The Washington times., 1917-10-06

ration Mr.. King refused to negotiate
under any circumstances with the
men. He declined assistance from
the District Commissioners, and un-
til the very end declined assistance
from the outside.
PIttman's Recommendation.
Senator Pittman's recommendations
were as follows:
THE cause of the strike was the
refusal of the company to deal col
lectively with its employees, through
the Amalgamsted Association and its
insistence on each employe executing
an individual contract
"The company hatly refused to con-
slider collective bargaining with its
employees on the ground that by rec
ognizing the union and dealing with
the men through 1t they 1.-THE COM
pany) would force their nonunion
employees to become members Of the
Amalgamated Association, and this It
had no more moral right to do than
to compel them to become members
OF some particular religion, creed. or
cult.
The impracticability of the indi-
vidual contract system Is too absurd
for discussion. These are executed
by employees for the sole purpose of
going to work, and are seldom read
and never discussed. In fact, its chief
object is to avoid q discussion OF the
employees relations with the company.
Collective Bargaining Opposed.
collective bargaining on the part
of the employees Is a principle that
must be recognised. Public utility
corporations are but trustees for the
public. They are granted the priv
ileges of the use Of streets and high
ways and the right Of eminent do
main solely as trustees for the use
and beneit of the public and cannot
use these privileges in a manner op-
pressive to citizens or obstructive to
the peace and happiness of the pub
lie.
There are three parties to q pub
lie utility corporation-the corpora
tion, the employees, and the public.
Neither has superior rights, but all
have equal rights. The public is en-
titled to have the corporation oper-
ated continuously to the best inter
ests of the public and the employers
and employees are obligated to CO.
operate to their fullest extent to such
end.
THE Washington Railway 4 Elec.
trio Company defeated Its employees
in their effort to collectively negoti-
ate regarding conditions OF work,
etc, and forced them to execute the
mean the end of street car trouble
in Washington, but only the begin
ming.
TIVE Ways to Prevent Strikes.
There are two ways to prevent
strikes-by mutually free and fair
negotiation and by mutual compul-
sion. Neither the bill submitted by
Secretary OF Labor Wilson for the
creation OF a commission on indus
trial adjustments nor that submit
ted by Miss Emma Goldmark, Secre-
tary on Public Utilities Franchises
OF the National Consumers League,
OF a similar nature, will be sufficient,
as there is no compulsion in either
of arbitration or determination.
There are only two ways to pre-
vent further strikes and disorders,
First, through absolute control over
wages, hours and operating condi-
tions by a commission having full
and final authority within constitu-
tional limitations: and, second. by
government ownership and operation.
Labor seeks Government owner
ship and, as l understand their atti-
tude, there can be no strikes against
the Government. In my opinion. Con- |
gress will be compelled to take one |
or the other OF these courses In the
near future"