Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-07-23
BROTHER H D obs.
HURLS CHARGES
ON ARBITRATION

CLEVELAND, o., July 22.-The fol-
lowing statement has been issued by
the Transportation Brotherhoods;
The proposition of the railroads to
refer the demands of. the railway
brotherhoods for an eight-hour day to
the Interstate Commerce commission
is nothing but proposition to gain
time for the railroads and to waste
time for the men,
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion is not now equipped to undertake
this task. In order to undertake it
the Interstate Commerce commission
act would have to be radically amend
ed by congress. Such an amendment
would require at least month foc
passage, and upon its passage several
months would be required before the
commission could actually begin the
work thus imposed upon it.
Whatever may be the desirability or
empowering the Interstate Commerce.
commission to handle wage disputes.
this is not the time to do it. The corr
mission is overburdened with duties.
A bill has been pending before con-
gress urgently advocated by the rail-
roads themselves, calling for an in
crease in the membership of the CON-
mission in order to enable it to handle
cases already on it's docket.
A resolution is now pending in the
house, after having been passed by
the senate, callinf ro an investiga-
ton by joint committee of congress
into the need for railroad Legislation.
particularly into the need for legisla-
ton affecting the Interstate
Commerce commission. This resolu-
ton and for the express purpose Of
heading off any railroad legislation till
a comprehensive survey of the entire
situation should have been made.
Representatives of the railroads have
urged this resolution for these rea-
sons.
Yet now the railroads, forgetting
these arguments, and frightened at the
prospect of being forced to yield to
the brotherhoods' are demanding hasty
and ill-considered legislation, the
first effect OF which would be to give
them an advantage in their dispute
with their employees.
The commission only has authority
over rates, ETC., on interstate traffic
and has no control over matters THAI
are wholly within state,
If authority is conferred on the
Interstate Commerce Commission by
Congress, to fix or exercise any con
trol over wages, it would only apply
to employees whose runs are from one
state to another.
Inasmuch as the bulk of trainmen.
work wholly within state, it would
result in the worst muddle possible.
few employees having their wages
fixed by the U. S. and the rest Q:
them standing just where they are
now
The claim made by the railroads
that as the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has authority over rates OF
pay, is clever and seemingly plaus-
lille argument put forward to secure
public sympathy.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has always taken congnizance of
wages or labor costs in passing upc1
freight rates. One of the leading arg
uments of the railroads in making ap-
rlication for authority to advance
their freight rates has been that out
laws for employees have increased anl
as a consequence that they should be
permitted to charge more for their
services.
Elaborate statistical exhibits have
n all general rate cases been present
cd by the railroads to the Commission,
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