The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-06
N|ANT'0N EFFORTS.
OF MANAGERS TO
CRIPPLE TRAFFIC
Freight Congestion and Attendant
Evils Work Of Magnates,
Labor Man Says
LEADERS UP TO COMMISSION
Heads of Traimnen and Conduc-
tors Charge New York Banks
With Decentralization
1 LEADERS UP TO CCMMIssION
With Decentralization


Washington, o. C., Feb 6.--Ineffic-
lent operations of the railroads, re-
suited in traffic congestion with its
grave attendant evils, was charged
u uainn labor leaders at a nearing
Tuesday before the railroad wage COM
mission to desire On the part Of the
credit the eight hour law and to make
managerships Of the systems to dis
a failure Of government control.
Explains Breakdown
These charges were made by W. G.
Lee, head Of the Trainmen, A. B. Car
1etsOn, head Of the CONDUCTORS, and
other witnesses They told the COM
mission that the facts alleged in their
charges explained the alleged collapse
Of the transportation system Of the
country including such roads Of splen.
did records as the Pennsylvania.
The brotherhood leaders used such
vigorous expressions as rotten rail
reading" to convey their opinion Of
the way the business has been carried
on since the government took charge,
and they offered to produce scores Of
Instances Of delayed crews, changes in
personel and misuse Of rolling stock
to prove their statements.
Hearing Ruff!ed.
The ordinarily quiet course Of such
a hearing was ruffled from the very
outset. Lee and Garretson, appearing
to present the claims of their brother
hoods for wage increase, found several
railroad Representatives present and
entered an immediate protest, declar-
ing they did not propose to deal with
two sets Of employers. The commits
sion explained that the railroad men
were there by special invitation to
supplement, not to antagonize, the in
formation presented by the employees
This question hardly had been
smoothed over before discussion of
the working Of the eight-hour law and
the effect Of government supervision
of the roads precipitated charges by
Lee that the arrangements were do
ing their utmost to discredit both.
sJugge Overtime.
He said overtime had been doubled
and tripled to make the effect of the
Adamson law more expensive, and to
represent that the workers were OBJ.
tanning large wage increase. Further
more, he declared that every effOr,
was being made to handicap transpor.
tation to create dissatisfaction with
the governments part in the business
II would go back to about four
banks in New York il I wanted to
find out the real cause for this" he
said,
Asked how he thought the alleged
results had been accomplished, he said
he thought the WORD had been pas.
ed down the line" that overtime was
to be increased greatly.
No Conspiracy.
He did not think there had been con
spiracy from the presidents down tc
the dispa tchers' to delay trains under
government supervision, but insisted
sufficient persons were interested to
that end to obtain what they desir
ed. He referred to train dispatchers
as train delayers."
Secretary Lane, chairman Of the
commission, asked numerous questions
concerning the union leaders allcga
tions and wanted to know if he meant
that the railroads actually had run up
their operating costs in order to dis.
credit the Adamson law. Mr.. Lee, re-
piled that was the case, adding that
it was perfectly natural
Appeal for Increase.
REQUESTS for increased, wages were
made by Lee, Garretson and Helt on
behalf of their organizations by e. II.
Morton, representing the Order of
Railway Station Agents, and the Bro
therhood of Railway Tower Men, and
Signalmen, and P. J. Coyle, represent
ing the Brotherhood OF Railroad Sta
ton Employees, all of them told of in
creased living costs. The unions be-
sides the trainmen and conductors
which obtained an eight hour day
under the Adamson law, requested a
basic eight hour day and time and a
half for overtime. a q
.@ Advances Sought. 3D..
Increases asked by the trainmen and
conductors vary from 20.6 per cent
LUZ COuu uCtOlO W no pei SCilI lOl
yard helpers, in general, the lowest
paid employees to receive the largest
increase. Conductors who now get
$3.50 a day on passenger trains would
receive $5.43 it the full increase were
allowed. Baggage men would be in
creased from $2.75 and $3.50 day,
according to territory, to 1888. Flag
men would advance from $500 to 1851
and brakemen from 1888 to $3.61.
Freight Service 81
On through freight trains, the con-
ductor's pay would advance from &c
and 041Sc mile to $.053 and .dagmen
and brakemen from $0267 to $.O3S1.
The pay for conductors on local
freights would be $.05S and flagmen
and brakemen $.0429. sa'
Yard forenen would be increased
$3.50 to $3.50 and helpers from $3.50
to SIS.
CARDINAL FAVORS
DEDg0NhT IIREDTY