Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-06

were given in case the railroads refused to secede
70 their demands. The transportation service Of
time when industries in general had reschsd their
greatest production. and the food supply and other
neessssIsss q life. especially in the larger cities.
ton OF the steam railroad systems Il Is question
able whether many Of the man, especially thoss in
psny for many years would finally have deserted
their positions, yet the untold suffering and dis
the execution Of ths threat. made by the train
men through their leaders. were evident that the
Eight Hour Law" vas enacted by Congress in
strike was avcrted. but in the hassy proceedings
leading TO its enactment the principle OF srbitrs-
settling labor disputes was sacrificed, not in the
public interest nor for the benefit of . majority
Of railroad employees. but for group Of men con:
number. and no action was taken by Congress to
prevent or settle future strikes.
This Law provides that beginning January |.
1917. eight hours shal in contracts for labor and
service be deemed days work. and the measure
or standard of .. days work. for the purpose Of
the operation of interstate trains, and provides g
Commission of three to observe the effects of the
report its findings to the President and Congress;
but It also requires that. pending the report OF
the existing standard days wage shall be paid for
an eight hour day. and for overtime the employees
shall Be paid not less than the pro pro rata rate for
increased by its provisions; there Is apparently
nothing to prevent employe working more or
being unsbIe to satisfaetorSly interpret the pro-
visions OF the law. and having grave doubts As to
its eonstitntonalty. has instituted proceedinxs to
test its validity in the Federal Courts.
The Federal and State laws and the public wel-
fare require Railroad Companies TO render 8
and il should be equally obligatory that no dis.
ruption of that service from any be tolerated
Therefore, in the public interest, which is para
mount, future strikes or loekouts should be pre-
vented until the differences between the railroads
and their employees are FIRST submitted to indie
pendent and impartial review and arbitration.
FEDERAL TRANSFORMATIONS INQUIRY.
A Joint Congressional Committee has been
appointed. upon the Recommendation Of the
President, to investigate the efficiency of the
existing system of public regulation in protecting
the rights Of shippers and carriers. and in promot-
The Railroads will assist this Investigation and
have already submitted evidence that the present
system of Federal and State regulation is incon-
sistent. confusing and wasteful They have.
therefore, requested consideration of . program.
/ Federal supervision Of the issue of railroad
securities:
Exclusive Federal regulation OF rates;
A regional and functional division of the
work of the Interstate Commerce Commission
Restricting rate suspensions by the Com
mission to not more than sixty days:
Giving the Interstate Commerce Commission
the power to prescribe minimum as well as maxi
The ann OF constructive legislation should be
70 allow the railroads to conduct the transpor-
tation service under such conditions as will preserve
their credit that they at all times efficiently
and economically carry the commerce of the
Country and be its most available and effective
instruments for National defense Under the
existing conflicting systems OF public regulation by
the Federal and State Governments the railroads
have not been allowed to earn sufficient profits
TO place them in that position. and. therefore,
there has been serious decline IN constructing
new mileage, new equipment and sufficient facilities
70 accommodate the shippers and the public
With the increased traffic in the past eighteen
months this condition somewhat improved,
but the needs of the situation have not yet been
satisfactorily met. The common carriers as q
whole for many years have had to depend for new
capital the increase of their debt and mortgage
obligations, rather than by the sale of Capital
Stock. that it is evident their credit is not yet
securely founded. Therefore e serious responsi-
bilty rests upon this Congressional COMMITTEES
to make a thorough. prompt and impartial in
vesGgation of the entire transportation problem; "
and recommend legislation that will insure sound
credit for the railroads: reasonable rates and
adequate service to the public: and replace
conflicting and wasteful regulation with unified,
responsible, regulation by the Federal Govern
ment, under which the railroads will be permitted
to fair return the capital slresdy invested
in the public transportation service. and sufficient
to attract the additional capital requisite to