South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-02
RAIL LEADERS
SEE DELAY IN
WAGEBO0ST
Say Congress Will Take Six
Months To Settle On
Commission Plan.
By United Press

By United Press:
wASHINGTON. Aug. 2--Heads
OF three OF the four big railroad
unions today condemned placing in
the hands Of congress the demands
OF their members for immediate
wage increases proportionate TO in
creased living costs.
The union heads were ". G. Lee.
president OF the brotherhood Of
Railway Trainmen. l. E. Sheppard.
president OF the Brotherhood Of
Railway Conductors and Timothy
Shea, president OF the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen and Engine
men.
Organized railway workers will
refuse 20 be controlled. the officials
said. If they become convinced their
demands must be passed upon by a
commission which must first be
created by special legislation in con-
gress.
That the railroad administration
has no money to grant immediate
increases was made clear by Pres't
Wilson in letters TO house and SEN
ate committees. in which he pro-
posed creation OF the commission 10
survey the wages Of all rail workers
and decide on increases which would
be mandatory upon the interstate
commerce commission for increased
freight and passenger rates.
Secs Long Delay.
Putting the demands up to con-
gress W ould mean a delay of six
months and perhaps "a year" said
Sheppard, who has asked an average
85 percent increase for s., 600 CON
ductors. This would be unsatisfac-
tory 20 the men who have been wait
ing months. They are now in no
mood TO wait longer although we all
feel that both Pres't Wilson and
Rail Director Hines want to help the
men"
We will not be able to control
the men If this is the answer TO our
demands" said Pres't Lee For
years we've been forced to give them
this brand OF medicine which re-
suited i'm delay. They're immune TO
IL now. would not recommend
such "A solution TO them"
II nave every confidence in Pres't
Wilson and Director Hines" said
Pres't Shea, but if this means they
have turned over to congress the
matter Of wage increases, IL also
means long delay and I fear the
men viii refuse 20 wait and will
strike
Will Wait No Longer.
"f will only say that i'm my opin-
Il II.
Try viii not stand for another sur
vey Of the entire wage situation q"
said Pres't Warren s. Stone OF the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
ginecrs
~ don't know whether this is the
presidents answer 20 our statement
10 him that the cost OF living must
be lowered or we would be forced
TO demand wage increases. If It is
intended as tho answer. I can see
nothins in IL that means "A reduction
IN living costs
IF the government would take aC-
tion 10 suppress the profteers so
that living costs viii leave our men
enough 20 i've on decently. we wocld
not-lsrcss 7our 7Sage> demands said
Lee '->-.
Lee declared the wage situation~s
now near break. which may cause
within a few weeks a strike OF all
organized railway workers. There
are nearly one million organized
workers IF the rest OF the 45O. 900
railway sdop workers follow the lead
OF some OF their men who walked
out Yesterday. all other rail unions
may &c forced into immediate ac-
tion." zee declared
Decide on Action.
Heads OF the shop workers today
were deciding what action they will
take on the special wage commits
sion plan submitted 20 them yester-
day 5y Rail Director Hines.
Pres't Bert NJ Jewell OF the Rail-
way Department. American Fedora
tion OF Labor, today declared OFF,
ciaIs can hold the shop workers
from al unauthorized strike despite
the fact several thousand walked
out Yesterday. disobeying orders.
The shop workers organization is
the only one Of the big rail unions
10 which Hines has submitted the
presidents special wage commission
plan.
I'VE viii wait until oct. ! for ar
answer said Lee III a favorable
answer is not received by that time
or II no answer is received the mat.
ter viii be placed before the men bN
their representative. They viii de-
eide what must be done 20 gain th'
increases We must have