Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-06
RAILROAD MANACEMENTS
BLAMED FOR CONGESTION
President OF Railway 1rainmen
Tells Investigators Niismanagcment
Is Result Of Widespread Plot.
NEW YORK BANKS RESPONSIBLE
Financial institutions Exert Infiu.
cnce to Make Government Opora-
ton Failure-Lee Notes Instance.
OF Delays.
fBy Associated PreSs.1

ciont operation Of the railroads, result
Ing in traffiu congestion. with It's Gravs
attendant evils, was charged By union
labor leaders at a hearing to-day before
the railroad wage commission to a de-
sire on the part OF the mana cement OF
the systems to discredt the eiFht-hour
law and to make failure OF govern
ment control.
This situation, the commission vas
told by W. u. Lee. head OF the train
men: 4. 8. Garrctson, head or the con-
cuctors, and other witnesses. explained
why the transportation system OF the
country, including such roads OF splen-
Gid record as the Pennsylvania, sudden
~ collapsed. The brotherhood leaders
used such vigorous expressions as rot
ten raiiroadins" TO convey their opm.
ion of tho way the business has been
carried on since the government took
charge, and they offered TO produce
scores Of Instances of delayed crews.
changes IA personnel and misuse OF
rolling stoch to prove their statements.
The ordinarily QUIET course Of such
hearing was ruined from tho very
Outset. Lee and Garre;Uen, appearing
to prcscnt the ella inns Of their brother
hoods for wage increases, found several
railroad representatives present ana
entered An immediate protest. declar-
Ing they did not propose t. deal with
two sets OF employers. Tho commits.
sion explained that thu railroad men
were there by special invitation to sup
plemcnt, not TO ertagonizc. the in
formation presented b. the employees
HANDICAP TRANSPORTATION
TO CREATE DISSATISFACTION
This question hardly had been
smoothed over before discussion OF
tho working o. the c!sht-hour law
and the effect OF government super
vision Of the roads prccipitated charges
by Lee that the mana Sen1enta were
doing their utmost TO discredit ooth.
lie s<d overtime has been doubled and
trtplcd 10 make the effect OF the ADAM
son Law more expensive and to repre-
sent that the workers were obtaining
largo wage increases Furthermore, he
declared that every effort was being
used to handicap transportation to
create dissatisfaction with the govern.
mcnt's part in the business.
II would GO back TO about four banks
in New York. II wanted to find out
tho real cause fos this he said
Asked how he thought the alleged
results had been accomplished, he said
he thought the word had been passed
Down the line" that overtime was to
be increased greatly. lie did not think
there had been a conspiracy from the
presidents down 10 the disnatchcrs' 10
delay trains under government super
vision, but insisted sufficient persons
were interested TO that end TO obtain
what they desired. He referred to train
d!spatchers as train delaTers
INCREASE OPERATING COST
TO DISCUEDIT ADAMSON LAW
Secretary Lane, chairman of the com.
mission, asked numerous questions con-
corning She union leaders allegations
and wanted 10 know II lie meant that
the railroads actually had .un up their
ortrating costs in order 10 discredit
the ..damsou Law. MIR. Lee replied that
waa the case. adding that Il MAS per
fcetl% nstura!.'
Il do not thiuk i was natural. am
no, 20 cynical about human nature"
The secretary replied.
SIR Garrc,son supplemented his col
leagues statements. The operating
employees are thoroughly aware OF the
type OF clearing congestion which was
III effect before the government took
over the roads ne said. They also
are aware OF the kind OF transporta-
ton now being given. but ! want to
say there is one class OF employees not
engaged in giving Demonstration o.:
what failure government operation
is"
Lees charges were made twice dur.
III. the hearing. First he told the
commission that be had evidence TO
prove that experienced railroad men
were no. permitted 10 operate as their
training dictated. later. in discussing
the working OF IL. eight. hour law, re-
Gently invtSt!ga ID. he said Tic com
m :ssiou should not oyerloot tho fact
tina; tie mana soments worked 10 NAH
the cost and delay duo 10 the law as
groIi as POSSIBLE.
LEE GIVES INSTANCES
~! "ROTTEN rttILROADING"
"Wo arc prepared 30 show many in
stances OF rotten :a!lrosdiuE," the
union leader SAID. ON :. road not
far from here, I know of crew that
MS called out and the SiStec hour