Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07
NEW R. R. PLAN
URGED BY LABOR
Railroad Workers Propose
Federal Ownership Under
Tripartite Control
EMPLOYEES TO SHARE
By the Associated Press

Washington. Feb. Railroad labor
interests today proposed government
ownership and private operation by one
large corporation comparatively organ
lied and sharing profits with employees,
as their solution Of the railway prob
lem.
Testifying before the Senate Inter-
state Commerce Committee in behalf OF
the four leading trainmen's brotherhoods
and other employees organizations. Glenn
Il. Plumb of Chicago. recommended that
the government acquire all railroad prop
crty. at a price fairly representing the
physical valuation. the operation to be
directed jointly by employees, officers
and the government.
In presenting the labor policy for rail-
road operation. Mr.. Plumb said that
all opposition by employees to the pro-
posed five-year extension of present gov
ernment control would cease If the rail-
road administration revoked its order
against employees participation in poll
tics.
That is our only objection to the
fve-year plan" he said. The purpose
OF an extension is to allow time for a
political solution of a social issue and
under the political prohibition order,
We would be precluded from full parti-
cipation in the working out of the solu-
tion. We could not leave complete free
dom to the financial interest in work.
ing out the problem when we arc lin.
tied"
Reverting TO the tripartite contro, nro-
posal, Mr.. Plumb said that earnings
would be divided equally among em-
pIoyes and the government and rates
automatically would be reduced when
profits amounted TO more than a fixed
rate.
"e"'"'s "' Tue LABOR ec"e"e
rms arrangement, 1t was argued,
would provlde cheaper financing, give
staoihty OF income 10 security owners
p.rSo----olle--e -elpclency OF operation through
ar,ns proi..S, IelI'one raiIroad opera
u S'u. i.o,, par',san pp''l.cs' ooihpose con
.,n.. ,',' 49, ., "l anu o.a'e au,hori-
on,,,,f'oa,,or' T., .,'''',nu",' eh'h'''a'e
,,royido ,,,oar. 80 o s.h'nules, ana
nav for cxtonsiors ,hat hn,,a, t1"'','uI'i'ics
The-eorporation would he snhinn, j..
,rer,Ia,Ion nv tho Intors,o,a C o' 10
tCetsmission. which would retain ;,a 49, &c
I ent Regulating mowers ''S pres
b. The brotherhoods objected % al, .,,
way executives proposaI for os,",,,a,' 81
| ing a secretariat of transnorta,,n, ,'
{ ing this would constit,,tn "roo,,,o,p,,
| the pcCplc in tho Interests of oa,,t,",,e
He protested also arainst H. ,,
road administratjon's order ,or.,,.i'
railway cmploycs from taLi,n 80. ~,
politics. arguing that the sol,,tio,' ="
railway nrobIem is noiI,ioni y, we
and that employees are entitled -, 'nsu ,I
ticina,c e' W par
/ Mr. Plumb suv,os,oa o,.,
co. ooora,i,', as,'e,t slNa'ion or
,n nhu,,,, ,,,.,.a ""erc operat- =
,ai,, '''''u ''s sole capi-
80 .., ,.,..
c.a"i "sreeo percentage or the
ot ,1ou'e U, opera.ion shou'd belong
S"'s rorpora,on, ne SAID. 'Thc
s'o'N OF 'ne corporation should he held
u. Tust ior tne penelit or the employees.
II" corporation wouid be~administered
nE BOARD OF directors who, we sug-
gest tentatively, should be selected in
TINS manner: One-third to be elected by
the classified employees below the grade
OF appointed officials; one-third by the
appointed OFFICIALS and employees, the
fina. third being appointed by the PresI.
dent of the United States"
With half of the profits going IN ,bo
government and the other half 10 the
corporation. to be distributed an,on :
employees, Mr. Plumb said. sthe mon
would be actuated by desire to pro.
mote efficiency and economy as n w. pu'