The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-08
Cannot Much Longer Stand
Diminishing Return From
His Work, Gloomy View
of Counsel for Railway
BrOtherhOOds

Washington, August T.
arning that the laboring man
has reached that point where
his activities may cease, "be~
cause he cannot much longer
stand the diminishing return
for his work" was expressed
today by Glenn E. Plumb, coun-
sci for railway, brotherhoods,
in urging enactment by Con-
gress of a bill drawn by him
for public ownership of rail-
roads.
This gloomy view of conditions was
given by Mr.. Plumb near the close OF a
fve-hour appearance on the witness
stand, during which he charged syste-
matte plundering of the transportation
highways of the country, and denied
that he had come forward with the Plumb
plan for solving railway evils at this time
in order to link it up with the high cost
Of living, on which the nations atten-
ton has turned.
Mr. Plumb apparently was cognizant
of the rumors sweeping through the cap
itol that he had picked an unusdatiy prJ-
pitious time for presenting his bill, which
organized labor has claimed will help put
down the living cost through reduction of
freight rates and elimination of private
capital from every transportation com
pany in the United States. Except for
the invitation from Chairman Esch of
the House interstate commerce c0knmit-
tee, conducting hearings on all plans
for railroad control. the Plumb plan, he
said, would not have seen the light of
day until early fall.
But it was while speaking through the
country in it's behalf. the witness de-
clared, that he found an overwhelming
sentiment in behalf of the change from
the old system of railroad control
There was no doubt. he said, of grea L
industrial unrest, due to the mounting
cost of living. Pressed for an explana-
ton of his statement, that he would not
be surprised to see anything happen, the
witness said this did not mean hating g
business activities, great destruction OF
industry or cataclysm, but the feeling IN
the minds of millions of workers was that
something had to be done quickly in their
behalf.
1.-The feeling of unrest" ne declared
with earnestness, lis accumulated by this
ever rising cost of living, and the neces-
sitv of finding some way to meet it..
There was no othe references. ex-
cent Indirectly, to the food cost prob
len, during the hearing. Mr.. Plumb de-
voting practically all OF his time to
explaining his bill. section by sec
tion. Much light on the attitude OF
organized labor toward pending rail-
way problems was given the commit
tee by the witness TO a series OF ques-
lions by Chairman Esch. The chair
man wanted to know if Mr. Plumb
could say whether a majority of the
people stood for government owner
ship of the roads
eat this time. l cannot say the
witness replied.
II am assured that great ma
jority of the people of the United
States are so dissatisfied with pres
ent conditions. and SO turned away
from past conditions, that they are
rapidly coming to the support of this
plan for public ownership. They will
demand it."
Discussing the bill the witness frank
ly said that it contained provisions
quite new and untried, and that he
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