Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-21
Better for Three Parties

The decision of the United States supreme court
holding the AdaInson eight hour law constitutional
in all its parts while contrary to the expressed view
of many of the more eminent lawyers of the country
is nevertheless broader view than of them had
taken. 1t is more complete recognition of the inter-
state railway public service institution in which
not only employers and employees are concerned. The
public concern may be as great or greater than that
either We believe that both the roads and their
employees will better for this principle announced
in the decision The public will be immeasurably
benefited. All three parties know where they
stand. The employees will not be guided by the will
of their leaders, though may say the
hood organizations have for many years been we'll
conducted and strikes a rule have been under
taken except for good reasons Nor have strikes been
bitterly opposed by the railways as they formerly
were.
The demands of the brotherhoods last summer
resisted by the roads less because of the de-
mands then involved than because of those which
might be made in the future. To accede to them
would have been regarded as surrender only to
first of series of demands 1t made clear the
roads then that they would suffer financial loss by
that surrender; that they would be allowed recoup
themselves by increased rates but then they
unwilling to become parties precedent based on
settled principle. Likewise they refused to accept
they anyone else understood precisely what it
meant The division of the supreme court on the
question is proof that it had variety of meanings
But it is the alw and all understand it.
For some years there has been better under
standing between the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and the railroads than any that had formerly
existed between them since 1905 when the interstate
commerce law was given vriIity. In the commission
there was represented that popular antipathy the
roads that had grown out of the roads long abuse
Of their privileges and their long disregard the
public the failure of the roads observe that they
really the servants of the public. For six
the roads have been considerable of their
treatment of the people and the people have been
thinking better of the roads This attitude of
the people has been represented in the commission
which has literally allowed rate increases when it
shown that existing rates unreasonaby low
or that higher rates were necessary or for an i'm
proyement of the service
In the late tentative ruling of the commission on
western rates. abolishing the back haul coast
10 intermountain points the ruling suggested the
roads either of two ways of complying with the
ing Phey may reduce the inter mountain rates or
increase the coast rates. The latter plan will un-
doubtedly be the one generally adopted so that
decision viii result in increase the revenue of
the roads
The decision of the supreme court Monday
does deal with the present ability of the roads
to bear the increased burden put upon them, but
with the right of congress to impose that burden
Congress itself in passing the act considered only
colaterally the ability of roads sub
stitution of eight hour day for a hour day.
with the Of the latter day. Congress consid-
cred only the need of the employees Of eight
day at ten hour wage, but have said it
more than limited by congress- that whatever loss
seemed to be involved in that arrangement might be
met by an increase of rates.