The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-20
On Question That Concerns the
Country More Than Either
Trainmen or Railroads.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 Standing
squarely behind the recently eS
pressed view OF President Wilson, q
report presented by committee on
railroads of the Chamber of COM
merce of the United States declares
the operation of railways shall not
be interrupted by railroads or BY
employees until after Investigation.
This report has been issued for a
referendum vote or the commercial
organizations OF the country.
In connection with the railroad
controversy of last summer, the na-s
tional chamber Of commerce by AM
vote had asked that
Congress direct the Interstate Com
merce Commission to investigate the
causes leading up to the threatened
strike before a settlement be attempt
ed The new report follows the same
fundamental principle OF full lI1-j
yestigation before a strike or lock-
out. but suggests different agencies
and laws for carrying ft8out.
Public Should Dominate.
BY way of complimenting the pres
identts efforts the Tenort-prepared
by committee of which G. IL. Weed,
president Of the Boston Chamber Of
Commerce, Is chairman, has gone
even farther. 1t not only recognizes
the Interest OF the public as para
mount, but provides it shall be para
mount by making the representatives
of the public the majority Of any
board Of conciliation or arbitration.
Commercial organizations Of the
United States, Elliott II. Goodwin,
f.secretary, OF the national cham Der,
/ said, through the referendum just
sent out, may endorse recommends
1 tions that existing law shall be so
z amended or supplemented as to
(aO Require full public investiga-
I ton or the merits Of every dispute
1 between railroad carriers of inter
state commerce and their employees,
to be instftuted8and completed before
any steps tending @ the Interruption
Eof transportation shall be attempted.
/! Obj Provided that, upon any board
DEMONSTRATION or arbitration of dis
putes between railroad carriers of in
terstate commerce and their en-
ployes. the employers and employees
Esha1l have equal representation and
i the public, as having paramount in
t,terest. shall have a majority repre-
lsentation.
(c) Establish separate. Derma-
sInent division of the Interstate Com
I5merce Commission, the functions OF
which shall be to make a continuous
5EStudy OF all questions aEelALlnB 10
Z. wages and conditions of service upon
railroad carriers OF Interstate COM
merce and to compile statistics
which, together with the records and
services OF such division, shall be Inn
lnedtately available to any and all
boards OF investigation or arbitration
created to consider disputes between
such carriers and their employees.
Members of Railroad Committee.
The committee whose report Is car
irIed in the referendum succeeds the
u one which acted at the time Of the
Threatened railroad strike and whose
n Recommended were SO heartily
Il endorsed by the national body. II
has studied the situation thoroughly
/. and has worked along the lines con,
templated by the old committee.
Because Of the Importance of tht
a work IN hand particular care was eI
ercised in the selection OF the present
Z, committee. Judged by the promi
hence Of its members and the widely
diversified interests which they rep
II resent. it's said to be one OF the mos
Y remarkable committees which IA:
II ever served the national chamber.
Mr.. Weed. its chairman. as hal
II been said before, is the president 81
the Boston Chamber Of Commerce