Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-07
To Force Plumb Plan

To Force Plumb Plan
Continued from Page ons)
Plumb plan employees would be rep
resented on the wage board by ma
1ority Of about 2 10 I and added:
, 1t is one reason why I look with
apprehension upon the Plumb plan.
Mr.. Morrison charged that gov.
eminent oficials have not kept
faith with the workers." and said
that workers should have been Civ
en- an increase in wages with the
gradual increase In living costs
without being compelled to ask for
it.
Wage demands sought by railroad
men, il granted. would not meet the
increase in the cost Of living. Mr..
Morrison said.
If the Increase IL not granted.
what would be your advice 70 your
people?' asked Mr.. Rayburn.
The federation has complete au-
tonomy over hours and wages. Each
organization answers for itself"
! Have any organizations deter
mined to strike If they don't get it,"
MY information Is no such action
has been taken. but I understood
some kind of a proposition is being
| submitted
Replying to a question by Rep.
, Merritt. Republican, Conn. regard
ing labor's attitude on state Social
ism, Mr.. Morrison said the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor for some
| time had favored government opera
| ton of all quasi-publfc utilities with
some safeguard TO protect workers"
1--WE Don't want ts Ike the post.
ef!ee department: whore some such
msa az &E. 4gyiesen refuses 70 hear
the grievances Of workers." added
the witness. 1--WE don't wan. au,oc.
| yacy.
DO you believe In an autocraey
by the workers. asked the ccnnec-
ticut congressman.
There IL no possibility Of that BY
the workers. They are submerged
| and are covered up."
Representative Barley, Republi-
can. Kentucky. asked il the witness
thought the people. after buying Ss7,.
100000 In bonds during the war,
would be prepared to invest q simi.
lar amount in q proposition Of this
kind.
Il don't believe there win be any
dimculty in putting this ownership
plan into effect so far as money il
concerned" NM Morrison said. ut
will be great benefit to the gov
eminent and the public"
| Mr.. Morrison declined to answer
Rep. Winsiow's question as to
whether the operation Of railroads
under supervision OF the government
had shown Improvement saying such
a question should not be raised at
| this time.
| Has labor" asked Mr.. winsiow,
! ever been as well fed, clothed.
housed. entertained or furnished in
their homes as labor is in the Unit
ed States today"
Mfr. Morrison said this was true Mt
| the time OF the signing of the ar
mis'ice. but added that he demob-
ilization Of four million men had dis.
turbed industrial conditions and was
causing unrest" Such a condition
could have been avoided, he added.
had employers noted the psychology
of the timas"
Taxing into consideration the fact
that railroad men received only an IN.
crease Of y per cent while there has
been an increase in the cost Of living Of
| g PER cent since 1sl4'' said Mr.. Nor.
| rison. 1T Is not possible for them to be
| in as good condition as they were in
Isl4''
| The witness admitted that labor prob
| ably was financially better OF now than
| i: was, saying that labor has endeav-
o7ed to assist the government in the
| sale Of Liberty bonds and War Savines
, stamps and added: There il NO cues
ticn but labor has saved more than 1,
ever had before"
! Mr.. Morrison denied that national mo-
hioition has in any way affected exist
/ ing conditions.
; Replying TO questions by Rep. Web
, s'er Of Washington, Mr.. Morrison told
, the committee it 10 the employees DO
sition that increased wages ought to be
/ granted now and then legislation taken
/ up designed to reduce the high cost Of
( living.
/ DO YOU not think that it would Be
good sense for Congress to put the
plan on the shelf temporarily and de-
vote its attention to solving the higa
cost of living" asked Mr. Webster.
We are here 10 advocate the adop-
; ton by Congress. of this BILL" was the
witness' only reply.
/ Mr.. Webster asked whether, In view
/ Of the fact that the President and Con-
gress we're doing everything within
] their power to reduce the high cost Of
living. Mr.. Morrison knew Of any ben.
| eft that weula come to the nation by
calling of nationwide strike, to which
/ the reply-wa made that Mr. Stone had
said that matter had net been censid.
cred.
Just before the committee sdjeurned.
Nj. Morrisoa said he desired to max,
a statement
Representing the American Feds,.-
| ton of Labor" he said. ''an orranixa.
ton that believes in collective barsain-
! ing and peaceful consideration Of an
i Tronlems. we come before ysu With mo
threats Our agitation for eleetien Of
or men to once must not be taken a
threats II is simply the lawful. legal