company is and
has always been unalterably opposed to
the closed shop and sympathetic strike
policy the statement declared. "This
principle is inimieal to the best inter.
ests OF the public, the company and its
employees.
Answering the charge that the Penn
sylvania maintains the ''lbest spy sys-
TEN in the world - to harass unions. it
declared that the force of confidential
investigators was ''in no way connect.
ed with the railroad 5 police depart
ment' and was employed to ascer-
tain and report to the officials the con
duet and sentiment of employees and
the movements, actions and plans of
labor leaders and organizers.
Must Employ Trained Men
1t was contended that it was neees
sary to employ trained men to conduct
Investigations as the company had re-
sponsibilty of maintaining adequate
train service and was subject to fines by
the government for delays to the public
and was subject to fines 10y the gov.
ernment for delay to tne mails. On the
activity of the confidential employees
the statement declared:
Confidential Investigators are also
employed to identity themselves as en-
ployes in various departments and to
secure correct information as to any eff
forts of the labor organizers among EN-
ployes which tend to destroy the har-
mony and friendly feeling which for
many years have generally existed be-
tween this company and its employees.
Many labor organizers make special eff
forts to organize the foreign born EN-.
ployes and the susceptibility of this
class of employees to infiammatory
speeches of labor agitators, due to lack
of knowledge of American laws and
customs, requires that necessary precau-
tion be taken to eliminate, as far as
possible the causes of dissatisfaction.
Why the Police Are Employed
9 1t is the plain duty of the company
TO ascertain the sentiment among the
employees and take such action as may
be necessary to insure satisfactory re-
lations with the employees. 1t has been
found that this can best be done by en-
ploying trained men.
In regard to charges by Mr.. Perham
that the Pennsylvania uses it's special
police force against organized work
men the company S statement asserted
that the police department was organ.
lied to protect the company's property
and the travelling public and to uphold
and enforce the law insofar as the com
pany's interests are concerned.
The Right of Organization
The members of the police depart.
ment' the statement continues, "are
authorized to make arrests under the
commissions issued to them by the State
governments. The presence of mem
bers of the police department on com.
pany property during strikes in pre-.
venting strikers from carrying into eff
feet various acts of violence and de-
struction of property, and affording pro-
lection to men who remained at work
and those employed to take the places
of strikers has resulted in strikes being
less effective than would otherwise
have been the case. -
Charges that the company denies the
right of organization to employees were
met with the statement that it deals
with the rival telegraphers' union and
with local shopmen s organizations
(Which are entirely local to the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company.
Why Men Were Discharged
AS to the complaint that union COM
mitteemen were discharged by Pennsyl-
vanis officials while attempting to ad-
Just grievances, the company says that
five such men were dismissed in 1912,
but not for association with the Order
of Railroad Tele2raphers. One, it says,
was dismissed for sleeping on duty
three successive nights and four were
discharged for insubordination for re-
fusing to return to work at expiration
of leave.
A general summary of its labor pol
icy submitted for the company de-
clared:
''The management of the Pennsylva
MIA railroad believes that the com
pany's greatest assets are the loyalty
and efficiency of its men. It's labor
therefore, as an effort to protect that
asset. The company believes that rail
road employees should be paid liberal
wages and it believes there should be
every feasible safeguard to provide for
the personal safety of both employees
and patrons.
Recognizes Right to Organize
"The management frankly recog
nizes the propriety of men organizing
for the purpose of bettering their con
dition, subject only to such restric
ton as may protect the elemental es-
sential of safe and continuous opera
ton. 1t sometimes happens that the
management itself would do more in
the direction of additional compensa-
tion for the men if economic conditions
made it possible.
"In dealing with organizations
among its employees the company has
felt that the employees themselves were
the best judges of the forms of organi
zation into which they desired to go.
Therefore, there has been no inter
ference in the employees liberty of
choice in this matter. The foregoing
statement, however, must be qualified
in these respects:
The Company Supreme Duty
"The company owes a supreme duty
to its patrons and employees to take
all possible measures to insure safety
of operation. Such safety cannot be
secured without the most careful ad-
herence to orders. The management
has, therefore felt that it should resist
firmly all activities of employees or
ganizations which might tend, in the
least, to undermine discipline.
''The management is also response
BILE to the public for maintaining con.