Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-07
RAILWAY UNIONS
PRESENT DEMANDS
Inform Director-G General Hines
That Wage Question Must
Be Settled.
ATTACK PRIVATE CONTROL
Also Ask for Bill That Gives
Employees Share in
Profits.
rRy Associated Press.l


WASHlNGTON. August 6.-Actins as
unit for the first time in the prcsenta-
ton of wage demands. the fourteen
principal railroad unions today in ex-
pressing 10 Dircctor-Gcneral Hines
their disapproval Of President wilson's
proposal that Congress create com
mission 10 consider increased pay. de-
c!ared that wage questions must be
settled Immediately.
general program to meet the pres
ent crisis. involving the threat Of
nation wide strike. was submitted to
the di!ector-gcEeral. II was suggested
that the money TO provide increased
pay should come from an appropriation
ny Congress. to be followed BY appro-
pirate freight-rate advances This
temporary relief must be accompa-
MED by determined effort to reduce
the cost of living.
Seek Permanent Solution.
Permanent solution of the railro d
problem vas declared TO depend upon
me removal OF returns to capital as
the sole purpose Of operation. and the
asked TO recommend TO President Will
son that he attempt TO obtain early
passage by Congress OF organized
labor's bill to eliminate private CAPITAL
from control of the railroads and 10
give the employees a share in the
fronts The unions declared the belief
rates should be sufficient to guarantee
just wages. maintaing the properties
an1 give equitable returns on money in
vested.
Interesting as were the suggestions
for removing the menace of a nation
VIDE stHke the unified action of the
fonrtesrEo orga nizations" attracted equal
attention. Labor leaders who were
questioned declined to say whether the
unions would act as whole in the
future. but declared they were going
one body.
May Paralyze Business.
The result will he to put the soI;d
weight OF 1000. 900 persons. virtually
IN. entire RAN transportation personnel
9t a1d 1de United iih States hack OF the de
ncforc OF the paralysis of the nations
life If general strike should eneue.
Co operation between the four great
erhoods-engineers. ffremen. con-
ductors and t-ainmen-for the first
time several years ago proved the
power of united action in passage Of
the Adamson act.
Want More Buying Power.
The program submitted to Director
General Hines declared that the en-
ployees were entitled to compensation
which would at least re-establish the
pre-~ar purchasing power of their
wage. Rates OF pay. it was said. we're
in no way correlated TO TRANSFORMATION
charges. The pla m FOR congressional
COMMISSION "dS ClSdpprONe0 because
-; means months OF delay at time
when the questions involved require
immediate settlement" the program
said. continuing:
You already have in the hoard Of
railroad wages and working conditions
the necessary machinery 10 dispose Of
these questions. and we ask that their
junction be restored and they be all
loWed 10 pass upon the questions suit
initted TO them. and that their findings
be placed before the representative
OF the recognized organizations for
their consideration and be mutually
agreed upon before being issued
Call for Appropriation.
The money with which to pay these
increases should. in our opinion be
enaisea hH an appropriation TO be OF suf-
Iclcht amount 10 temporarily take
care OF immediate deficits. In the
eantims. let the proper ratemak!nS
nodS make careful study as to what
u any. increase should be made in mas.
scnser ana freight rates. Prompt ac-
t!on in this regard being both essen.
tial and desira Bile. This will ONLY give
temporary relief and must be accom-
panied. or Immediately followed by a
determined united effort 10 moi on,~
prevent further increase in the cost
therein. e'ioh
any permanent solution of the rail
Ioao problem must necessarily remove
me element OF return to capital as the
sore purpose of operation. Therefore,
We ask that you urge upon the Presi-
dent the necessity for the prompt mas
saEe bE Congress of the required an
preparation bill TO meet the emergency
existing ''>A Q NHNs