The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-12
fine not exceeding $1,000 and I'M
nrisonment, not exceeding one year.

fine not exceeding $1,000 and I'M
prisonment not exceeding one year.
or both"
The provision Of the Senate Bill above
shows the temper of the Democratic
Congress on the question Of Strikes.
Section 6 Of the bill reported by the In
tcrstu;c Commerce Committee is:
sec i. That the Interstate COM
MERGE commission shall have the
power TO Fix the hours Of labor ana
prescribe just and reasonable wages
for all employees OF the railroads
named in Section l OF this act
The interstate commerce commits
sion shall have the power from time
to time 10 change the hours or laoor
and the rate OF wages for all en-
ployes Of The railroads named IN
Section l Of This ACT, either in whole
or in part, prescribed by ii on Tvs
own initiative, on the petition OF the
employees. the managers OF the rail-
roads. or The public.
Powers Lodged In President.
II appears from these excerpts mat
the Pres ident recommended an act ciolh-
ing ham with authority TO take over the
railroads aid rolling stock at any tlrle
that may BE- required for military USE
and dtRft the train crews INTO Govern
ncnl service Tor the operation or the
railroads. In case OF a strike or threat
cned strike the President wou ID pc clolh-
cd with power 10 draft such employees
into service, tantamounl TO inc mllital9
service OF the Government Unoer Sec.
ton o. the proposed Senate 'BlIl any
cmploye, or other person In the interSss
OF organized labor wEo should "llluil!,
DELAY, obstruct or hlnocr the operation
OF train Of an interstate carrier. WouIo
be ligblc TO =. fine OF Five Thousand Loi-
lars. and Imprisonment not GAceeu' ~;
one >.ar Mr.. NewlandS. chairman OF
the C"mm.ice Committees. discussing
Section ., assumed the position that lnls
section Was 4 most valuable PROVISION
Of tho act upon the grounds mat II "ouiu
rifcc.ually enable the Gofctnhlen! W
SUPPRESS strikes. Therefore, MI Iom-
pcrs is giving praise TO the admlnlstrH--
uun Tor recommending the drafting OF
all organized. labor engaged III the opei
alton of lrrIns, into military service as
il wcre--and the imposition oil 4 line OK
Five Thousand Dollars. together Win
imprisonment FOR term not cNceenihf
one year. upon any person VINO shail i,l
any manner delay. pbStruCt, Or hlnucI
the operation VI trains engaged IN lnttI
STATE commerce. The labor unions nave
commended fer the right TO use persua-
sion ID prev rnl employees from working
tor any railroad OF other compdi!
against whom strike WAS being dlreCt
CT The third section, above, ~oulo
make persons using such pcTSuas OF,
sj,vUu 90 and Imprisonment for year
whiE, Section expressly and unaual-
iicdI% Confrrs Upon the Interstate COM
mcrcn Commission the power from Tune
To lInic 10 change the hours OF lapoE a.to
the rate OF wages for all employees named
IN Section l OF the act. These are the
very things that union labor have SO
sIrcnuously opposed in their contch-
lions with capital.
Drastic Provisions.
In addition u tho recommendation ~
the President as 10 powcr 10 draft the
RAILROAD employees into government ser
vice at any time. the provision oil Sec.
lion 3--the drastic measure, makes an!
cnrluyc or ether person VINO shoulo IN
tcrirI4 with the operation oil lraln
,.riminal-anu this interference wou!n
be as much affected by pcaceably per
sustIng employees 10 abandon thclr
trains, leave tho service. or peaceaoly
persuade persons who were heretofore
called STRIKE hreakcrs' from goins upon
these trains and operating them; AS
would be effected by the actual physlcai
impuIrmcn: # L locomotive or the Ter
INK up or destruction or the tracks.
bridges, or irrstlcs. Ana SeclloH .
would be rumpulstory arbitration OF az
questions between railroad employees
and the companies. not only as 10 hours
of service. lut rs TO wages
How can any member OF any LABOR
pniuu support the President and Demo-
cratic Congress upon this record:
MIR. (;omuprs.. however. Is supposed 10
n. Justify the exclusion OF over null
lion employees OF Interstate carriers VINO
mr.. not engaged in the actual operation
Of trains" from the supposed prne!ils
,h,t rmrloyes who arc engaged In the
actual operation OF trains receive as
result Of the passage Of the act?
Section l ot the act limits employees
who are to be benefited, to employees
who may be actually engaged in the
operRtion of trains" This excludes from
the rct all employees Of interstate raii-
roads who srr not actually employed IN
operating the trains. The number or
cmnIoycs excluded is estimated by the
senator ana others at from one million
to one million five hundred thousand
Will" those who are included are esll-
mated at practically four hundred thou
sand. Ali irackmen. laborers OF all de-
srririions in the service Of The company
as switchmen. bridge repairers. employees
in repair shops and round houses. nearly
all Of whom receive less pay than those