The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-11-28

Only Voluntary Adjustment
Prcided in Rail Vote-Ships
and Other Public Property
Sacrificed-Wets and Drys
Argue B0lshevism - 'Syndi-
cate Would Get Railroads. ~
Says Expert-\VoOl Plentiful
But Wool Clothing Out of
Sight-Baer Urges Public
Ownership of Mines.
Washington, d. CA tidal
wave Of kilograms and letters
Of protest, received by every
member of the house, explains
the sudden check given the anti
labor legislation proposed both
" the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce and by
scores of individual congress-
men as a part of the railroad
bill.
An alarm was sent out from
labor headquarters here to ev-
cry point in the country where
any number of railroad men are
employed. The answer was re-
fected in thousands of demands
for two years extension of the
period of government operation,
and in an almost equal number
Of demands that the Plumb plan
Of public ownership be enacted
into law.
The house had at first been of
4 mind to adopt the committee
proposal, which made it possible
for the railroad companies to
attach all union funds to salts
II claims for damages whenever
the employees went on strike.
Representative Webster of
Washington offered a substitute
which provided that the private
property Of every member of a
labor organization involved in a
railroad strike might be seized.
It also proposed Jail sentences
for the union members.
The Webster scheme was too
strong for more than a small
handful of anti-labor congress-
men. The committee clause
was condemned by most of the
aen who represent industrial
sections. Finally an amend
ment suggested by Sweet of
Iowa, and offered by Anderson
Of Minnesota, was adopted. 1t
provided simply for boards of
adjustment, such as now exist,
and made no provision against
strikes as the last resort.
Sacrifice of Public Property
As in the case of the bill or
aering the sale of the govern
n.ent's huge merchant fleet, so
with the bill returning the rail-
roads to private operation, with
guaranteed dividends, the Non
partisan league congressman,
Baer and Sinclair, voted mo-"
Xhey have taken the stand all
along, that the bipartisan ma
chine operating in the house and
senate was exceeding the speed
limit in it's anxiety to sweep all
Of the fruits of the vast invest
ments of Liberty bond money
INTO the hands Of the profteers.
Between the merchant marine
hill and the railroad bill there
was little difference in purpose
and method. Both bills took
away from the people the means
of transportation, and handed
It over, on generous terms, to
the private interests that are
most conspicuously responsible
for the increasing cost of living
ID the American people during
ne war and since the a11nistice.
During discussion of the mer-
chant marine bill, Mr.. Baer call
ed attention to the fact that the
American farmer and consumer
are obliged to pay more for the
handling of foodstuffs between
he farm and the retail trade in
a city located within a few
score miles of that farm, than
is paid by the Australian farm
en- and consumer in the city of
London who receives product.
This is due to the fact that the
farmer in interior Australia
takes his butter or grain to
town, turns it over to the gov
eminent shipping agency, and
HAS it handled for him over q
government railroad, a govern
ment managed steamship line
and through British govern
ment distribution agency, until
it reaches the retailer in Lon
don.