Weekly Courier Journal

THE STRIKE COMMISSION'S REPORT.

The report of the commission appointed to investigate the Pullman strike and the resulting disorders will probably not add much to public confidence in the efficacy of such commissions in settling questions upon which there is a wide and well-nigh irreconcilable difference of opinion. The Commission distributes blame with a pretty liberal hand, but on the whole their report is a reverse to the railroads.

While the general tone of the Commission's report is favorable to a policy of peace and conciliation, it exhibits a degree of hospitality to certain extreme notions of Government supremacy in industrial matters and a tendency toward some of the ideas of the socialists. It is easy to read between the lines that the Commission believe that the ultimate solution of the labor troubles, so far as railroads are concerned, lies in Government control. But this leaves all other labor troubles to be provided for, and the suggestion that they should take the same course is easy and natural. In this way we should be likely to come at last to the socialist's idea of Government ownership of all the means of production and distribution, including not only railroads, telegraphs and mines, but land also. It is a perilous course to enter upon.

The Commission argue that competition among railroad employers of labor is gradually disappearing, and that the law of supply and demand can no longer be trusted to regulate wages on railroads. They, however, appear to overlook the fact that the railroads must compete with all other kinds of employment in recruiting the ranks of their employes. In another place, however, they say:

"Railroad employment is attractive and is sought for. There has never been a time in the history of railroads when men did not stand ready to fill a labor vacancy at the wages fixed by the roads. The number is constantly increasing."

This admission implies that there are other occupations less remunerative, which an increasing number of people are anxious to quit to engage in the service of the roads. Yet the Commission favor fixing the rates on railroads by commissions or by the courts, leaving the worse-paid employes in other occupations to shift for themselves. But it is not apparent how the Government can intervene to raise the wages of one class by law without incurring an obligation to do the like for all other classes of workmen.

Their ideas, if accepted, seem to have in them the promise of an entire revolution of our industrial system, and, indeed, of our form of Government. On the whole, we must conclude that this Commission have dealt with problems too complex and far-reaching for their capacity.