The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-30
WILL THERE BE A RAILROAD STRIKE?

IS NOT yet necessary railroad strike The effort of the president find ground which to adjust the suggested to Congress legislation which ought to make strike sary.
 The eight hour day. They are willing to arb trate everything ese The president declares that the eight hour day socially necessary and proposes legislation 1t the legal day for all employees actually engaged in interstate commerce. Once this is law, the only obstacle braon the lack of tribunal The president recommends action necessary to raise the tribunal.
 Now follows that the eight hour day may some cases cost the railroads money than the system may happen in that the earnings of the railroad are not enough to pay the bill.
 Therefore the president proposes increases when shall be by eight hour day. that
 taking the financial condition of the property into consideration there ought to be an increase.
 No fair minded object to this proposal It is ab souey necessary in order that there should be fairness
 railroad receives its charter upon its agreement per entitled to fair return the value of the property employed for the public its rates do not render such fair entitled to raise them. About this there doubt
 If the eight hour day places railroad in position it cannot fair return the value of its property ployed for the public it is entitled to raise its raes
 There be other fair The president in this mat ter of saying that the railroads have fair return any of them don't get it. is absolutely beyond criticism Justice qures ths
 The presidents other proposals commendable Commerce Commission ought to be enlarged is big enough to do the work Its methods of procedure ought 10 be boadened for speed and service Such action ought taken, whether there is to be strike not
 That the railroads must under government control of military necessity is too plain need statement There ought to be in the hands of the president enough ate the railroads for military and that should be instantly granted The dangers of not too remote make this imperative
 The proposal for investigation before railroad strike begin lawfully will probably not be pleasing to labor, which in America has been historically opposed anything in he nature public compuson with respect arbra
 This opposition is based the belief that the ment is uniformly hostile to labor belief not entirely without foundation view of inuncton militia strikes Danbuy Haters cases Monumental Bronze and the like.
 But the president does not compulsory award He proposed delayed strike pending public investigation
 So far organized labor not favor this remedy it is from the fear that railroads may the investigation period of preparation
 The Farmer that such fear is groundles Such investigation would from the nature of the condition speedy No time would be given to the railroads pare than The railroads know many months ahead when demands to be expected is always in their power in vite ske and they make the preparation at their option.
 history of public interference in labor matters during last g years has been almost unbroken series of h nmphs for labor.
 strikes did not the public much labor the earth But whenever and wherever pub investigations of labor difficulties have approached the quail y judicial proceedings there labor has made progress For proof of this statement the impartial citizen consult the dtions Australia and New Zealand where the adu dication of labor disputes is most advanced