The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-08-09
RAILROAD BROTHE RH00DS ASK
GOVERNMENT TO KEEP ROADS
Urge Naturalization Of the Railroads Declare for Public 0per
alton With the Management Under Board Consisting Of 5
Employees, 5 Officials and 5 Government Representatives.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. o.
Notice tantamount to an ultimatum
that the railroad systems of the
United States must not be returned to
private operation and control was
served on congress and the adminis-
tration on Saturday night by the
chiefs of the railroad brotherhoods,
who declared that the 100000 men
organized in the railroad unions are
lin no mood to brook the return of
the lines to their former control"
The situation precipitated by the
brotherhood chiefs is economically
and politically comparable to that
brought about in Great Britain by the
demand for naturalization of the coal
mines. The policy, advocated is flatly
opposed to the intentions of the Re-
publican congress and the request Of
President Wilson for the return of the
transportation systems to private
management as soon as adequate leg
islation is enacted.
The statement issued by the BROTH
erhoods outlines a plan involving gov
eminent ownership and control of the
roads, in which the employees shall
share in the direction management,
and profit.
came on the heels of demands by
railroad employees for an increase in
wages which would add $1,000, 900, 900
more a year to the pay roll of the
railroad administration, which is now
running at loss of 100000 a day,
at the expense of the national treas
ury.
Endorsement of Plumb Plan.
The statement, signed by the chiefs
of the four brotherhoods and by the
acting president of the railway en-
ployes department of the American
Federation of Labor was an indorse-
ment of the so-called Plumb plan for
railroad management, embodied in a.
bill introduced in the house of rep
resentatives on Saturday by Thetus
w: Sims, representative from Ten
nessee, chairman of the interstate
commerce committee in the last con-
gress. The basic features Of the bill
may be summarized as follows:
1. Purchase by the government of
all railroad systems on valuation to
be determined finally by the courts
2. Payment for the properties by
the issuance of government bonds
bearing 4 per cent interest.
3. Operation by a directorate of Is,
five to be chosen by the President to
represent the public. five to be elected
b ythe operating officials, and five by
the classified employees.
4. Equal division of surplus, after
paying fixed charges and operating
costs, between the public and the en-
ployes.
when the employees share of the sur
plus is more than per cent Of the
gross operating revenue.
s. Regional operation as a unified
system.
7. Building of extensions at the ex
pense of the communities benefited in
proportion to the benefit.
ShOpmen Take Strike Vote.
Simultaneously with the ultimatum
from the brotherhoods, the railroad
shopmen began to take an official
strike vote which would. involve
100000 men, the referendum return
able on Aug. "a. In connection with
their demand for increased pay to
meet the cost OF living, they refused
to accept the Presidents proposal to
have congress establish special body
10 pass on their demand, on which
they want immediate action by the
wage board of the railroad adminis-
tration.
A statement covering the policy Of
the shopmen was issued on Saturday
by B. M. Jewell, acting president Of
the railway employees department of
the American Federation of Labor.
I'VE assure the public immed
savings" said the brotherhood chiefs
In their ultimatun1. THE cost of CAPT.
tai would be reduced from the present
to Z per cent paid to Wall street
80 q. .-= ftts SsE f e