The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-11
Urge A. F. Of L. to Abandon
Bill and Take Up Straight
Government Ownership.
TOO MUCH LIKE A SOVIET
congressman See Continuous
Strife Of Employees to
Raise Their Wages.

eIal posti0ns here are urging the Amert-
s.n Federation Of Labor to withdraw its
lacking Of the Plumb plan for the ma
eonalIzatlon Of the railroads on The
ground that 1t is too radical and revolu-
tlonary
In its place a straight Government
ownership and operation plan would be
advocated. The big objection many con-
s.rvative labor friends see in the Plumb
MAN is that It provides for public opera
ton after the Government has bought
the railroads and taxed the people Of
the country heavily for the purpose.
Public operation under the Plumb plan
means practically theN running of the
-s.lroads By the employees. SO the hear
ings on the programme before the House
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Com
mIttee during the last week show. On
an the directorate and regional boards
for the operation of the roads the Plumb
Mil provides for ten representatives Of
the employees and five of the Govern
ment.
This, several members of the commit
tee believe, is nothing more than the
application Of the principles Of the Rus
sian Soviet to the operation of the rail-
roads. Representative Sanders (Ind- J.,
republican, pointed out to-day that un-
der the proposed plan the employees
would have the power to increase their
rages to any point desired and the peo-
pie would have to pay the bill through
Increased rates
Would Cause Endless Friction.
In addition Representative Rayburn
(Texas), n Democrat and also a MEM
Der Of the committee. believes that I'M
der the plan the result OF the public op-
cation proposed would be a continuous
row among the various classes of the
workers for the highest wages possible.
Iris, he thinks. would cause similar con-
ditions experienced by Russian indus
tries during their control by Soviets OF
workers.
Conservative leaders also have been
surprised TO find that the men carrying
On the propaganda for the Plumb plan
lave been leaders in radical agitation
In this country for several years. Lin
coin Colcord. formerly associate editor
Of the Nation, and Herbert Brougham,
both of whose liberal writings have
attracted considerable attention, are
members of the Plumb plan press bu-
resu, organized to carry on propaganda.
Friends OF labor here who do not
share these radical ideas believe the
American Federation of Labor and the
brotherhoods are making a serious mis-
take by linking forces with the So
called parlor Bolshevik factions.
Even Representative Sims (Tenn.,
former Democratic chairman OF the
House Interstate Commerce Committee.
IL among those urging labor to adopt .
more conservative plan. He in.roduc I'd
the Plumb plan In Congress- but not
until after stating the bill was offered
by request" rrs
Mr.. Sims believes N the Governm emit
purchases the railroads It should be al
lowed to have the control of their opera
ton. He Is Suggesting a compromise
plan Of having the Government buy tho
fixed equipment. leasing It to the all
reads and allowing them to mair sain
their rolling stock.
But other members present during the
hearings are opposed to any step toward
Government ownership at this time. In
this class are Chairman Esch (wis.),
representatives winslow Mass },
Sweet Gowa). Watson (Pa.), Denison
Illl). Sanders Und.). Merritt Comm,
Webster (Wash.). Republicans. and
Doremus (Mich.), Barkley (Ky). Ray
burn (TeK). Montague (va.). Coady
thdi and De Walt tPa.). Democrats.
Judge Clark Makes Statement.
The Plumb plan press bureau to-day
Issued statement by Judge Walter
Clark Of North Carolina. as follows:
AS result of our elaboration upon
me existing railroad situation in the
I ited States and the various SUCCESS
lions which have been made for dealing
herewith, the conference declares that
We following principles should control
lAe action Of the Government with re-
'pect TO this most important question.
Il. rhe Government has resting upon II
me duty and obligation to conserve and
luther the interest of the people as a
'ody, particularly with respect to the
conditions Of their livelihood. Distribu-
lon OF the products OF the nations TN
lus'ry and agriculture Is. therefore, not
'n!y proper but an imperative function
u the Government, which the people
ave a right to insist shall be properly
uInhed II Is. therefore. incumbent upon
ne Government to provide transporta-
on las the principal factor In distribu-
lon) at actual cost, thus insuring means
whereby the products Of one region may,
with only the addition OF actual cost of
rahsportation. be brought to the con-
'umers In another territory.
Efficiency and economy in transpor- |
auon are obviously the keys to the So |
l'on OF the problem OF the high cost |
d living. Any plan proposed for the
solution OF the railroad problem must, /
therefore,, meet the test that II will pro- |
noe transportation at actual cost.
The existing state of Industrial war |
are Is more costly to the consuming |
public than to the workers or to the 1
'wners Of capital. Any plan for the |
'olntion Of the railroad problem which \
.eeNs the Endorsement of the public |
mould provide for n share by the work. |
,rs IN the management and in the profits |
rising from increased efficiency. We |
therefore welcome any well considered |
,'ovement toward decentralization of
-. railroads as being In the interest
:" only of the workers but even more |
u me interest OF the public.
, ne rights OF private property actu-
wy invested in the provision OF trans
Ortalion service for the public must be
potected, At the same time Il is i'm
era'ive In the interest of economy and
,,ncieney and as a means of decreasing
re inflated cost of living that the re-
u'ns 10 the owners of capital invested
lne transportation industry shall not
s Neeeu me amount actually necessary to
cure their investment. and shall not
: PAID upon fictitious capitalization.
,eaunent of the railroads as instru-
,snts ior financial exploitation must
as Public service, not private profit.
oou Dc the animating motive of rail-
DAD administration.
mental Principles Set Forth.
"A iransportation controls the economic
/, industrial life OF the nation. II IA
'ne utmost Importance TO Industry
/. "a agriculture that the railroads SHAH
erlcienty and economically con-