The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-05
LEE ACCUSES
RAIL WAY HEADS
CHEF OF TRAINMEN CHARGES
NLANAGENENTS SEEK TO DIS
CREDIT GOVERNMENT.
ASK FOR WAGE RAISE
Increase in Pay Requested Solely Be
cause of Higher Living COst-FNe
Thousand Brotherhood Members Are
With the COlors.

Washington, Feb. Charges that the
railway arrangements are attempting
to discredit government operation OF
railroads were made tody by W. G..
Lee, head Of the railway trainmen, at
the railway wage hearing. 81 have facts
10 prove that the experienced railway
men are not permitted to operate as
their training Dictates said Mr. Lee.
The old manaEements do not want
government operation made success
said Lee do you think the public
VIII let the railroads go back to the
Old system if government management
proves efficient? That's why | want
to see the government make a success
Of operating the railroads" Mr.. Lees
remarks were made in the course Of a
spirited discussion, precipitated by the
presence Of several representatives, OF
railway arrangements in the room.
H. Garretson, head Of the railway con.
juctors, charged their presence was in
contravention of the understanding
v.th Director General McAdoo that the
earring was to be ex.parte.
Commissioner Covlngton said the
railway officials were there by invitation
II the wage commission to supplement.
not antagonize, information presented
by employees,
you will pardon my being sus-
oicious," Mr.. Lee said, but ] have been
dealing with these gentlemen for half
a century"
Secretary Lane, chairman of the com
mission. reminded the union representa-
ives that the railways are under gov
ornment control, that the commission
Us seeking information to make a de
cision and that there is no controversy
nor could there be one 50 far as the
government is concerned.
1--WE do not pretend to take the posi-.
ton Of discussing matters with our for
mer employers" said MIR. Garretson.
I'VE don't intend to deal with second
set of employers, and having come here
| to put all the cards on the table, we
don't intend to disarm ourselves"
Mr. Lee said demands for increased
wages were asked solely because Of in.
creased cost of living. He understood
the administration desired that stand
| lrus of living should be maintained and
that railroad workers would, therefore
he justified in asking for the entire
As per cent increase in the cost Of living
But he added they had asked only what
they considered fair, increases ranging
from 20 to AZ per cent. More than
five thousand members of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen are with the
coiors, he said, and the organization
IS keeping up their insurance and mem
bcfship during their absence.
The commission interrupted to ask
why contracts were based on 100 miles
or eight hours. as constituting days
work Chairman Lane desired to know
Il the distance restriction could not be
removed if the eight-hOur limit was
imposed why a run Of $50 or 200 miles
could not be made without extra pay
in the interest of speeding up the serv
ice at this time when public welfare
demands all the mileage possible in the
moving Of freight.
you would stir up a hornets nest
if you attempted to change the basic
principles of our wage contracts sale
Lee. "The government wants thing.
done harmoniously. If such a change
were made l believe the commission
might have to hold hearings throughout
the country to determine why railway
men are leaving railroads to work fol
munitions factories"