The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-02
SENATE HEEDS
LABOR PLEAS
Cumn1inS Believes Union De-
mands Will Hasten Con.
greSSionaI Action.
- vs.
HINES WRITES CONGRESS
Urges Passage of New Laws
TO Deal With Labor
a pricee
HINES WRITES CONGRESS

washington, Aug. z, - senator
Cummins. chairman Of the senate
interstate commerce committee, and
other members of that body, believe
the demands made by railroad en-
ployes for increased wages TO meet
the high cost of living will hasten
action by congress on legislation es-
tablishing a national policy with re-
spect to the railroads.
Both the senate and house commit
tees have been working on such leg
islatiop for some time and presen-
tation of tentative bills this month is
expected.
Chairman Cummins and other
| members of the commerce commit
tee met informally today to discuss
the railroad situation, but no deci-
sion was reached. It was said that
all of the senators were impressed
with the gravity of the situation.
Without record vote the senate
today adopted a resolution request
ing the senate banking committee to
report whether legislation to reduce
the amount of currency in circula-
tion was advisable as a means of
reducing the cost of living. The res
olution, which was sponsored by Sen
ator Myers, democrat, Montana, had
been under debate for two DAYS.
Efforts to have the house recess
for two weeks were blocked today by
] Representative 1goe, democrat, of
Missouri. who refused unanimous
consent for consideration of the re-
cess resolution until the house had
| acted on his measure proposing an
| investigation of the high cost of
shoes.
some republican senators said TO-
day the president had authority un-
der the law taking over the railroads
70 order wage and rate increases, and
that III was not necessary for con-
gress 20 appoint a committee to
frame wage legislation, as requested
by the president. The resolution re-
scinding ararngements for a recess
/ OF the house was passed today by
the senate without objection.
After meeting of the house steer
ing committee Republican Leader
ondell prepared a resolution pro-
vldine asor meetings of the house on
Tuesdays and Fridays until further
notice" with no business except rou-
tine to be in order on session days.
Speaker Gillette today made public
n letter he sent to President Wilson.
IN response to the request that the
llve weeks recess be abandoned. The
speaker expressed regret that the
president did not make his decision
sooner because a change will now
interfere with many perfected plans /"
AS 10 railroad legislation" wrote the
speaker, Il supposed by act of congress
you you now had full authority and one of
nf
committee of the house might min
terrupted by the business of the house
prepare the legislation which will he
necessary when your authority ceases d"
SIaung that under the treaty Memel
.SchIeswig and DhnZig were ceded to
German territory SO lceded were made
[Htsponslple Tor certain portions of the
German debt, Senator Knox, renubIi
can pennsylvania, asked Mr. BaruCh
Whether this would not make the
United States responsible for mart Of
Germany's war debt.
-, Mr.. Baruch said he was quite sure"
there was no such intention, but he
was unable to cite any provision of
the treaty which would eventually per
hli,t ms country to pass on RESPONSE
bility under the debt clause 10 Tho
government which assumes final controI
IN the districts mentioned. Senator
hhoN declared there was no such allie
waiting provision
\, On Monday the committee will hear
NoIrnah Davis another of the Ameri-
can advisers at Versailles
Impetus to the senate action ras
given va letter covering the entire
situation, written last night bv ~
rector-General Hines. The letter
follows: 'e''ei
=, Mr.. Hines Letter.
Mr. Hines letter to the president I'M
Ger date OF July 80. follows:
several months ago the railroad shop
employees asked for an increase m
wages. The matter was considered hv
the railroad administration;s hoard ~ ~
wages and working conditions, which is
composed or three representatives of
lanor and three representatives of the
rallroad arrangements. This board was
unabIe 10 agree and therefore took no
action as a board, but on Julv 1e 7
received two reports from members % ~
the board. one from the three labor
menpers recommending general in
CItase IN wage and another report from
Lhe three management members recon-
iLnehulhg against any general increase
IN wages although recommending GER
tain readjustments of the wages NJ
some classes Of the employees.
ne position of the labor members
OF the board is that the wages Of rail-
Ioad shop men are substantially below
- "ascs palu similar classes of en-
ployes IN the navy yards, arsenals and
*thlpyards and in Pany industrial en-
terprlses in the principal cities of the
country. The position of the manage
ment members of the board is that the
wages OF shop employees are not prop-
efiy comparable with the wages of non
railroad employees. cited by the employees
ana s,,s! tneir representatives, and that
lufther wage increase at this time
would simply begin a new cycle in tbe
increased cost of living which would
not benefit the employees. They urge
instead, the adoption of effective meth
ods OF reducing the cost of living; but
they add that unless some action can
(Honk;-,