The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-18
FOR HIGHER RATES
z. II. Morrissey Appeals to the
Commerce Commission
On Behalf Of 25O,OOO Employees
OF Railroads.
HE SAYS Al PER CENT
vi the Gross Earnings in 1909
Went TO Labor.
replies to Suggestions of Bran
deis Made Last Week.
E SAYS IL PER CENT

washington, Jan. 1S.-Speaking on
pehaiI OF two hundred and fifty thou
sano en- ployees actively engaged in
ralIroadlng, ?. H. Morrissey, president
OF the American Railroad Employees
ana investors association. today pre-
sented a formal statement to the in
terstate commerce commission in sup
port of the proposed advance in
freight rates by the railroads. Mr.
Morrlssey is the chairman of a COM
mIttee representing the employees,
consisting of George Brophy. conduc
tor; X. fitzpatrick, acond uctor; H. F.
smith, baggage man, and r. D. Bull
luck: locomotive engineer. T. J. Dolan
OF chicago, general secretary reasurer
of the International Brotherhood of
Steam Shovel Men, also joined in the
statement.
Scores of favoring petitions from
labor were submitted to the commits
sion. In presenting the statement and
petitions. Mr.. Morrissey said:
These petitions and other express
sions We're secured without conniv
ance or coercion. They include both
union and non-union men. They rep
resent the free expressions of the en-
ployees.
ut might be urged suggested Mr..
Morr1ssey, that these employees, not
having made close investigation of
the financial situation or an analysis
OF the rate question, are not in a pO-
sition to pass intelligently on the SUBJ
ject.
This may be technically true, but
the employees have good general
idea of industrial conditions in our
country and they have observed signs
and conditions which have impressed
them in a common sense way with the
belief that the railways are entitled to
greater compensation.
I'm no other country is labor so
largely employed as on the railroads
and none in which SO large a proper
ton of gross earnings goes directly to
labor Labor got $1,OO5.249,9 5s from
the railroads in 1909, about Al per cent
of their gross earnings. 1t is estimat-
ed that labor will get at least $4,000
600 more when the increases for 1910
are added
Right to Be Heard.
1.-THE right of the railway worker to
a voice on a question that vitality con-
Germs his welfare can not be denied;
nor can he remain disinterested when
theories are being exploited which in
safety, or the earnings that are the
reward of the activities of his brain
and muscles. 4a
1.-THE active operating employees get
in a parativem labor sense good
pay and they will continue to ask for
more if the economic conditions of the
country continue to develop as they
have in the last ten years.
''They know that transportation has
not been a serious element in increas-
ing the. cost of living, because rates
generally have not been increased.
''They have learned the small per-
centage the freight rate bears to the
selling price of the commodities they
'eat and wear and they reason that the
freight rate is not an important factor
in influencing the price paid by the
ultimate consumer.
Employees are vitality interested in
the earnings of the roads. 1t is the
concern of every man to know that the
institution which employees him is kept
in condition to meet every obligation
to him. This may be styled selfish
reasoning, but it is intensely human
and practical
Referring to the arguments adj
vanced by Louis D. Brandeis in sup
port of the introduction of methods of
scientific management of railway
properties through which Mr.. Bran
deis believes a million dollars a day
could be saved by the railways, Mr.
Morrissey as a practical railroad man,
said he did not believe American
workingmen would labor under such
conditions as he thought such a sys-
tenn would jmDose on them.