The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20

railroads OF our country have made SUBJ
~stantial improvements In operating IN
come during the past year. but they have
also done much recently In the way of
, Improvement OF property and making
betterments long neglected on account
Of the lean years Just past.
at In to be remembered that an ap.
preciable number Of the railroads of the
country are in the hands Of receivers (:
and whether the solvent roads are In a
condition TO make further wage concce-
slons is a question that would have to
be determined by a n~on-rartlsan
tribunal. Certainly as far as many Of
the railroads are concerned. should a
wage Increase be granted 1t would have
to be followed by an increase III rates
to enable the roads to meet their obliga-
tions financially and to comply with the
various laws, Federal and state, which
govern their operations.
"FrOm my acquaintance with some Of
the labor leaders involved in this con-
troversy ! do not believe II possible that
they will sanction teven n a referendum
vote gives them the power to do so) a
general strike Of the our brothcrhoods
throughout this country. The Federal
Government. backed by public opinion.
must take the necessary steps to prevent
80 drastic an action. a universal strike
IL unbelievable and would simply bring
about a condition OF anarchy in this
country.
I'm these days when either side 10
a controversy which involves the life
and welfare OF so many VI our people
refuses TO negotiate. looking TO an ami
cable adjustment without resort to either
strike or lockout. "A situation arises which
demands Governmental Intervention"
Prof. RipIey's Re NEEDY.
Prof. william Il. Ripley OF Harvard.
the authority on trusts, POOLS and cor
porations. and author OF the standard
work IN Observation-Disclosures and Isegu-
l%ations." agrees with Mr.. Eldlitz as to
the risk and menace to the public of the
present controversy, and offers "A remedy
Prof. Ripley says:
concerning the matter OF the wage
movement OF the railroad brotherhoods,
my opinion Is that both this case and the
other involving the anthracite employees
must force upo the attention of the pub
lie the need Cor a more effective ma
chinery to prevent gross injury 70 the
comnon welfare.
My remedy Is the adoption of some
thing analogous to the Canadian indus
trial disputes act. which is based upon
the curative influence OF complete pub
lefty. coupled with the prohibition OF the
Interruption of service until the public
has time to be advised by a competent
Investigation.
y arbitration decisions ,ver accom-
pl.sh more than 70 split the difference.
settling nothing 80 Tar as matters Of
principle are concerned. II there is To-
be autho, itative decision II ought TO be
made by the san body which regulates
rates. inasmuch as both are Inc xtricably
entangled.
But | hold that no commission can
possibly bear such an accumulation OF
BURDENS Moreover. what il needed is
IA fair field and no favors for the party
which is in the right, To the degree in
which there is right.
y adequate investigation. all inter-
ruption .: service being prohibited ineail-
time. would give public opinion an oppor-
tunity to crystalline. Thu decision would
naturally be retroactive. 50 hat no one
would suffer from the delay.
Sees No Other solution.
AT the same time an overwhelming
responsibility ~ final decision will induce
such a commits To 90 straight 10 the
heart Of the matter, and perhaps uncover
the truth. | see no other solution ON
parable Wit this.
some time ago | assisted III drafting
a bill for the Boston Chamber of COM
merce along these lines, but the labor
Vote is of course solidly against even
this mild degree of Interference. Noth-
ing short of a catastrophe. such as either
Of these great strikes might provoke.
would force the public to insist upon its
right 10 uninterrupted service despite this
opposition"
But what liz the nature Of the rail-
road mems demands. which, If not
granted. may rrecipi,atc :. universal
strike?
1t is the purpose OF this article merely
to stat. the demands and tn. hearing
Of the controversy upon the public well
fare.
Commuters Of the Eastern. W, tern
and Southern associations of the four
brotherloods have submitted to their
| membership and to other classes of en-
ployces represented on the p~ayrolls OF
the railway companies n ballot declaring
that a. days service on tho railroads
shall DE reckoued on the basis Of 100
| miles travelled or less, or eight hours
worked or less, except in passenger
service.
Eight hours or less shall constitute a
day In all yard and switching service.
| Eight hours or less shall constitute "A
days work In hosting service. In each
case no worker shall receive less for his
eight hours or 100 miles thar he now
receives for IA minimum day of ten hours
or 100 miles for the class OF engine used
or for service performed. All overtime
shall be computed on the minute basis
and paid FOR al one and a half times the
regular rate.
This Is ia. principle of punitive over
time
The demand Is simply that II the men
are to work overtimc-that is. beyond
| the new standard Of an eight hour day
! the railroads shall be compelled TO pay
,'time and Il half