New-York tribune., 1919-08-10
Greater Efficiency Could Be
Had if 1t We're Applied,
He Says, but Adds Labor
Won't Strike to Force 1t
Denies 1t Is Socialism
Admits Success of Scheme
Must Depend ON Men
Chosen ON Rail Board

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-Glenn E
Plumb. continuing his testimony to-day
before the House Interstate Comme rec
Committee, declared that if the plan
of the brotherhoods for control of the
railroads were applied to the Post
Office Department that government
agency would be conducted with
greater efficiency.
"The Post Office Department" Mr.
Plumb said, in reply to Representa-
tive Montague, Democrat, Virginia,
who wanted to know if it was the idea
to divorce the railroads from politics,
"is the only great industry politically
managed. | do not want to be under
stood as saying that it is not eff
ciently managed, but I do believe the
Post Office Department would show a
higher rate of efficiency if operated
under the Democratic principles of
this bill"
Concerning the provision in the bill
for purchase of railroad property, Mr..
Montague asked:
Would you pay for double track
built from the earnings of q single
track"
mo, all money put back in such
property out Of the payment by the
public for service belongs to the pub
lie and should not be included"
Rests on Directors
Success or failure of the plan, Plumb
said, must be found in the fifteen di-
rectors-tcn of whom would be named
by railway employees. Discussing the
tremendous power vested IN the di-
rectorate. Plumb said there was no
fear on the part Of labor of creating q
situation beyond control of the people.
Have you ever found undue repres-
sion in the management of railroads to
prevent the rise OF employees to high
est rank in the service?' Mr.. Mon
tague asked.
NO repression in certain kinds Of
initiative the witness said.
"Aren't the majority Of highest
priced railroad employees men who
worked up from the bottom 2"
The ablest and perhaps the ma
jority, yes. But they were not ad-
vanced by the employees, but by auto
out Of human effort Of others. I'm
der our plan nothing but efficiency can
hold any mans job in this organiza-
ton"
Mr.. Montague, in asking about meth
DDS Of selections, said during the Civil
War some Confederate companies
elected their captains. and added:
The result probably didn't show the
wisdom Of it,"
Speaks for Privates
II never heard of that" Plumb re-
piled, "but in this last war we had
some able officers, and if privates had
been permitted to select them we
would have had more
Il don't care TO argue that with
you" the Virginia member said
Representative Dewalt, Democrat
Pennsylvania, questioned the witness
regarding the attitude OF labor in
event the Plumb bill failed of passage.
There has been q great deal of mis-
repre- resentatior published" Plumb said
"lt was stated That we would force q
strike if this plan failed. No one ever
said that. In fact, such g report was
denied by Nh. Stone, Mr.. Morrison and
myself. The fact is certain wage de-
mands are pending and the question OF
strike arose in connection with that
This is d different matter. 1t is q
question OF statcsmanShip, and we
"Ouiu ne puma 10 our own interests II
We attempted such methods as threats
Of strikes"
Answering a question of Represent
ative Dewalt, Plumb said the labor or
ganizations had no intention of at
tempting to put the trpartito plar
into effect in other industries unless
the workers and the public desired it
THE railroad industry" he said, ais
organized and is appealing to the
public"
Asks About Farmers
Suppose majority of the farmers
of the country concluded that this
would be best for them, do you think
they should have it?" Dewalt asked.
IF the farmers and the public want
1T, yes" the witness replied. But
think that is an absurd proposition"