The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-09-09
WAGE Commission
P.S. bOARO'SPLAN
TO AVERT STRIKES
Maysf Mitchell Acting With
Slfius AMI Associates IN
Such a Move.
TRACrloNINQulRYLAGs
Both Sides Unwilling To Yield
Legislation Necessary,
Says Chairman.

Mayor Mitchell ana the Pubic ssr
wee Commission continued o.day
their Joint Investigation into the trac.
ton strike hut without much pros
pee OF hop. - being able 10 .sYsci
any change In the Immediate .itua.
tion.
Both the railway company and thu
union strikers are still In hostile At.
tltude. each side accusing tho other
~ being the nrst 90 violate tho arbi.
'ra,ion agreement they had entered
into on Aus 8. and have rejected
over'ure- ~ compromise
Under these circum stsness ths pro.
e.edings have nov developed Into an
inquiry on which to base a rapport and
recommendations for the future
rather than compulsory settlement
of the present situation. The Mayor
ana tho Commission expect this to
accomplish two things,
I. Determination as "a which
was guilty OF breaking faith In
the arbitration agreement and by
publicity calling down upon u the
condemnation Of public opinion.
?. Recommendation Tor iegisla-
tion TO create wage commission
which shall have power TO hx
wages OF employees on public
utilities, similar to the power Of
the present Public Service Com
mission over rates charged by
companies.
Chairman Oscar o. straus said to-
day:
Il believe that pntil some such
power be created vi shall never have
Industrial peace nor protection to the
public"
Chairman straus bases his Views on
the report Of the special arbitration
board that settled the threatened
strike Of locomotive engineers In 1914
Charles r. Van Hlss was Chairman Of
that board and Mr.. straus second
member. II recommended the follow.
Ing:
Tho creation OF national and
state wage commissions which
should exercise functions regard
ing labor engaged At work IN pub
lie utilities analogous TO those
now exercised with regard TO
capital by the public service
commissions already In existence.
There In no reason why such q
commission could not procssa In
the case OF labor dificulties with
the same promptnsss that existing
commissions exercise In the mRt-
ter OF railway rates. Above alt.
the commissions proposed would
represent the public.
TT the men engaged in train
service struck. the question would
arise regarding the legal author.
ty Of the Government to compel
employees TO remain at work.
rs II unreasonable TO ask that
men in the service Of the public
utilities should partially surren-
der their liberty N the matter OF
quitting employment so that the
nation a. \ whole may not suffer
disproporuonatelyf
In the last analysis, the only
solution Is TO qualify the princi.
pie OF free contract In tho rail.
road service. The public utin-
ties OF the nation are Of svch
fundamental importano, TO the
wholly people thst their opera
ton must not DO interrupted and
means must be worked out which
will guarantees this result"
y. u. Aorrisssy. REPRESENTING the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engi.
neers, dissented from the report and
opposed compulsory authority oe q
wage commission over Worktno men
II = understood that organised la
bor engaged IN the present traction
strike, ~ we'll a. the railroad union
| Involved IN the rseent national orisls
at Washington. hold the same Views
| Chairman Htraus and his associates
vkew the present situation In New
York a. OF supreme Importance, a
out Of II will he evolved = radical de.
parture In the relations Of the publk
toward both capital and labor In.
volved.