The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-02
OBJECT TO new.
RAIL WAGE PLAN
Union Leaders Condemn
Letting Congress Decide
ny RALPH n. COUCH
cUnitcd Prcss Corrcspondent.l

ftNht'<i atN%< kttN"3kSett<t'sAf
WASHINGTON. Aug. a-~Heads OF
three OF the four big railroad unions
today condemned placing In the
hands OF congress tho demands OF
their members for immediate wage
increases proportionate 10 Increased
living costs.
The house Of representatives. on
request OF President Wilson. last
night cancelled its proposcd rec~.s OF
1--WE weeks. TO tnke mp consideration
Of tho railroad pay increase prob
lem.
Tho union heals opposing the plan
were w. q. Ice. president OF the
brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen.
L. u, shepherd president OF the
Brotherhood OF Railway Conductors.
and Timothy shea. president Of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Fir~men
and Einginemen.
Organized railway workers win re
fuse to he controlled. the officials
said. II they become convinced their
demands must be passed upon by a
commission which must first be GRE
ated by special legislation In con.
gr~ss.
That the railroad administration
has no money To grant immediate In
cr~asrs was made clear by President
Wilson In letters TO house and sena,e
committees. in which he proposed
creation Of tho commission 70 survey
the wages OF all railway workers
and decido on increases which would
be mandatory upon the Interstate
commerce commission for Increased
freight and passenger RATES.
Putting the demands up - con.
eresS would mean a delay OF ak
months. and perhaps q year. said
Shepherd. who has asked an average
Of IS per cent Increase for 5000
conductors. This would b. unAsis.
factory IN the man. who have been
waiting for months. They are now
In no mood 70 wait longer. aitho We
an feel that both President Wilson
and Ran Director Hines want 10 help
the men"
I'VE win not BE- able 70 control the
men N this n tho answ~r 70 our de
mands." said Prv~ident L~e. Tor
yesrs wc've been forced TO give shen
this brand Of medicine. which rc~uit'
I'd In delay. They are immune to u
now. would not recommend such
a solution % them
7 have every eonfsdsncs In rreuh
dent Wilson and Director Hines.
said President Shea. nut n sfis
means they have turned over 60 con-
xrc8 the matter Of wage ina~ases.
u also means . long delAy. and
fear the men VIII refuss u wait.
ana vim strfkes
Il VIII only ssy that. m my opin
tyy WIN not sand for another sur
vcy Of the entire wage situation
sdd Warren =. Stone. OF the brother.
hood Of Locomotive Enginecrs.
II don't know whether this IN SAe
presidents anwwer 10 our stafuneut
to him that the cost o. living must
Be- lowered. or ~ would b forced
TO demand wnxe incrcases n Il II
intended as the answer. I can -
nothing In u that means . reduction
In living oosts-"
SuUur0A YrU9J1p4Yu
IF the government would taxa ae-
ton 20 supurpn. the proflts~r. no
that nvinx costs Win leave our men
enough 10 live ON decentlv. we would
not prcss our war. demands s.id
Lea
Lee dechr.vs the warn situation In
now near a break. which may cause.
with n fe~v ~,crk~ a ssrsre AZ al, ar.
rnnixed rail worker. There are
nearly ono nsrt,op orv.nlx~6 vork.
srs
.If the r-~t ~ the lso GOO railway
.hoo vorkrr~ sor,ox~ IN. ,..a ~ .or,.
~ thelr MN No v,aIrsa ON, v~.,er.
dav an o,h~r y,n vc,cc. r,,v h.
scrr.a ,c,o srru.s,.,. .~,to,- T..