Evening star., 1915-05-04

The witness read hummer OF aih-
davits and statements showing that
union employees had been beaten up by
the Pennsylvania police
Discusses Telegraphers' Wages.
Mr. Perham discussed the wages paid
by the Pennsylvania railroad to the
telegra pliers, the matter which has caused
the controversy between the telegraphers
and the road He said that the road had
refused to pay a living wage, and quoted
figures to show this.
Il understand that some of these
wages have been increased since we
made petition to this commission said
Mr.. Perham. He told how the road
had cut out the commissions paid
ticket agents on tickets sold. He said
the wages of the agents had been cut
to a minimum on account of the fact
the men could earn commissions. But
when the cOmmi SSionS were cut out
wages were not increased. He said that
forty years ago he could earn 500 a
month as telegrapher. but that to-
day he could get only $50 to S93 for
similar work.
The wages for such work have drop
ped as low as $50 a month in the in
terim. said Mr.. Perham- He said that
the organization of the telegraphers
had greatly aided the men in getting
better wages on various roads. He ad
mitted that the wages paid telegra-
piers on the main lines of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad were about high as
those paid for similar services on other
roads.
Branch Line Wages Low.
But the wages paid on branch lines
are very low said Mr.. Perham. They
are not living wages
Taking up the matter of the red
cap" porters of the Pennsylvania rail-
road at some of the big stations, Mr.
Perham read reports of some of his
Investigations to show that the road
pays these porters about $3.50 or SIPS
n month: that it gives the porter's uni
forms when they first are employed but
that thereafter the porters are COM
PEELED to buy uniforms from the road
at considerable expense, and cannot
buy them elsewhere. After a porter
has served three years he is supposed
to receive SIS month. The porters
lihood
Mr.. Perham told the commission that
the Pennsylvania railroad had fostered
sham organizations to prevent success
ful organization of it's employees. He
mentioned as instances of this action
the Brotherhood of Car Inspectors, Car
Builders, etc. and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Mechanics, which. he said.
Subjects to Be Investigated.
The hearings by the commission,
include the following subjects: The
condition of employment of Pullman
car porters and conductors, COM
plants Of the Order of Railway Teles-
raphers against the Pennsylvania
railroad. conditions surrounding the
Pennsylvania state constabulary and
its dealings with labor difficulties, a
further inquiry into the Colorado coal
miners strike and the general subject
of labor and the law, and labor condi-
lions in Porto Rico.
Tomorrow W. w. Atterbury, vice
president of the Pennsylvania, will be
the principal witness. 1t is expected
that this portion of the investigation,
which will extend to the Pennsylvania
shopmen, will continue throughout the
week.
Labor and the Law.
In the following week the subject of
inquiry will be labor and the law Va
rious legal problems that arise during
labor disputes, such as free speech, free
assemblage. conspiracy cases, injunc-
tions, the boycott and blacklist, will be
discussed by lawyers. labor leaders and
judges Among the witnesses will be
former President William Howard Taft,
Justice Walter Clark of North Carolina
Gilbert E. Roe of New York, Harry
r. Saeger of Colum bia University, Eu-
gene v. Debs, Mother" Jones, Police
Commissioner Woods of New York city,
Frank j. Goodnow, president of Johns
Hopkins University, Alton B. Parker
of New York, James A. Emery Of the
National Association OF Manufacturers.
Clarence l. Darrow and Walter Drew,
counsel for the National Erectors' AS
sociation.
John D. Rockefeller. jr. and menb bers
of his staff are expected to be called
during the concluding week of the
hearings for further inquiry into the
Colorado coal miners strike, which
was extensively considered at a pre-
vious hearing in New York. Since then
Mr.. Rockefeller has submitted letters
10 the commission. concerning which
there are several matters he will be
asked to explain.