Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-04
Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Expressmen and
+ Station Employees Act.
F0RTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK
AND 2O-CENT RAISE ASKED
Demands Transmitted to E. r. Ad.
ministration, Says President
J. J. Forester.

way and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers. Express and Station Employees
today Joined with other railway work
ers in demanding that unless someth-
ing be done materially to reduce the
cost Of living our wages must be raised
to give US immediate relief" The de-
mands have been transmitted to the
railroad administration, ]. ]. Forester,
president Of the brotherhood, an
nounced.
The brotherhood demands are
retroactive to January 1. 1919, and in
Guide a forty-four-hour week, over
time and 20 cents an hour increase in
wages. The railroad administration
was asked to grant the workers a
hearing and to make definite reply
Immediately.
President Wilson returned to Wash
ingten early today from a weekend
trip down the Potomac on the May
flower. He had no engagements for
the forenoon and was understood to
be devoting his attention to the high
cost of living problem.
Mr.. Hines Explains Situation.
Director General Hines today ex-
planned to a group of representative
labor leaders that he had asked Presi-
dent Wilson to have Congress take up
the question Of increased wages be-
cause he believed the railroad admin
istration virtually had been shorn of
the power to increase rates to meet
such advances.
The director general said passage Of
a bill by the Senate to restore the In
terstate Commerce Commission its
power to suspend proposed increases
general on notice shat sCongress dis
approved 0H lincseasea except by the
rate-making body.
Mr.. Hines also explained the ffnan-
cial situation Of the railroad admin
tration. and invited the railroad men
to givesany suggestions they cared to
have Incorporated In the bill which
he plans to present to Congress-.
Senate Discusses II. c. L.
Discussion Of the high cost Of liv-
Ing began in the Senate today inn
msdiately after that body assembled.
Senator Gronna, chairman of the
Committee on agriculture. announced
that he had called meeting of his
committee for tomorrow to consider
what measures, II any, can be adopt
ed by Congress to remedy the serious
situation confronting the country.
Senators from the wheat-growing
states, including Senator. Gronna Of
Minnesota and Senator Capper Of
Kansas, insisted that the; high cost
OF living could not be laid at the
door of the wheat farmers, and that
the farmers were receiving much less
Of 1926 q bushel for their wheat.
owing to the system of grading adopts
ed by the representatives Of the
United States Wheat Corporation, the
government agency provided to care
for the guaranteed price Of wheat.
of commodities in this country have
been higher under the operation of
the food administration than at any
time in the history Of the country.
Neither would increased wages and
decreased working hours nor govern
ment ownership Of utilities solve the
problem, he asserted.
The suggestion that the country
might revert to the policy Of govern
mental control of the food situation
the Senate. 1t Is admitted, however,
that until peace is finally proclaimed
the President has the power to call
into operation again the food admin
Plea in Behalf Of People.
Senator Smith of South Carolina
made strong plea that the people of
the country be given an opportunity
to settle these questions relating to
the cost Of food and other necessities
themselves. now that peace is at
hand. He said that 1t was a sad com
mentary upon the common sense and
Intelligence Of the American people
to suggest that they could not meet
ency to run to Congress for q remedy
in every situation that arises under
present conditions.
Senator Kirby. democrat. Of Arkan-
corporation was not now manipulate
what is this man Barnes doing?''
he asked.
all the wheat states" Senator Gronna
answered, "for bearing down the
price. He has made every possible
effort to reduce prices"
Senator Nelson said the Canadian
government had taken over the wheat
crop in that country and wiped out
Canadian exchanges.
Senator McCumber of North Dakots
suggested that Congress Is about t.
be called upon to increase the wage.
Of "a certain class of employees" b,
the administration for the purpose O
winning votes.
The problem. in the opinion of Sen
ator Smoot, is to deal with the re
tailers. He said that in Washington
the people are being charged from
IN a n IT IN
watermelons; Is cents for cucumbers
and $1.05 for small sack of -four
making the flour retail at the-rate o
SIS q barrel. These prices. he said
give the retailer far too great mar
gin of profit. 1t is the retailer an,
not the producer that must be deal
with, he said.
Senator Reed Of Missouri told tn
Senate that the real solution of tn,
problem Of the high cost of living
lay in increased production. He de
clared that the United States ough
not to undertake to feed the peopl
of Europe IL it cannot feed the peopl
of America
yet, without batting an eye, W,
appropriated q hundred million dol
lars to buy food and send 1t to foreign
countries to aid the people there,
said Senator Reed. "Of course, tina
alone would not tend to increase tn
price Of food in this country to an.
great extent. However. it was on
item In a series Of accumulated proc
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