Commissioner Wright: "If the government owned the railroads how would you avoid the changes incident to a change in administration?"
Mr. Lovejoy: "I consider that railroad employes would be in practically the same position as postal clerks. They would be under civil service rules to the extent of being pensioned after a term of years of faithful service."
Commissioner Kernan: "Would it not cause jealousy among other branches of workingmen if such a system should be adopted toward railroad men?"
Mr. Lovejoy: "I do not think so. I am not jealous of postal clerks."
Commissioner Wright: "What would you suggest as the next best thing if government ownership proved impracticable?"
Mr. Lovejoy: "That the government keep hands off altogether; let the roads and their men fight out their troubles free from outside interference. It is the knowledge that the government can be called to their aid that makes many of the railroad officials so arbitrary with their men."
Commissioner Kernan: "Don't you think that disputes ought to be settled by some other method than open warfare?"
Mr. Lovejoy: "There would be none if the authorities would keep away. The employes would settle their grievances by arbitration."
Mr. Worthington: "What would you think of a law providing that upon application of a certain number of employes the railroads should be compelled to come before a board of arbitration and make answer to the grievances of the men or vice versa before a strike could be declared? I mean by that a law which would compel a hearing of disputes by a constituted tribunal even though that tribunal had not the power to force a decision in the matter?"
Mr. Lovejoy: "I would be in favor of such a court and believe that the railroad men would abide by its decision voluntarily if they had some choice in the selection of the arbitrators."