Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-08
LABOR OPPOSES U. S.
RAIL OPERATION AS
TOO GREAT A JOB
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
| return for his work." was given the
committee late yesterday by Mr..
Plumb.
This gloomy view Of conditions was
given by Mr.. Plumb near the close Of
! fve-hour appearance on the wit
ness stand, during which he charged
portation highways of the country,
and denied that he had come forward
with the Plumb plan for solving rail-
way evils at this time in order to
link 1t up with the high cost Of liv-
ing. on which the nations attention
has turned.
Mr.. Plumb apparently was cognizant
Of the rumors sweeping through the
Capitol that he had picked an un-
usually propitious time for present
ing his bill. which organized labor
living nsi sA COST through Ped REDUCTION of Of
freight rates and elimination Of pri-
vate capital from every transporta-
ton company in the United States.
Except for the invitation from Chair
man Esch of the House interstate COM
merce committee. conducting hearings
on all plans for railroad control. the
Plumb plan. he said, would not have
seen the light OF day until early fall.
Sees Overwhelming Statement.
But it was while speaking through
the country in its behalf. the witness
declared, that he found an over
change from the old system Of rail-
road control. There was no doubt, he
said, Of great industrial unrest. due
to the mounting cost of living. Press
that he would not be surprised to see
anything happen. the witness said this
did not mean hating business activi-
ties, great destruction Of industry or
q cetaclysm; but the feeling In u. the
something had to be done quickly in
Ethe3r behalf
The feeling Of unrest" he declared
with earnestness. 'fs accentuated by
the necessity 81 finding some way to
meet It."
There was no other references ex-
cept indirectly. to the food cost prob
devoting practically ali Of his time
to explaining his bill, section by sec
ton. Much light on the attitude OF or
ganixed labor toward pending rail-
problem: was rs given i've ,t the m
series Of questions asked by Chair
man Esch. The chairman wanted to
know II Mr.. Plumb could say whether
q majority Of the people stood for
O~h0IohAp Va ssso
"At this time. I cannot say" the
q great majority of the people Of the
United States are 50 dissatisfied with
present conditions. and 50 turned
away from past conditions. that they
are rapidly coming to the support
Of this plan for public ownership.
They will demand it"
Untried Features Admitted.
Discussing the bill the witness
frankly said that 1t contained pro-
visions quite new and untried. and
that he was prepared to make
changes. In this connection he said
II had been called to his attention
that the provision taking away from
the several states the revenue now
derived from railroads was not right.
He was willing, he said, to change
this, 90 that the states would re-
ceive 10 per cent less q year until
the point was reached. in ten years,
when they would receive nothing.
Mr.. Plumb said, in answer to an
inquiry. that under his plan the rail-
roads would be MQuidated. and hold
ers Of securities would get SO 2.3 per
cent Of their value. Six billion dol
lars in fictitious values. he said. would
be squeezed out, which he described
as the elimination Of that which
had already vanished" Even then,
he contendod, holders Of stock would
get exactly what they would IL their
| holdings were put on the market to.
day.