Show WANTS WA WAGE CUT INVESTIGATED Roosevelt Fears Railroad i StriKe and AsKs Commission Commission Com Corn i mission to LooK Into the I Proposed Reduction Reductio WASHINGTON Feb 20 O. Serious Serious industrial in in- disputes in prospect were in inthe tho the mind of President Roosevelt when he wrote a letter to tho Interstate Com Corn merco commission which was made public yesterday He TIe says that information information information in in- formation has reached him that on account account ac account ac- ac count of the enactment of drastic laws Jaws aw 13 y the Con Congress and anti by the arious Various State Stat Je I it is regarded as an by hy railroad companies nic to reduce the tho TM pay of employees Ho Ito points out that under tho law either cither party may rosy dem the tho ices cr of tho chairman of tho the Into tate state Commerce commission commission and of tho the of Labor as asa asa asa a board of conciliation IIo no SU suggests I therefore that the tho Interstate Commerce commission make mako such an investigation as will it to furnish data con con- Corning wa wage e conditions on various railroads that may relate direct directly or indirectly to tho the possibly impending Cu controversy a Ir The text of tho Presidents President's letter fol Lol- Jow lows To tho the Interstate Commerce Commission Commis sion slon I am am Informed that a number of or railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road com companies panIcs have served notion of a proposed reduction of ot wages on their em- em One of or them tho the Louisville Louls Nashville Nash In announcing the reduction states that tho the drastic laws InTs Inimical to tho tim Interests of the railroads that have In tho past year or t two o bern ben enacted by Congress ss and the State tato Legislatures arc are largely el or chIcO chiefly responsible for or tho the con- con requiring the reduction Under such circumstances It Is Js possible that the c ma may soon bo confronted b by serious industrial disputes and tho the law provides ldes that in fri such case either party part may demand tho the sen services Ices of oC your our chairman and of or tho the Commissioner of or Labor as a n. board of ot mediation and conciliation con con- These reductions In wages nages may maybe maybo maybo bo be warranted or they may not As to this the tho public which Is a 8 par party h. h can form fonn no judgment without a more moro completo com com- pleto knowledge of or the essential facts and andreal andreal real merits of or the cn case than It now has or than It can possibly obtain from th the tho special pleadings certain to bo be put forth b by each side in caso case their dispute should bring about serious Interruption to trat- trat tic fie If the reduction In wages Is due to natural causes the loss 1059 of or business being such Buch that the burden should bo be and Is Is equitably distributed between capitalist and wage workers tho the public and Congress Congress Con Con- gress Kress should know It It and If It 11 it Is caused b by misconduct In the past financial or other operations of or any railroad then ev everybody everybody ev- ev should know It It especially if It the excuse e of ot unfriendly legislation is ad advanced advanced ad- ad as n. n method of or covering up past business misconduct by tho railroad man man- manI I or as a justification for tor failure to treat fairly tho wage earning employees of or tho the company Moreover Moreo an Ind Industrial conflict between a n. railroad corporation and Its employees offers peculiar r opportunities t to any small amaH number of or evil disposed persona persons to do- do stroy life and property and foment Coment public pub pub- lie lic disorder I Of or cour course o It If life pro property rt and public order are endangered prompt and drastic measures for their prot protection cUon becomes com 9 tho the first plain duty All AU other duties I then h be become become be- be come subordinate to the preservation of tho the public peace and tho the real merits of tho the original controversy onlY aro arc necessarily lost from Crom view This vital viLi consideration should be bo ever er kept In mind by all nil law- law abiding and sighted far members of organizations It Is iii sincerely to 0 bo be ho hoped d therefore that any wage wago 0 controversy that mil may rise riso between the railroads and their employees may ma find a peaceful solution through the tho methods o ci of conciliation an and arbitration already alread provided for tor by hy Co which I have o HO o effective c during tho the past year rear To this end th the tho commission should be ho in a position to have ha available for any I board of or conciliation or arbitration relevant rele rele- vant t data pertaining to such carriers as may ln In Industrial dis dis- dis- dis Should hould conciliations fall rail to effect a a. settlement and arbitration bo bl reject rejected d accurate ato Information should bo available In order to develop a properly Informed public opinion I th therefore ask ank you ou to make such In Investigation investigation In- In both hoth of ot your OUr records and nd by any means mean at nt your our command as will en- en ablo abl you O l to furnish data datil concerning such conditions obtaining on tho the roul Louisville Louisville- l. l Nashville and und an any other roads a as ma may relate roiate directly or Indirectly to tho the real merits of or a possibly impending contro contro- CrI versy I Signed THEODORE THEODORI ROOSEVELT |