The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-03
r e d u e Expenses by
Working for Service
Rather Thar Profit.
HEARING BEGINS
NEXT THURSDAY
Change in Existing Con-
didons Must Start With
The Railroads, Is t h =
General Belief.

WdSHlHSVUH, aug. 1t-OI-
ganized labor's blu embodying
the Plumb plan for govern
nent ownership and democracy
IN the operation Of the rail
roads was introduced in the
house today by Representative
T. S. Sims, Democrat, of Ten
nessee. Mr.. Sims, during the
Democratic control of congress
was chairman of the interstate
and foreign commerce commit
tee to which the bill was re-
TERED.
In a statement issued coinci-
dent with the introduction OF
the Plumb bill, the heads Of
.he four railway brotherhoods
md the president Of the rail
way employees department of
The American Federation OF
labor declare: +.
"Labor's railroad bill has
The purpose of reducing the
.ost Of living by operating the
most important industry in the
country for service rather than
for profit"
ANY basic change in the ex-
sting conditions which are re-
sponsible for the ev~er-growing
high cost of living, the chiefs
Of the railway employees say,
uust begin with the railroads.
Chairman Each. OF the house inter-
ats md foreign commerce commit
.eA. announced that hearings before
bis committe on the Plumb plan will
segin next Thursday.
Congressman Sims introduced the
hnl In. the form It was drafted. which
n detail, he said. IN not to be consid-
aeed as being textualfy iabor's hnal
sraft. but Is subject to change and
Or which suggestions are invited.
.The heads OF the four railway
Sro&herhoods ana ten afiliated rail-
ray organizations OF the American
federation Of Labor, numbering IS
700, 900 men, he said. have asked
No to present this bin. The executive
souncu OF the American Federation
u Labor was instructed on this mat
se 1t III last convention at Atlantic
city. on June II, last. to cooperate
NTH the organization representing
NE railroad employees
This H. has dOne. and Samuel
N~->ANa ~~A~tAA~x - AA> n r..
Is honorary president and Warren
4 Stone, head Of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, IL president
pf the Plumb plan league. formed to
yrgSs this bill before the country.
COURTS TO ACT
The proposed law would leave the
valuation OF the railroads to the
sourts, providing review on appeal
Rom the findings OF a properly con-
ytituted a~ppraisement board. by the
aecisions OF this body or OF the courts,
4 would pay back every honest dol
lar put into the railroads. issuing
therefor government bonds at -four
per cent. 1t would work at every.
ut would establish harmony be-
..ween the public interest, the interest
II the wage earners and capital. II
would protect the public against ex-
o~loitafion for the benent Of either
,apftal or labor. and 1t would assure
me public of reductions in rates ex-
actly equivalent to any increase In
Earning power which the employees
might create for themselves by the
Jefnciency of their organization or the
akill Of their management.
This would be the first step In
solving the problem OF the high
cost OF living. as h cost OF trans
portaticn enters into the price OF
every commodity which is paid
BY the consumer. Protection
against increased rates-assur-
ance OF reduced rates-would tn
spfre industry with confidence:
would increase the purchasing
power Of the dollar: and would
break the vicious cycle which
now exists Whereby every In
3 crease tn wages 4 reflected in an
CONTINUED On page !, =.