Evening journal., 1919-08-30
PLUMB PLAN AN
ASSAULT ON US.
INSTITUTIONS

posed by the Plumb plan. is probably
not very material 10 the railroad own
ers or investors as such, In either
case, so long as we have constltu-
ton, the owners would be paid for the
railroads.
IN that view and I'm that sense. op-
position 10 the Plumb plan Is not the
flght OF railroad owners. as such, or
OF the railroad executives representing
the railroads, but is a matter that con
Germs an the citizens OF every class and
occupation
IN the government takes and pays
FOR ihe railroads and then turns them
over 10 uhe employees 10 operate In their
own Interest the result is easily fore
seen.
since the beginning Of federal con-
troll, the wages Of railroad employees
have been Increased approximately one
billion dollars per annum, making the
total annual wages 90 The railroad en-
ployes about S9.7OOOOO,OOO while the
total payable by the government for
the use OF The railroads Is about SSg2,
.0o0OO0 per annum. out OF which $780,
100000 must be paid for interest on
bonds, leaving only about sii2OO000
90 the owners OF The railroads. or less
than one-half OF The additional or in
creased wages pl.d 10 labor
IN the railroads are turned over 10
those operating them with unlimited
authority 10 iiX their own wages and
hours OF work. 10 Is obvious that trans
pouation rates viii have 10 be increased
n. fn until NhntH AN
boarahle.
Human nature makes n impossible
that men should Doe allowed 90 fx their
own wages and hours of work for
others 10 pay.
"lt is -lhe people who viii pay The
freight rather Than the railroad own
ers. that are most interested in the
Plumb plan. Tho farmer. whose prod
ucis are worlhlesseYilhout~ transporia-
tlon. The consumers of these products.
the manufacturer In every line Of indus
try and indeed. an the people, will sur
fer The consequences of exploitation Of
AN the railroads by unresirained sell |
nshness of those engaged In them.
"If the plmb plan should be adopted
there viii be the constitution 10 pro-
tect the owners of the railroads against
The taking N their property without
Just compensation. but there Will be no /
protection 10 The shipping and travelling
public against the wastefu eXtrava- I
rance Of the operatives In fixing their /
own wages or against the inefficient /
service That would inevitably follow
from The abolition Of an discipline.
III Is the concern Of all good citizens 1
D. rs.fHuauI and
executives. It Is rather n bold move /
for the radical leaders 10 take FIRST for
the one industry that I
affects an the people. u would he more
reasonable 10 expect them 10 take FIRST
some minor industry. some manufac-
turing line, FOR example and then turn
70 over TO the employees engaged In op-
Grating 10 90 manage 1t In their own
interest
"Thls would have affected compara-
lively small number and the process
could have been extended from time 10
time lo the other Industries so long as
iho public remained apatheiic or in
different. as is s0 often the case except
where individual interests are directly
affected
"But 10 take the railroad industry T.
which Is So vital 90 every community /
and everybody. and seek 10 apply The I
soviet system 10 10, must az once bring I
home iO every citizen the extraordinary |
character 0f the assault upon our in--l
siiiulions and what n means 20 every /
individual ! do not believe myself that 1
.he mass of railroad employees under
stand tho fun effect and purport Of /
his proposition. When they do I do i
not believe they viii favor it 7 am
sure they are too patriotic and too
American 10 favor any such
policy.
so far as Plumb's charges are CON
'orned the fact IS that they have no
in fact were merely en-
repetitions Of very old stories.
As 10 others, have no doubt that com
1lete REGULATIONS viii I'm due time he
presented to the committee by the
companies against which they were
made"