Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-30
PASS RESOLUTIONS AIMED
At SENATE RAILWAY BILL
big Four" Representatives Urge
Government Control Has Not
Had Fair Trial.
WANT TNO.YEAR PEACE TEST
Leaders Express Confidence That
House Will Eliminate Feature VI
able to Labor.
WANT TMo.YEAK PEACE TEST
t1lv Ar.ocia,cd rtcss-l

WASI1N,iToN, Dec. ca.-RcprcScnta- =
tives Of the four railway brothcrhoods
and heads of affiliated trades adopted
tonight declaration Of principles op-
posing Legislation which would make
strikes Of railway workers unlawful.
The declaration, framed at u confer
cncc with President Gompcrs, OF the
American Federation OF Labor, de-
clarcd it tho sense OF organized rail
pending railroad legislation against
workers ccaSinS their cmplovmcnt
should DC eliminated.
t:ompcrs Makes Statement.
At the conclusion OF a fvc-hour scs-
sion. President Gompers dictated this
statement:
"om FRIDAY last 4 number OF the
representatives, of the railroad orEani :
ZatipnS, both ShOpIncn and the train
service, met at my Office, ana we dis
cuSsed the situation regarding tho rail
road legislation. aud Issued an invita-
ton I" the executives Of the ten shop
mems organizations affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor and 10
tho four railroad brothcrhoods, asking
tncH TO meet in conference with mo
mere TO-DAY. We began our meeting at
) o'clock and adjourned after s. The
cussion OF the parliamentary situation
conclusions:
That it is the sense Of thc confcr
encc that the control of tho railroads
should be exercised by The governments
OF the United States for period OF not
.css than two Years. in order tina, :.
proper test may BIC made as 10 govern
ncnt control
Has Not Hnd Fair Trial.
That such test has not been given
a iair opportunity during the war
This conference is opposed to legis-
lation making strikes OF workers un
inwtu,i law, 1T is the sense of this confer
legislation on railroads against work
err; cea6itig tboIr. eia ). uynlSuI shon Id i,e
eliminated.
That the conference favors the on
actineht OF beneficial features of the
Dtlis VIII ich tend to establish better re-
carriers.
That the beneficial clauses should
DC DC extended to the sleeping car and
fuiiman Co. employees"
nile the conference reiterated thc
demand OF organized labor that the
government should hold the railroads
, lot a peace- time test of two years. the
no reason TO doubt the carriers would
nc ma nded back March I. the date spec
nn .nca ny me President. regardless OF the
protection OF the properties.
House Relied On by Unions.
beIore and after the conference the
union representa- tives, discussing in
tSrv SSrmatly b;a The rnilroad situation; said
would not accept the labor section az
The Cunlp,ins bill.
soon after the conference got well
under way. President Gompers, who
presided. Returned to his office and
conferred for an hour with Dani.i
Nlilard. president OF the Baltimorc
and Ohio Railroad
Ihere were reports In conEressiono
circles today that some railway eSecu-
owes were opposed to tho labor sec
tlon OF the Cunlnins bill. and later il
was suggested that this may have been
one or the questions discussed by Mr.
Gonpers and Mr.. Willard. Eiimina :
ion ION OF The section. said Senators and
Representatives opposing it, would
make it possible for the conferees to
reach speedy. agreement but il has
oeen announced that tho whole strIke
question had been put back for con-
sideTation after agreement on all
other sections.
AS labor officials were entering their
conference, Senate and House con-
ferees on the Cummins and Esch
railroad bills were concluding their
nrst meeting. n which they set out to
harmonizc the two measures
IL had been announced that renre-
ssentatives Of the. six railroad shop
trades would confer during the da v
with Dircctor-Gcneral Hines, but there
was no meeting, and il was cXplaind
that the announcement was erroneous
10 furthr meetings OF organized
railway employees are contemplated