Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-01
HEARING OPENS ON
RAIL LEGISLATION
Brotherhood, Railroads and
Shippers Will Be Given
Three Hours Each.
GARRETsoN SPEAKS FIRST

ficials and representatives OF the
trainmen's brotherhoods appeared IN
force today at the senate interstate
commerce committees hearings on
President Wilson's legislative pro-
gram to prevent the threatened rail-
road strike.
Elisha Lee, chairman of the man
ayers committee, headed the delega-
ton of railroad officials, which in
cluded President Underwood of the
Erie, President Willard of the Balti-
more & Ohio, Samuel Rea. president
OF the Pennsylvania; Fairfax Hsrri--
son, president Of the Southern, and
r. S. Lovett, chairman Of the board
OF the Union Pacific.
Representing the men were a. B..
Garretson, w. G. Lee, w. 5. Stone
and w. S. Carter, the four brother
hood heads. Officials. Of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor headed by
President Gompers, Assistant Attor.
ney General Todd and E. E. Clark OF
the Interstate Commerce commission
also were present
Statement by Newlands.
AT the outset OF the hearing Sena-
tor Newiands, chairman OF the COM
mittee, announced its purpose and
said none OF the legislation included
compulsory, arbitration.
I'll simply provides" he said, in
case of the failure of voluntary media
ton and arbitration for government
inquiry and the stay OF the action o.
all the parties to the controversy, un-
til investigation and report could pc
made, leaving them free thereafter to
act as they might be advised
Senator Newlands spoke OF the
short time remaining for congress 10
act and said.
aThis present dispute i carried to
its extremes will involve the United
States in q civil war. The question
4 whether we cannot find some
means Of bringing about a settlement
OF this dispute between employer.
and employees without resort TO ioree.
The brotherhood representatives
were heard first. At the request OF
M. Carrctson ii was agreed that the
brotherhood leaders should address
ire committee two hours IN open
inr and an hour In closing. Between
those periods representatives OF the
employers and shippers have SIX
hours. He announced that besides
the heads OF the four brothcrhoods
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor, also
would speak.
First Speech BY Garretson.
Mr.. Garretson then began with a
general review OF the circumstances
which led up to the present condi-
tons.
cations, he said, that differences pc
tween employers and employees
should not be settled by legislation,
but rather between themselves.
The success OF any labor oryani-
cation lies, to an extent, in hs MILF
tancv.n ne said. I'VE are in grip
~ mower greater than we, and II IS
unfortunate that this situation has
arisen. but | believe II settlement
can be affected by congress, even
though we are opposed TO legislative
settlements, we are willing to waive
The aee-old tradition against It.
To-day thousands OF men through
out this country are working from
twelve TO sixteen hours. OF which
there is no complete record.
"The brctherhoods demand the hu-
.,,.r r;oht IA eniov some OF the
things that other men enjoy.
1--WE believe that the human ele-
ment should be considered regard
less OF its effect on dividends, The
obligation on the part Of the railroad
employer Is as great TO keep the hu-
mar, element in good condition as the
wooden and iron property Of the
road"
Would Disregard Dividends.
Mr.. Carretson argued that the Ell
feet Of an increased wage on dividends
should not be considered when II was
obvious that employees were not being
paid . proper wage. i.
IA bankrupt road cannot buy its
coal any cheaper than one that -
paving IS per cent; then why should
any road buy its labor for less than i
is worth because q proper wage would
decrease its profitss"
Attacking the railways plea for ar
bitration as insinccre, Mr.. Garretson
insisted that II was not offered 70
men who were so poorly organized
that they could not enforce demands.
II say on behalf Of these railroad
men," Mr.. Garretson declared, that
there d evidence today OF deadly
danger underlying the social crust and
that It Is liable to be brought to the
surface unless means are found TO set
lie this difficulty before It can reach
the danger stage" Absolutely, he de.
clared, the brotherhood officials could
4 only cali off the strike by reporting
that satisfactory settlement had
been made.
To postpone the strike after tn,
men had voted it, Garretson declared
would mean the disintegration Of ths
brotherhood and the turning over tc
the mob Of the trains, as in 1877 ant
1884,
II want to impress on the commit
tee" said he, that since the begin
ming OF the negotiations no dchnit'
proposal ever has been made to us b,
the other side. They have said bu
one thing: They have offered t
leave the whole matter to the In
terstate. Commerce commission"
Believe in Arbitration.
Carretson added that he wanted I,
a.. sauotnrs that the broth or