Denver labor bulletin., 1917-01-06
Congress Not Disposed to
Place ShaCkelS on Labor
Senator Cummins Says Every Step
Taken Leads to Eventual Gov
ernment Ownership; Comp
ers Visits Havana
By LAWRENCE TODD
Especial Washington Correspondent The
Denver Labor Bulletin.)

Denver Labor Bulletin.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. q President
Wilson's visit to the office of Senator
NewlAnds of Nevada, chairman of the
senate committee on interstate com
merce, on Saturday afternoon, december
30, in behalf OF immediate legislation
for compulsory delay Of strikes, need
irghten nobody. Congress will not pass
any law, at this session. forbidding rail
way cmploycs TO strike during iuyestl-
CATION of their grievances. a majority
OF the membcrS Of both houses may be
willing to agree that such blow should
be struck at the workers who quit their
Jobs, but only a minority can be found
bold enough to face the Indignation OF
organized labor.
Nothing that the national capital has
seen in a generation has been more in
spring than the harmony with which
all elements of the labor moyement-in
both its industrial and political phases
have lined up against any violation OF
the right to quit work. From Samuel
Gompers in the office OF the American
Federation OF Labor TO some railroad
trainmcn on a branch line in Arizona
everyone has begun serving notice on
members OF the house and senate that
congress. must keep off the industrial
HrAH-. ana luO tAs lAt1f1'AN $50 ~@%
the influential business men and lawyers
may travel to the capital to argue tha
question, from now until March, it is rs
cure % apy human prospect can be sure,
that congress will keep off.
CompuIxion Scheme viii Lose.
Ever .scnator is receiving circular let
tcr-, Just now, from the business inter
csts, calling for this oompulsion law.
They are shedding crocodile tears over the
losses to the public that come from a
railway strike. They don't care any.
thing for the effect on their own busi
ness, or on the fighting spirit of the
workers In their own industries. that
may result from a successful strike on
the railroads. They are simply thinking
Of the public good.
Senator Cummins of Iowa, who is in
flucntial in the committee of which
Ncwlands is chairman, says that New
lands compulsion scheme will not get
any real support, even in the commit
tee. lie believes that the committee will
either report in favor of public invcs
tigation and published report upon any
industrial dispute on the railroads, with
out seeking 10 stop the men from strik
ing If they see fit TO strike, or IL Will
report the Underwood proposal, which Is
that wages and hours of railroad en-
ploycs shall be fixed by the interstate
commerce commission, just as rates arc
now fixed, as tho result of hearings of
both sides.
Oppose Underwood's Plan.
The proposal of mere investigation
and report, leaving the settlement of
wages and hours to the railroads and
employees, seems just now to have the
most support. 1t is the least change
from the present condition. and leaves
both parties free to employ the strike
and lockout rs in the past 1t seeks to
bring TO bear upon them the force of an
informed public opinion. and TO influence
them by the formal advice OF a public
investigating body.
Undcrw ood's scheme will be fought by
organized labor, since IL creates wage.
fixing body in which the employees are
not directly represented. II il does not
p,ohibit strike, IL still carries the i'm
plicntion that refusal of the wages
and hours fixed by the commission will
be considered Illegal.
No real steps toward rnilroad lcgisla
tion will be taken. it seems certain.
until the United States supreme court
shall have decided as to whether the
Adamson eight hour law is nstitution-
nj. and, in case the law ia upheld, just
what IL means and how IL shall be
applied. Il
Await High Court Decision.
The new strike vote OF tho railroad
brotherhoods will be completed soon
after the court has made it's decision.
probably in February, and by that time
'be country will have been prepared for
the fact that congress has abandoned
tho compulsion idea rs embodied in the
Canadian industrial disputes act and in
the Ncwlands bill.
Government ownership of railroads, as
tho best way out Of the whole swamp
into which railway affairs have plunged,
Is being talked more and moro In the
cloakrooms and offices at the capitos
Senator Cummins said the other day
that every step taken in the attempt TO
regulate rates. prevent stock-watcring
and compel extensions; every ,tcp taken
by the railroads in trying to curtnil the
authority OF tho railroad commissions "f
the states, and every step taken in try