New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-23
Provides for Thirty-Day
Notice Before Either
Side May Act
WAGE BOARD WILL
HEAR ALL DISPUTES
Strauss Announcement
Brings Opposition OF
Labor Leaders

Oscar s. Straus, chairman Of the
Public Service Commission, yesterday
made public the details Of the arrange
ment by which the commission hopes
20 prevent stroetcar strikes IN New
York. The main feature Of the plan
IS new law making the calling OF o
strike or the declaration Of lockout
without thi,ty days notice to AFFORD
on opportunity for a settlement MIS-
dcmeanor.
Within an hour after the plan had
been announced by Mr.. Straus organ
ized labor had placed itself on record
as intending to fight the proposed leg
,slation 70 a finish. Hugh Frayne, IN
charge Of the New York office Of the
American Federation of Labor, assert
ed that il contemplated nothing less
han compulsory arbitration, to which
union labor is unalterably opposed.
William 5. Fitzgerald, Of the general
executive committee Of the Amalgamat-
cd Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees, insisted that "we
will fight that measure in Albany
The position Of the traction com
7anies could not be learned, comment
% the Offices Of the Interborough being
refused in the absence of a chance TO
consider the measure. EDWARD A.
Maher, vice-president and general
manager Of the Third Avenue system,
could not be reached.
Companies May Fight
Unoficially, men in the executive Of
ices Of both systems said that the
companies might be expected to oppos'
any measure that would take out Of
heir hands the settlement Of all ques-
tions Of employment and working con-
ditions with their employees.
Under this provision the companies
would retain the right to discharge,
subject to review by the commission
on the appeal Of the discharged en-
ployes. and 70 his reinstatement with
back pay in the event that the com
mission find him TO have been unjust
~ dismissed.
Commenting on the measure, Mr..
Straus said that the commission had
refrained from drawing q bill pending
a general discussion of the proposition
by experts on both sides This will
begin within ten days in the form of
public hearings, 20 which the commits
sion has invited 1870 persons represent
ing labor, capital and the general pub
lie.
Criticism Invited
I'VE invite criticism of the meas
ure." he said, "to the end that we may
have all possible light on the matter
When that is obtained 10 will be an
easy matter to draft the necessary
bill
"To go on in the way we have been
is inefficient and unscientific. Strikes
are nothing more nor less than q
specie Of civil war to obtain settle
ments that might be had peaceably"
The Straus plan provides:
]. wages and Working Conditions
Street railroads shall provide for the
payment Of fair and reasonable wages
10 All employees and make provision
Tor fair and reasonable working con-
ditions in the performance Of such
service.
Adequate Service Required
2. Duty OF Company TO Provide
Adequate Number OF Employees.
Every street railroad shall procure
and have such employees in service,
adequate IN number. competent, 9.
as shall obtain continuous, uninter-
rupted, safe and adequate transporta-
ton Of persons or property and pro-
mote the security or convenience Of
employees. passengers, shippers or the
public
3. Method Of Determination.-Th
determination Of what shall constitute
fair and reasonable wages and salar-
les and fair and reasonable working
conditions shall be made either by
AZ Mutual agreement between en-
ployer and employee (b) The wage
board. constituted as hereinafter pro-
vided; or lc) The commission of the
district having jurisdiction over the
employer
4. Organization Of Employes.--Any
ten or more employees engaged in any
branch of any service over which the
commission has jurisdiction may form
an association or union.
5. Negotiations and Agreements
With Employers.-Any association OF
union registered as provided may ne
gOtiate with any employer under the
Jurisdiction of the commission for
the purpose OF establishing a joint