New-York tribune., 1919-08-07
Must Curb Profiteers. or
We May Recommend a
''Firing Squad,'' Says
St lone of Railmen
ID Unions Demand
Increase at Once
Morrison Predicts A. F.
of L. Will Organize the
U. S. Steel Corporation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-spokesmen
of organized labor urged the Plumb
plan for solving the railroad situation
before the House Interstate and For
eign Commerce Committee o-day, de-
clarlng that profteering must be
stopped, even, said one of the labor
leaders, if the firing squad were neces-
sary. wage increase for railway
workers must come at once, it was de-
clared, regardless of action toward re-
ducing the high cost of living, ard the
roads would go into receivership and a
panic probably would result if the
Plumb plan is not adopted.
Ia Unions Demand Raise
However, the most significant devel-
opment of the day, in the opinion of
legislators and government officials,
was the action of the fourteen princi-
pal railroad unions in uniting, for the
first time in their history, to present
their demands for wage increases to
Director General Hines Representa-
tlves of vast army of railroad work
ers, estimated to number 100000, told
the Federal head of the railroads that
they disapproved of President Wilson'S
plan for the creation of a commission
to consider pay increases. They in
sisted that the question be settled i'm
mediately. Congress, they said, could
appropriate the money for the increase
and necessary railroad rate advances
could follow. While the revised rates
are being worked out, they said. de-
termined effort must be made to reduce
the cost of living
Strikes Hampering Roads
From outside the capital word came
that the strikes now in progress were
crpping the railroads. This was
borne out tonight, when news was re-
ceived that the Chesapeake e. Ohio
Railroad had announced that it would
refuse both freight and passenger traf-
fc over an important part of its line,
the ban covering all points west of
Clifton Forge.
Director General Hines estimated
that the wage increases demanded by
the railway men would approximate
$800,0000 900. He added that he did not
think the roads could bear this burden.
as a substantial increase of rates
might result in an actual decrease of
receipts.
Labor's ultimatum to Congress was
delivered in committee room filled to
its doors, the crowd including many
women. Warren s. Stone, grand chief
of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers, and Frank Morrison, secretary
of the American Federation of Labor,
submitted prepared statements and an
swered questions from virtually every
member of the committee. most Of
whom indicated by their questions an
unfriendly attitude toward the scheme.
While Mr.. Morrison was before the
committee he predicted that labor
would organize the United States Steel
Corporation and establish an eight
hour day for its employees.
Position of Rail Men
Mr.. Stone, in answer to questions and
in his statement indicated the follow
ing as the position Of the railway men:
l. That profiteering must be
stopped at once and the cost of liv-
ing reduced.
2. That there is a serious oues-
ton as to whether capital has a
right to any return. Capital he char
acterzed as Labor saved up"
3. That Congress could have seen
the present crisis months ago, but
was too busy playing politics. to
take action to reduce the high cost
of living.
4. That the proponents of the
Plumb plan do not think the time
ripe for the extension of the plan to
other semipubic utilities. but that
its success undoubtedly would affect
the matter of extending it to other
industries.
Congress Must Fix Prices
5. That price fixing by Congress
must return unless some other
means is found to reduce the high
cost of living.
6. That the statement ascribed to
Mr.. Jewell that railroads would be
tied up and never run again is
sheerest nonsense. "The government
would run the railroads, because we
all have to live"
7. That panic and receivership of
Continued on page three