The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-10

! WASHINGTON, d, c.. oct e.
Hearings on the Cummins railroad
bill before the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee has developed
that It Ia the most drastic measure
ever proposed against labor No
analysis yet given publicity has
brought out its most glaring fea-
lures Samuel Gompers startled the
Senators when he declared IN op-
posing the billi
When during the stress of war
the Government was compelled to
take over the railIoado their en-
ployees were free men Now it is
proposed that the railroads be given
back to their private owners with
the employees handcuffed.'
Here are some Of the most drastic
provisiens
The bill provides that the Gov
ernment shall arbitrarily make the
wages and fix the hours and work
Ing conditions for the employees of
private companies. This is the
method proposed
A board of five members, to be
known as the Railway Transporta-
tion Board. shall be appointed by
the President This Board has the
final say IN all matters concerning
wages. hours and working condi-
tions. Tho eight-hour day can be
changed at Will by this Board, A
committee on wages End working
conditions is provided for to be
composed Of an equal number Of
representatives of employees and Of
ficials. This Committee (which Is
camouflaged for the real purpose
Will hear all requests for changes
in wages and conditions. What
ever the members agree to is passed
on by the board 1t can veto or ap-
prove any recommendation of the
Committee. The Boards decision is
final There is no appeal from It's
action. No provision is made for
mediation. conciliation or volun-
tary arbitration.
After the decision is made the
employees are "handcuffed, as
President Gompers charges. If two
or more of them object to the deci-
sion and agree to quit work each
can be fined $500 or imprisoned, or
both, for conspiracy,
The Adamson law provided that
railroad employees should have a
basic eight-hour day. 1t is still the
law The Railroad Transportation
Board, which Will be the supreme
court in all matters regarding
wages and hours, can make any
change at any time There is no
appeal. 1t is to be presumed that
all members of the Board Will be
anti-labor. Even if one represents
labor he will be in such a minority
he can make no successful protest.
The bill also provides for a com
panv union. A certain portion of
the earnings are set aside in a fund
to be known as the employees vel
fare fund President Gompers tes-
titled that welfare work" adopted
/ by non-union employers was Hell
fare work He also charged that
its intention was to encourage or.
induce employees to not Join the
Brotherhood unions.
1t was limited several times in
the hearings that the motive behind
such a drastic measure was TO force
the labor people to agree finally to
a compromise establishing compul-
sorry arbitration. Senator Cummins.
author Of the bill and Chairman Of
/ the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee. appeared determined to force
the bill through. however. During
President Gompers' entire time on
the stand the Senator did not ask
a question, He defended the bill,
however, when President Gompers
charged that no penalty was pro
yided for officials going on strike.
The most dangerous part of the
bill is the provision that the wages,
hours and working conditions shall
be determined by the board of five
members. The decision of the board
must be obeyed. There is no middle
ground, 1t is the court of last re-
sort.
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