Evening star., 1915-02-02

you give that persons name to our rep
resentative, who will call on you,
Chairman Walsh said.
"I guess we can get the minutes the
witness replied.
Mr. Morgan said he had no idea as to
how many hours man should work
day. Nor had he any idea, he said. as
to work.
"The later, tho better. I should
imagine" he said. He was asked II, in
his opinion, $40 a week was sufficient
wage for longshoremen.
"If that is what is paid and the long.
shorenan takes it, guess it is enough,
he said.
Mr. Morgan said he did not know in
which of the corporations he was IN
terested the men were organized. He
thought men on the Northern Pacific
railroad and in the employ of the In
ternational Mercantile Marine Company
were organized.
What is your attitude toward Or
ganized labor?" asked Mr.. Walsh.
What do you mean-my attitude?
Mr.. Morgan asked in reply.
No Difference to Him.
When the question was repeated the
witness said it made no difference to
him whether the men were organized
or not. He said, however. that he would
object to union organizers going on tho
property owned by corporations during
working hours.
supposed was on the decrease. as con-
ditions are being constantly improved "
He cited as an example the United
States Steel Corporation, which, he said,
ployes Of this company, the witness
thought, were on friendly terms with
the corporation.
Mr. Morgan said that the extent Of
poverty and suffering had not been
brought to his attention and he had no
opinion regarding the cause OF poverty
AS to charitable acts. the witness said,
II have helped where 1 can, as most
people do"
The philanthropic foundations have
tho witness. He cited the libraries es-
tablished by Andrew Carnegie and the
medical research work made possible by
the Rockefeller Institute.
Mr.. Morgan thought that Samuel I'm
termyer was wrong when he said that
the two banking houses of Morgan &
Co. and Kuhn, Loeb & Co. dominated
the railroads OF the country.
Denies Owning Half of Railroads.
I'VE certainly do not control half
the country's railroads" Mr.. Morgan
asserted. He laughed and continued:
Il should like to think that We did
control half of them
Railroads reorganized by j. P. Nor
gan & Co., the witness said. were
running along nicely" He added: Il
don't know anything about Kuhn,
Loeb & Co.'S business. but Mr.. Cnter-
myer was certainly wrong.
Mr.. Morgan said he was unable to
say whether labor organizations had
benefited tho condition of the work.
ers.
Il have not studied the question:
he testified. Il have been too busy
studying other kinds of questions
MIR. Morgan said that were he large
employer he would not mind treating
with organized labor, providing they
did not attempt to tell me l couldn't
employ any one else. l am in favor
of the open shop"
But you do believe in collective
do you not?" asked Com
Weinstock.
Il have been very much interested
in that" Mr.. Morgan replied. Just
what is collective barsaning?"
Against Collective Bargaining.
Commissioner Weinstock explained.
Mr.. Morgan then said he would OBJ
ject to collective bargaining. as it did
not "seem to go back to principle, but
is merely a matter of convenience
In disputes between employer and
employe, Mr.. Morgan thought, "the en-
ployer should play the part OF any de-
cent man" He considered it the duty
of each employer to study the condi-
tions of his own employees.
Commissioner Weinstock invited Mr.
Morgan to give the commission sugges
tions as to legislation that Congress
might BE requested to enact to better
the relations between employers and
employees.
That's too big for me- Mr.. Morgan
replied. THE idea is an admirable one.
but I do not know enough about the
question"
we find it hard one" said Mr..
Il should think you would" the wit
ness replied.
Mr.. Morgan said he thought every
man should have equal rights before
the law. AS to unions laying down
conditions for workers in the United
States Steel Corporation, Mr.. Morgan
said that the unions had nothing to
do with it.
THE men certainly don't have to
work there" Mr.. Morgan said. eff
they are dissatisfied they can leave
That is every mans right"
Mr.. Morgan was questioned as to state
ments he had received from the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company. He said
he did not know whether he had fig
uTeb ABOUT Lle tonnage HdHUleu Dy the
railroad.
II remember about the dollars, but
not the tonnage" he said.
Unable to Give Labor Advice.
The witness did not consider the av-
erage board of directors capable of CIV
Ing executive officers advice as to
questions regarding labor. Commits
missioner Garretson asked Mr. Morgan
a long question concerning labor con-
ditions and the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company.
You've got SO much hypothetical
question there l can't answer it," Mr.
Morgan replied.
Did it used to be a proverb some
years ago in this locality" asked Mr.
that an executive of the
New Haven railroad couldn't buy Il keg
of spikes without first seeing the board
Of directors?"
81 don't know, did it?" Mr.. Morgan re-
piled.
After Mr.. Morgan had been asked
several more hypothetical questions to
which he said he was not prepared to
answer, or that he did not know, or
that he had no information bearing on
tho subject, he was excused. The COM
mission then adjourned for the day.