New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-27
Arbitration Revindicated

ment reached in the railroad switchmen s
arbitration. The arbitration board in this
case has done what the brotherhoods said
last summer It was not safe to trust any
arbitration board to DO
It has approved the principle OF an
eight-hour day for railroad labor employed
in switching. 1t has approved that prln-
cipc in spite Of its belief that general
eight-hour system is impracticable in rail
road work and that only a small per
centage Of switchmen can expect TO enjoy
an actual eight-hour day.
The four brotherhoods threatened ma
tion-wide tie-up 20 transportation and put
/ themselves in the awkward position of ad-
hitting the propriety of regulation By
Congress Of railroad hours. wages and all
other conditions Of labor. rather than sub
NIT the principle of an eight-hour day IN
their case TO the consideration Of an arbi-
tration board. Yet the switchmen's dc
cision proves that an eight-hour standard
of compensation for railroad men can be
established Just as easily by arbitration
as it can be established by legislation, with
out. moreover, impairiug the existing right
Of railroad employees 70 enforce their dc
mands on the companies by striking or
threatening 70 strike.
The brotherhoods must see now that
they played the game bunglingly. They
had an academic interest in securing I'D
eight-hour day; they had very prac-
teal interest in obtaining ten hours pay
for eight hours work. Congress voted
them ten hours pay for eight hours work.
under the pretence Of establishing an act
ual eight-hour day. But they have had 70
nay an enormous price for this concession.
which is to hold good, at the most, for less
than a year They have encouraged-in
fact, compelled-Congress to assume COM
pete jurisdiction over wages, hours and
the conditions of labor on railroads. They
have subscribed by inference, to the theory
that Congress may forbid them to inter
rupt the continuity of interstate trans
probationary prohibit any collective &C
ton on their part leading TO strikes.
The brotherhoods want to dodge paying
thus for their wage increase. They are
protesting violently against anti-strike
legislation. Yet the public sees in anti
strike legislation only fair and reason
able Offset TO the higher cost of railroad
service which it must face as result Of
wage-raising by act Of Congress. Last
summer the brotherhoods held up the pub
lie through Congress. The public is now
demanding that Congress square the ac
count.
The brotherhoods we're mistaken land
so were the President and Congress) in
thinking that the eight-hour principle
could not properly be submitted to arbitra-
ton. II has been submitted to arbitration
Under government auspices, and has been
sustained
The brotherhoods were also mistaken in
thinking that higher wages could not be
obtained through the good Offices Of a
mediatory board. The switchmen have
lust obtained nine hours pay for eight
hours work That is a larger concession
than the brotherhoods obtained through
Congressional action, for the ten hours pay
for eight hours work schedule which Con
gress prescribed runs for only a limited
period. Thirty days after the board of
inquiry created by the Adamson law makes
its report the whole question Of wages is to
be opened up again. The report on the
operation Of the new wage scale will have
20 be acted on by Congress, and any fur
Their adjustment Of hours and wages is
pretty certain TO be coupled with legisla-
ton restricting or abolishing the right TO
strike.
The brotherhoods have recently been
negotiating with the railroad companies
for a private settlement Of the wages and
hours dispute. They have recognized that
there will be no future for labor organiza-
tons Of railway operatives if Congress Or
the Interstate Commerce Commission as
sumes full control Of all the conditions OF
labor on interstate railroads. They might
well be willing TO compromise with the
companies on a settlement as favorable to
lnem rs JfdI uSh ObOdiutu ny Ilo oNIISh-
men, for such settlement would give them
the eight-hour day standard and nine
hours pay for eight hours work (tnstead
Of ten hours pay for eight hours work.
and still leave them free TO continue their
activities as labor unions.
The switchmen's decision, on the whole
represents a rough measure OF common
sense and justice. 1t has only one grave
defect-and that is one which it was be-
yond the powers of the arbitrators 10 rem
edy. The advance in wages granted, as
the board recognizes, ought TO be Offset by
corresponding advances in freight rates
The award ought, in fact, to have the ap-
proval of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission before it goes into effect, since the
commission alone can make the necessary
rate adjustments. II could do so now if
- D. 70