Arizona republican., 1917-01-04
SHOULD PUBLIC INTEREST BE
 FIRST IN RAILROAD DISPUTES

Bringing the subject of disputes be- tween railways and their employees home to business men, the local chamber of commerce through a ref erendum sent hN the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, is asked to go on record for or against the following questions:
 Shall existing law be so amend ed or supplemented as to require fuli public investigation of the merits of every dispute between railroad car riers of interstate commerce and their employees, to be instituted and com pleted before any steps tending to the interruption Of transportation shall be attempted?
 tI.-Shall existing law be so amend ed or supplemented as to provide that upon any board of investigation or arbitration of disputes between rail- and their employees, the employers and employees shall have equal rep reseutation and the public, as having paramount interest, shall have a ma io-ty representation?
 lll-Should congress establish a paramount statistical division under the interstate commerce commission to study and compile statistics relat- ino to wages and conditions of ser vice upon railways. the records and services of this division to be imme diately available to boards of inves- tiqation or arbitration considering disputes between railways and their employees?
 Advocates Public Maiorty on Arb-
 tration Boards
 With tEe referendum is carried a re1Grt hy the National Chamber Rail road committee of which C. F. Weed. president If the Boston Chamber of Commerce. is chairman. As explained ly Harry Welch secretary of the local chamber. this report hacks up Presi- dent Wilson's Legislative program for a settlement of railroad differences ano advocates an affirmative answer or the part of commercial orsaniza tions affiliated with the national chamber tO the aroVe questions.
 IL will be remembered that the chamber of commerce of the United States by an overwhelming vote had asked that congress direct the inter state commerce commission to inVes- tigate the causes leading up to the threatcred strike before a settlement he attempted The new report fol- lows the same fundamental principle of q full investieation before a strike or lockout, Dut 1uggests different stSciitltS anu liNS ibl val HIS II OAt- IL not only recognizes the interest of the public as paramount, but provides it shall be paramount by making the representatives Of the public the ma ioritv cn any board of cancellation or arbitration
 Arguments For and Against Com
 mittee Report
 Following the invariable rule the referendum contains arguments for and against the recommendations so that organizations may he fully in- formed before finally casting their votes. The main heads of the mega tive side of the. question are:
 CD An investigation and publica- tion of the results will not always serve to enlighten public opinion. since many controversies involve questions different from the justice of an increase ir wages or of q de. crease in hours @ Employees are entitled to act collectively. even when they are in the service of enterprises Of public utility. @ Even temporary prohibition of strikes and loekauts may be ineffecWaI C) The proposal makes no provision to protect the nrhlic after a board of investigation has made it's report except in so far