New-York tribune., 1919-02-08
Executives Call 1t Scheme
for 2 Per Gent of People
to Plumber the Other %
Branded 'Bolshevistic''
Commerce Committee Says
Public Should Be Given
Chance To Be Heard
Ncio York Tribune
lyushfr1tOn Bureaii

Washington Bureau
WASHIN N, Feb. 7.-Labors
nlau for operating the railroads of the
country in the interest of the employ
es was laid before the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee to-day by
Glenn E. Plumb, general counsel of the
aBig Four brotherhoods.
As set forth in The Tribune this
morning, it provides that the govern
ment shall buy all the railroads and
turn them over to an operating cor
poration. two-thirds of the directors of
which would be elected by the employ
es and the other third appointed by the
President of the United States.
Earnings OF the corporation would be
divided in half between the employees
and the government. Whenever tho
governments share exceeded per cent
Of the gross operating revenues of The
roads, automatically freight ard pas
senger rates would be reduced. Up to
per cent the governments share
would be devoted to a fund for better
ments and extensions. The employees
share would be distributed to them in
dividends, each emplove receiving an
amount of the earnings in proportion
to his wages.
Committee Is Startled
Members Of the committee were
rotceably startled by the boldness of
the scheme, which is recognized to be
the most radical yet.
A. b. Garrettson, president of the
Order Of Railway Conductors, who will
take the stand on Monday, announced
he has been instructed to inform the
committee that not only the Big Four"
brotherhoods, but the ten railway
unions affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, have indorsed the
principle of the Plum plan, though re-
serving judgment as to the details.
These ten unions, together with the
four brotherhoods, represent, as stated
IN The Tribune this morning, approx
matey 100000 railway employees,
ranging from clerks to locomotive en-
gineers.
"Thus far" said Chairman Smith Of
the committee, commenting on the pro-
posal, I'VE seem to have had every side
to the controversy represented by vari-
COS plans save that of the public"
Even so-called radical members of
tie committee, including men like SEN
s.or Cummins of Iowa, a government
ownership advocate, seemed impressed
with the idea that the public's inter-
est was not primarily considered. eve
must think now and then of those who
pay the bill as we'll as those who get
the earnings" he said.
Mr. Plumb informed the committee
that the brotherhoods would withdraw
Immediately all objection to the ex-
tension if the railroad administration
would revoke the order prohibiting
railway employees from participating
actively IN politics.
We must be as free to organize
ior the purpose of presenting these
IDEAS as the railway executives and
the security owners" he told the COM
mittee. ~ don't assume they will re-
fraln from contributing to the cleo
tion OF members Of Congress and we
must be left in position to do the
same thing
Mr. Plumb said "there was hope for
the elimination Of the order"
At the Offices Of the railroad admin
stration it was stated the order was
slsned by President Wilson, As far
as it was known, it was stated. the
matter Of revoking the order had not
been discussed with the President.
ihe brotherhoods and the railway
uhions,' said Mr.. Garrettson, approve
me Plumb plan as to the principle in
soiyed If any better plan can be
worked out to carry out this principle,
We viii be glad to accept it,"
Executives Are Amazed
The boldncss Of the plan amazed the
ssilroad executives. They pointed out
ssst q proposal to turn over sf8.O00,-
aVVoo worth OF public property to a
semparatyely small group Of citizens.
Hahout dollar responsibility on their
sst1' to be operated by them on
hesds tails-the public loses"
pan. was even more radical than the
spvm,Imnunistic schemes of the Russian
% one Of the railroad executives de-
ssfloed the brotherhood plan as a
pIoposai to give government CON
esssion to per cent Of the people to
rahoer the other 98 per cent.