Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-15

CONTINUED from First Page.)
and Dr. Neill for their wise admins
tration under the Erdman act and
tnen went on to detail some of the
difiiculties OF arbitration under that
act.
Representative. Clayton pointed out
that under the proposed bill the arbi-
tration will be under the eye of the
President and not under a cabinet Of
fcer. The employees want power to
subpoena witnesses and to have in
general clear-cut legal status for the
machinery of arbitration.
Representative Garrett of Texas asked
question:
After this is law how do We know
there Will not be striker"
we are taking men at their words.
replied Representative Clayton. 1--WE
nave some faith in this poor. weak hui
mainly Of ours. We believe this bill APP
pea,s to good business sense generally.
and we believe railroad employees ought
TO nave some one to whom they car
take their grievances concerning their
wage and work, and we have gone be-
yohd the age where we can ignore q
workingman.''
No Binding Force, He Insists.
Representative Garrett still insisted
there is no binding force In the bill.
God forbid shouted Representative
Clayton. that we should have arbitra.
ton by compulsion 1t would fly in the
face of the Constitution
That's ALL" said Representative Gar
rett
IF the gentleman is satisfied I will
omit he rest of an excellent peroration,
declared Clayton.
Representative Dick T. Morgan Of Okla.
homa, speaking against the proposed
amendments to the Erdman act, said
that the employees do not consider the
arbitration features as. being as impor-
tant as the mediation features.
Murdoch Has Doubts.
speaking from the progressive camp, said
that the dispatch with which the Presi-
dent had furthered arbitration would be
commended
But the situation presents a problem
trainmen are face to face with the prob
lem of living. We know that trainmen
are Of high skill and OF discriminating
mind. They have not been moved by
women or priests. They are not quarrel
ing with the railroads or their bread and
butter"
He said those in control of the stand
ards of the cost of living for the past
twenty years. had been the masters and
that breadwinners have been losing
ground.
We pass this thing today for neces-
sity, but we do not touch the big question
which Is stabbing at our vitals. What
about the other side? How about the
waste and how about the report In the
case of the New Haven railroad showing
that $12. 1000 had been wasted for
nothing?
THE average member of Congress re-
CARDS the trainman as highly paid. yet
the matter Of bread and butter brings on
almost strike
He said the days of compromise are
going and that IL the executive and Con-
gress should get down to the founda-
mentals there would be precious little
use for the act.
General Discussion.
Representative Hardwick of Georgia
proves the personnel of the arbitrat-
ing board by placing 1t under the Presi-
dent.
claimed that the law should include the
cable companies.
Representative Stafford. republican.
of Wisconsin said the present bill ia
the result of the failure of the Erdman
act.
But we are about to create a sep
sion whereby the great public is to be
represented" He said that the board
should have seven members instead of
six.
Representative Kelly progressive. of
PENNSYLVANIA made a short address on
the subject of political economy in gen.
eral.
1--WE are showing that the natural
trend of events will not bring justice.
This is not in any way measure
which touches the heart of the matter"
He carried out the progressive idea that
there is too much waste OF life, money
and energy in railroading and other lines
of industry. He said wages should DE
higher all around.
Representative Mondell. republican. of
Wyoming. said he was pleased to see the
Erdman act was to be amended, but
would like to see the arbitration idea
extended.
Provisions of Newlands Bill.
In its perfected form the new law
would furnish machinery expected to
open up the possibilities of arbitration
and federal mediation.
The new law would establish the
limited States board of mediation and
concilation,' to consist of a federal
commissioner of mediation and con-
government. to be designated by the
President. This board could be appealed
to to intervene in Il railroad labor dispute
by either party and would first use ito
best efforts, by mediation and concllia-
ton. to bring the disputants to an agree
ment.
Failure would be followed by an at
tempt on the part of the board to in
duce the parties to submit their con-
troyersy to arbitration; and IN case
arbitration was agreed to. special
boards Of either three or six mediato
would be chosen by the railroads and
the employees.
Arbitration under the new law would
he undertaken only after a definite
agreement had been made by both par
ties to abide by the decision of the ar
bitration board for a stated period.
A.oon,oo+ IL poonhnd