Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-28
Strongly Opposed by Maine
Central Employees.
Leaders Of Labor Organizations
State Their Reasons.
Proposed Legislation Would IniuEs State
Of Maine Interests.

Portland, Me-, Nov. 27.-UnqualifieG
endorsement of the position taken by
the representatives of the five great
railroad labor organizations who APP
peared before President Roosevelt
very recently and protested against
the passage of legislation giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission
power to fix rates, comes from local
chairmen of these national unions
representing the members employed
by the Maine Central Railroad. Mr.
+. w. Littlefield, general chairman OF
the brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers on the Maine Central, speaking
of the Esch Townsend Bill which pro-
vides that the Commission have the
rate-fixing power, says:
THE Esch-Townsend Bill is design
cd to deprive the railroads of the pow
or to control their earnings and TO
regulate their business. We believe
that such law will destroy the pres
ent system of this country, which is
now admitted to be the best In the
world. Rate regulation by the Gov
eminent will necessarily result in a
sweeping reduction of rates over the
whole country, and we believe will fin
ally result in a system of rates based
upon distance. The practical destruc-
ton of the entire commerce of Europe
was accomplished by this system. The
inevitable end of the proposed legis-
lation will be a shrinkaGe in the value
of railroad securities. This alone is
a factor of vast Importance. A conser-
vative estimate shows that One-fifth
of the people of this country are de-
pendent in a greater or less measure
upon the values of railroad securities
for their sustenance and well-being.
OF these, 100000 are railroad en-
ployes, and their dependents swell that
number to nearly 100000 In addition
to these there are to be considered the
millions of holders of life and fire in
surance policies, the depositors in saw
ings banks. and the beneficiarics of
schools, homes, and aSyumS, whose
cndowments and funds are invested
in railroad securities.
We believe. furthermore. that it is
absurd to assume that the task of reg
ulating railroad rates can be perform
I'd by Government bureau. The
hundreds of skilled men who now
have the control of that business are
unable to perform 1t to their own sat
faction. The Esch Townsend Bill
contemplatcs fixed schedule of rates.
No man in this country who knows
what an infleXible, schedule of rates
means wants, that sort. The few men
who make the demand for the Esch-
Townsend Bill complain most bitterly
against fixed rates even on single ar
ticieS.
The members of the Brotherhood
Of Locomotive Engineers do not stand
AS the champions of the railroads as
breakers and evaders of the laws. We
condemn rebates and Illegal practices
of all sorts. We believe that the laws
should be enforced against all alike,
and we will lend our efforts to aid in
this as readily as we give them in OPP
position to the Townsend Bill.
We do not believe that the Esch-
Townsend Bill will aid in the enforce
mcnt of the present laws against re-
bates. secret determinations. and like
offences. We believe that these laws
as they stand at present are suffi-
Gent and need only to be enforced,
and in urging Congress to defeat the
Esch- Townsend bill we also urge the
enforcement Of the present laws"
Mr.. f.. w. Cf,ek,> general chairman
of the Order of Railroad Conductors
for the Maine Central system. says on
this same subject:
Railroad employees, today. receive
4O.S per cent. of the gross receipts Of
the railroads. This is a greater pro-
portion than Is paid to its employees
by any railroad In any other country
in the world. At the same time
freight rates ill this country are low
cr than in any other country in the
world. The railroad systems are more
numerous and better managed. their
traffic is conducted along safer and
better lines the benefits derived there
from by all classes of persons are
greater than in any other country
and except for the matter of secret
determinations and rebates we be-
heve that there is not a single railroad
abuse in existence in our land. We
believe. further. that rebates and Sc
crct determinations have so decreased
IN the last 10 years that an infraction
OF the law is now the exception and by
no means the rule. The present laws
lorbidding rebates, midnight" tariffs
ana other secret determinations. we
neiieve to be ample and sufficient. We
do not agree. with President Roosevelt,
'hat the Esch-Townsend bill, if pass
ed. VIII aid in the enforcement of the
laws or in the suppression of illegal
practices. We fail utterly to see an,
connection between the abuses which
He seeks to abolish and the provisions
OF the Esch-Townsend bill"
Like sentiments were EXPRESSED hx
george H Hargrave. chairman If m.
brotherhood of Railroad Trainman fo,
the Maine Central system:
one reason why the order of vb;c,
am member has taken action ,vn,ns
the Oil is that it threatens lis VIII, sa.;
Gus injury. The fact shat wages b..
advanced during the last forty years ~
oeen due entirely to the efforts Of 81.
organizations of railroad ,aha
me TACT that During that ~,
raiiroad freight rates have de,roas.
"hile wages and the cost If ,,at,
tehance ana materials have Co.. -
entirely due to the wise and far-s;,,,tl
tnoicE OF railroads. 1t is to tbis na nt'
,-oIn LII country owes its wonderful n