Legislation Concerning the Railroad Service

I am asked to state how the public regards the controversy that has arisen over methods of settling disputes between the railroad companies and their employes. While I think I can speak without bias or partisanship, I of course recognize it to be impossible for any one individual to represent the views of the general public on a complicated controversial question such as the one under consideration. Indeed, it is probable that the public as a whole has reached no single definite conclusion. Although I shall venture to state what I think is the belief of the public concerning the principles and methods that should be followed in deciding controversies between the men and the managers in the railroad service, it will be understood that in advocating the adoption of remedial measures I can represent the views of only one member of the public. It will at least afford a starting point and may assist in simplifying the problem under discussion to begin with a statement of certain principles upon which there may be presumed to be a general agreement on the part of the public. I am sure the public is of the opinion that for all classes of railroad employes the hours of labor ought to be reasonable, and the wages fair and generous. Organized effort on the part of the employes to secure fair wages and reasonable hours of labor has always met with sympathy on the part of the public. The railroad companies, it is further agreed, should be permitted to make such charges for their services and to earn such revenues as may be needed to enable the carriers to pay good wages for reasonable hours of service. Individual shippers and local communities, under the stress \of competition, will naturally oppose increases in railroad rates and will press for a reduction of transportation charges; and, indeed, the country as a whole, represented by its state and federal railroad commissions, will inquire into the reasonableness of

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