The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-08
AN OBVIOUS DUTY

Whether it be true or not, as claimed by the
officials Of the street car company, that they nave
.swon the strike" a most obvious duty rests WIN tne
ennbHc service commission Of investigating condi-
lions which led to this walkout of half of the WORK
sers on the lines.
Public utilities are not private enterprises Iney
are under control Of the State. They are necessities
to all business and because of that fact are projected
from competition and are insured a falr return
through rates fixed by State authorities.
Stripped of all the technical claims, movements,
mistakes and camoufage, it is most obvious that the
men who quit their jobs hastily, and i'll advlseuly,
did so in the hope of obtaining more wages.
It NAV be taken for granted that the company
believed them to be capable men or they would not
have been in service.
Itvis. most obvious that the people of this city
are entitled to capable service, courteous service
and efficient service from trained men.
The wage paid to employees of a public utility
lis a matter of as much concern to the public service
slcomniission as are returns to the street car owners.
The people of this city certainly are willing to
paw for good service, and under no stretch Of the
imagination would any one believe that those who
ride upon the cars desire to save money at the ex-
pense of men who receive less than a living wage
or less than a fair wage.
The worst way to settle any wage controversy is
by strike. In disputes in private enterprises the
principle of arbitration is recognized IN every part
Of the Nation as the fair and decent way.
In the case of a public utility, there is provided
and ready at hand the machinery not only for arbi-
tration, which should not be necessary, but for per-
manent peace through an official body already in
operation and authorized to act.
Whether the controversy be between one man
and the company or hundreds Of men and the COM
pany, the commission established by the State should
be interested in seeing that fair conditions and fair
wages prevail.
The spectacle of a policeman standing guard
over passengers upon the street cars is not a good
ertisement for this city, to put it mildly.
- That it is at all necessary, is even worse.
The wage paid to these men who quit their jobs
was 81 cents an hour for beginners. The highest
wage paid was AZ cents an hour.
That may be a fair wage in this city. 1t may
be q living wage. 1t may be all that the service is
worth.
Or it may be lam9ntably low.
But that is a question which can be quite as
easily determined as is the rate Of return to the
owners of the company.
Surely this city is able and willing. to pay all
that the service is worth. Surely this city is willing
to be fair to the owners of the utility and fair to
the employees of that utility.
1t is a most obvious duty of the public service
ommission, charged with the duty of protecting the
public and insuring against any cessation of service,
to inquire into this matter and tell the people Of
this city the real facts.
It is more than a question of the rights of the
men who struck, 1t is a matter of public welfare
and future peace Tkt~