Arizona republican., 1919-08-07
WAGE INCREASE OR STRIKE |S
 U[T|MATUM IF
 RAIL WORKERS
Propose Temporary Re lief" By Congressional Appropriation-14 Big Unions United In De- mands

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-Acting as a unit for the first time in the presen- tation of wage demands, the 14 princi- pal railroad unions today, in express ing to Director General Hines their disapproval of President Wilson's pro- posaI that congress create commits sion to consider increased pay, de- clared the wage questions must be settled immediately.
 A program to meet the present crisis, involving the threat of a nation wide strike was submitted to the di- rector general It suggested that the money to provide increased pay should come from an appropriation by con- gress. to be followed by appropriate freight rate advances.
 "This temporary relief must be ac- companied by a determined effort to reduce the cost of living.
 Want Quick Action
 Permanent solution of the railroad problem was declared to depend upon the removal of returns to capital as the sole purpose of operation and the director general, accordingly, was asked to recommend to President Will son that he attempt to obtain early passage by congress of organizedla = bors bill to eliminate private capital from control of the railroads and to give the employees share of the profits. The unions declared the be- lief of the workers that transporta- ton rates should be sufficient to guar antee just wages, maintain the proper ties and give equitable returns on money invested.
 Effort is Unified
 Interesting as were the suggestions for removing the meance of nation wide strike, the unified action of the IA organizations attracted equal at tention. Labor leaders who were ques- toned declined to say whether the un- ions would act as a whole in the future but declared they were going through with the present situation as one body. One result was to put the solid weight of 1000 900 persons, virtually the en- tire rail transportation personnel of the United States, back of the de- mands. with the possibility as never before of the paralysis of the nations life if a general strike should ensue. Cooperation between the four herhoods-engineers firemen, con ductors and trainmen-for the first time several years ago proved the power of united action in the passage of the Adamson' act
 The present situation was said to be similar but infinitely more dangerous. Not only are the four brotherhoods in volved, but all the other unions also which have to deal with maintenance of equipment and the moving of trains.
 The program submitted to Director General Hines declared that the em- ployes were entitled to compensation which would at least re-establish tht pre-war purchasing power of theil wage Rates of pay. it was said. were in no way correlated to transportation l charges The plan for a congressicNa commission. was disapproved becaus' Git means months of delay at a tint when the questions involved require | immediate settlement" the program said continuing:
 You already have in the board O railroad wages and working conditions the necessary machinery to dispose 0 | these questions, and we ask that thei function be restored and they be al lowed to pass upon the questions sub mitted to them and that their finding be placed before the representa- tives 0 the reorganized organizations for thei consideration and be mutually agreed upon before being issued.
 "The moneys with which to pa, these increases, should, in our opinion be raised by an appropriation by con gress, this appropriation to be of sui ficient amount to temporarily talk care of immediate deficits. In tn meantime let the proper maxim body make a careful study as to what if any, increases should be made i passenger and freight rates, promp action in this regard being both essen tial and desirable This will only giv temporary relief and must be accom- panied, or immediately followed by
 determined united effort to not osl prevent a further increase in the cos of living, but to secure a reductio therein.
 Any permanent solution of the rail road problem must necessarily remov the element of returns to capital as tn sole purpose of operation Therefor, we ask that you urge upon the pres dent the necessity for the promI passage by congress of the require appropriation bill to meet the emer gency now existing.