Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-05

bor came out today with the unequi
 vocal formal demand that privat
 capital be retired from the railroads
 A tri-partite control composed o
 the public. the operating management
 and the employees is demanded in.
 stead.
 Addressed to the American public
 and signed by the engineers. the fire.
 men. The conductors and the Ameri-
 can Federation of Labor, forma
 statement was issued announcing thi. proposal which will be carried before congress Wednesday.
 marks" ss the statement. -ths step bT which organized labor passes from, demands for wage increases tc demands = at the system of profits ir industry De overhauled."
 This sentence sums up in a few words. the proposal of which there have been hints and indications, but which is now laid before the country for the first time. Everywhere in of ficial Washington it is recognized as the most serious and far-reaching proposition the country will be called on to face.
 Charzcterizing the proposal as la bor's bfll'' il is put forth as a remedy for ~the high cost of living, because. the railroads are the key industry of the nation It demands the genuine cooperation and partnership based on d real community of interest and par ticipation in control" of which Presi- dent Wilson spoke to congress. and which the statement says has been ig- nered by labor and the private own CTS of the railroads.
 We ask" it says. that the rail- roads of the United States be vested in the public that those actually en- gagged in conducting that industry. not from Wall Street, but from the rail- road offices and yards and out on the railroad lines. shall take charge Of this service for the public
 T..f.r r.1a rl de
 That private capital be eliminated from the railroads.
 That the private owners receive for them government bonds with a fixed ilt = 1st return for every honest dol lar mat they have invested"
 That the fri-partite control. hereto fore referred to. be established. in cor porsaricns which shall lease the roads and in winch the public, the operating arrangements and labor shall be rep resented equally.
 That the public. the operators and the wage earners share equally all revenue in excess of the guarantee tol private capital. by granting to the op- orators and the employees one-half the savings which are expected to be made by such a perfected organiza- tion. and to the public the other half as consumers. either by increasing service without adding costs or by reducing costs
 .-This role originates with labor" says the statement. because labor happens to have firm organizations through which it may become articu- late"
 The trainmen are not represented in tho statement because w. c. Lee, president of the Brotherhood, was out or the city. but it was said that they join in it.
 The statement follows in part:
 The innuendoes in telegraphed dis patches from Washington, appearing afS in RRnFeSGntatlVe Blanton of Texas, that the railroad unions are holding up congress and the government. may as well cease. This appeal is made to the American people direct. It invokes the judgment and common sense of public sentiment, of all the public which earns wage or a stipend
 we recognize that the only way in which we can exist under the present system is to demand further increas- | es in wages But we agree with Rep | resentative Blanton that this affords but temporary relief. It does not offer q remedy.
 '.Labor's bfU, on the other hand. pro- | vfdes a remedy and we ask merely l that it's terms be scrutinized- Our fun argument in support of these terms will be presented on Wednes- | day before the house committee on in- terstate commerce In this statement i VIC are sounding the not of our basic | principle
  bor is merely because labor happens 10 have firm organizations through | which 1t may become articulate. It Is not to benefit labor as labor alone; i ft is to benefit the consuming pub lie of which labor at present is the audible part. In 1abor's bill provid- | ing that the public take over the rail- roads and establish a tripartite con- rrol between the public, the railway operating management and the em- ployes. the labor organizations of America have established this new policy which envisages their condi- tion not only as producers but also
 Tt marks the step by which or 1anized labor passes from demands for wage increases to demand that the system of profits in industry be over hauled. Hitherto during decisive wage negotiations and arbitration awards, we have called for provisional settle uents only, of questions arising out of differences as to wages, hours and conditions of labor That principle of genuine cooperation and partner ship based upon real community of interest and participation in control of which President Wilson has spok- .u to congress. has been ignored both nv labor and by private owners of the railroads
 What wage increases have been re- .eived during the past few years re- suited in immediately being followed ,y more than proportionate increasesl n the cost of living. l. As the major part of the consuming ,1rolic labor is entitled to representa- ion on the directorate of the public ; ziIroads. As producer of capital f is entitled to representation of the { directorate of the railroads. To cap-I tai which is the fruit of yesterday'sl abOr we now propose to discharge very just obligation. We demand that fs ne owners of capital. who represent $ nly financial interest as distinguished V rom operating brains and energy. be I ctired from management receiving a government bonds with a fixed inter (