The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-20
Railroads and Brotherhoods
Turn Attention to the New
Situation Following Pre-
vention of Strike.
PUBLIC WILL SETTLE
Fifty Million Dollars Per Year to be
Collected From shIppers
For Increased
eaiarIsa

NEW York., March 20.-With the
possibility of railway strike defin-
itely averted, both railway managers
and brotherhood chiefs turned their
efforts today toward more minute
study OF the situation they have
brought about. ~
The railways have surrendered and
the brotherhoods are undisputed VIC
tors, but both camps are today try
Ing to salvage as much as possible
from the work OF the past few days.
Increased freight rates seem sure to
be demanded by the railways to com.
pensate them for the $50, 0,00O, 900
year Increased wages. Expert esti
mates have shown that by bowling to
the will OF the employees the roads
must expend this sum annually to
meet the revised payroll. In the
other camp-the brotherhood chiefs
action is directed at the best possible
application of the Adamson eight
hour law and one that will prevent
the law from legislating out strikes
OF employees IN "a business Of public
interest The Brotherhood chiefs
and their counsel sat late into the
lniGi1t studying the law the ssipreme
court declared consti itltiOnal. The
brptherhoods are not altogether pleas
ed with the courts decision.
One part of the law specifically
states the right possessed By EN-.
ployes OF "a business charged with a
public interest and as TO which the
power to regulate commerce by con
gress, applied" Is necessarily sub.
ject to limitations"
VIM. G.. Lee, trainmen chief, de-
clared he does not believe this Sec
tion prohibits strikes.
I'VE are public servants" he said.
But we are not government en-
ployes. Therefore / see nothing In
the supreme courts decision that
would prevent striking"
Eight hundred separate agreements
are to be effected today. The broth
erhood chiefs are to meet the railway
managers conference committee in
Grand Central terminal today TO take
up this work.
is enroute back to st. Louis. where
he left his dying daughter to attend
the conferences here. A telegram late
last night summoned him back.
Can Prevent Strikes.
NEW YORK, March 20.-The
Adamson law decision clearly estab-
fishes the right Of the government to
prevent strikes, railway managers
contended in statement issued to-
day. A sharp cleavage of opinion has
over this question, brother
hood chiefs. contending that the rul-
ing of the supreme court does not
give the government such power.
The Switchmen's Union of North
America. which was awarded ten
hour pay for nine hour day by an
arbitration board recently. will be
taken care of" when their present
contract, signed for one year, ex-
pires, according to another state
ment from the managers Office.
Higher Rates Coming.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-Con.
gress. at the coming extra session,
will be asked to pass a law granting
increased freight and passenger rates
to the railroads to reimburse them
for increased wages they will be
to pay under the Adamson
eight hour law, prominent railroad
heads and officials of the Interstate
ed Press today.
Since the supreme court has de-
cfded that congress has the plenary
power to fix wages for the trainmen.
then applying the same rule, it has
the right to legislate railroad rates,
a prominent government official said.
The fact that congress can dispose
OF the increased rate problem in
more speedy and satisfactory man.
ner than the interstate commerce
is said to be the reason
why the matter will be put up to
congress. The eight hour commission
by the Adamson act to In
yestigafe the effect Of the eight hour
law on the railroads is powerless to
grant increased rates. The only
power this commission has Is to de-
termine how much the railways will
have to pay out in increased wages
and the general effect that It will
have on the roads.
This commission. consisting of
General Goethals. George G. Rublee