Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-05
W. W. Atterbury of "Pennsy'
So Testifies Before Industrial
Relations Commission.
SAYS COMPANY is READY
FOR ANY STRIKE TROUBLE
H. B. Perham. President of Railway
Telegraphers, Is Again on
the Stand.

The flag which the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad has nailed to the mast is 10
run its trains, and in my experience
of thirty years it has never missed a
train schedule" said w. w After
hurry. vice president of the PennsSi-
wanna Railroad Company, who appeared
before the industrial relations commls-
sion at the Shoreham Hotel TO-DAY TO
.rnlain the attitude of the road
toward it's employees.
.Tb.re are three parties interested
in railroad transportation said MI
A++erbury in reply to question ny
Chairman Walsh of the commission as
IN the attitude of the company toward
labor unions generally. the emploSe'
thu stockholders and the pubic Inc
pnblic has the paramount right ANY
orpanization that takes out OF the
hands of the employer the right OF ac-
tior and in this case the right TO run
III. trains. is inimicable to the pubic
interest.
Before Mr. Atterbury took the stano
H B. Perham, president OF the CF"ei
of Railroad Telegraphers, completeo
his testimony begun yesterday, chars
ing the Pennsylvania Ioau w, mt'n ,rsat-
elimination against and UNJUST treat-
ment of members of labor organlza-
tons rrtber
Chairman Walsh asked:
Company Ready for Any Trouble.
Il. YOUR company always in state
of preparedness for any industrial war
fare that might spring up, sueh as
having men and arms and cluos on
hand"
We are always prepared for anythlhs
the other fellow IS getting reaoy ioI'
an assure YOU" replied Mr.. After
/. How many rifles do you keep on
hand asked Chairman Walsh.
II don't know that we keep any pu.
we do everything that is legal and that
is necessary to protect the running OF
our trains" answered Mr.. Atterbury
shouldn't the control of armed
forces. in your opinion. rest win 'he
state?" asked Mr. Walsh .,,o, n, A.
tsrbury, but practically doubt IL you
can ever arrive at that solution
Mr.. Perham Resumes the Stand.
Mr.. Perham took the stand again
whom the commission assembled to-
day.
You testified yesterday that a teleg-
rapher could earn more money forty
years ago than today" said Commits
sionsr Ashton, who is vice president
of the Chicago and Northwestern
railroad rs it not true that today
you operate under an eiRht-hour day,
: and that should be taken into con-
alteration in making any comparison
4 with the past?"
Mr. Perham said Yes. everything
should be taken into consideration
agents of the Pennsylvania railroad
receiving low wages. around $40 a
month. could not make money on the
side. He was questioned as to the al.
legged fostering Of ORGANIZATIONS OF
pany. particularly in regard to the rail-
road telegraphers. dispatchers and sig
nalmen, a rival Pennsylvania organiza-
ton to Mr.. Perham's organization
which has been recognized by the com
"The irregularity of this" said Mr.
sPerham, lies in the fact that the COM
ton. which has only a few members,
while 1t refuses recognition to the
larger organization"
Power to Veto Strike.
Commissioner Ashton asked Mr.. Per-
ham about the power of the president
of the order of telegraphers to deter
mine whether there should be strike.
Your president has the right to veto
. strike after a strike vote has been
taken, is 1t not so?" asked Mr.. Ashton.
Yes" was the reply.
You yourself, as president" said Mr.
Ashton. have exercised this power in
the past to prevent a strike?
Mr.. Perham replied that he had done
SO.
DO you not think that to place the
power in one man to say whether there
shall be strike is unwiseo" asked Mr..
Ashton. Suppose a president of the
organization did not have a proper bal
ance and was hot-headed?"
Mr.. Perham replied that he did not
think that il was best to consider the
judicial side of labor organization. He
said that in the case of Judge ir
court, the judge, after all. was only q
man, and his opinions would be formed
largely through environment in which
ne had lived.
"A great labor leader" said Mr.. Per.