Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-20
WAR ON RAIL BILL
OPENED BY UNIONS
Appeal viii Be Taken to Will
son If Wage Clause Passes
House and Senate "a
LABOR CAUCUS IS STORMY

Washington, Feb. 20.-Union labor,
led by officers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and the railroad brother
hoods, today had well under way its
fight in Congress against that adoption
of the redrafted organization bill.
A caucus of union leaders and pro-
labor congressman last night was al
most disrupted by charges that labor
was attempting to dictate to Congress.
Besides the memorial prepared by
representatives of fifteen railroad unions
and federation officers at an all-day
conference yesterday and which was
addressed to Congress as a whole. in
diyidual congressman were deluged to-
day by letters and kilograms from union
leaders generally protesting against
enactment of the bill into law.
The plan of the unions, 1t was shown.
provide first for determined fight in
the House and Senate. If defeated
there the controversy will be taken
direct to President Wilson in the hope
of veto. Opposition of the unions, as
shown in the memorial to Congress de-
clarng the bill to be destructive of the
employees constitutional privilege, is
based chiefly upon the method proposed
for handling wage and labor disputes.
Attack Federal Guarantee
The provision for a fixed financial
return to holders of railroad securities
also is attacked, the memorial holding
that the provisions would constitute IAN
abandonment of government for the
common good, the establishment of gov
ernment for private interest, special
privilege and class benefit"
Principal objection to the labor arbi.
tratiop clause is based upon the manner
in which the special arbitration boards
would be constituted and the manner of
their operation. Union leaders contend
that the arbitration boards, including
the permanent federal board of nine
members, might be SO composed as to
eliminate labor from representation.
The method proposed of adjudicating
labor disputes by groups of not less than
100 employees. the leaders declared,
would "destroy all discipline and lead
to chaos" because it would cncour-
age the workers to disregard existing
agreements and long established orderly
methods of procedure.
Financial Favors" Opposed
The union officials, as set forth in
the memorial, see in the bill "a deter
mination to anrul existing agreements
and destroy the organizations which ne
gotiated Them" and voice strongly their
opposition to the provision that would
make ineligible for appointment to the
labor board any person connected with
ar organization of employees.
The provision, they point out, would
result in forcing men "long trained in
labor union work to rellnquish associa-
tions of many years to accept such
position"
Representative Barkley, Democrat, of
Kentucky, who with Representative
Sims, Democrat. of Tennessee, is ex-
pected to lead the fight against the
on the floor of the House, late
filed statement on the rea-
sons why he refused to approve the con.
ference compromise bill. He attacked
the measure as comforting financial fa-
vors" on the carriers that would force
increased rates aggregating 81, $50
100000 and add to the cost of living