The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-28
Saturday, Feb. %, 1920.
THE ATTACK ON THE Rail-
= ROAD BILL

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 2t.-the ratto"u
sill is .one Of the most netarlouS et &c,
sided measures ever oneseu : w,,sisrn J.
body" In the opinion OF MlIt'an ao,,o.
pnrEA chairman OF the general corn
n,jttee OF adjustments, Order OF Ne't .
road Conductors. for the baltimore @
ohio system. and member o. w
House OF ReprescntetiTes. eNg in ths
pittsburgh territory. or the rai1Eoa"
h{Ii burke, a Republican. says: -.
TT hurts defiance in the race OK E'Voo'-
900 railroad men. ., -,
TT gives the railroad corporations VI
the country everything they oestre,
S,rcsents them with $500. 100000 or the
people's money TO finance them guar
antees them per cent on their slocNs
aud bonds perpetuates the PaSsene.1
and freight rates set up during tne per
iod Of the war and provides ths way A0'
their further increase.
, This bill provides generously ior lnt
N;Clfars OF corporate interests, QUIZ III
$40 place has protection been accorded
uhc public or the great army OF raiIroau
employees.
, As a sample OF what Is not The truth
tho above Is perfect.
First. the railroad bill does not 'huri
defiance IN the face OF TWO million rail-
road men or in the face OF any other
Litizon of the American republic who
hrs, a just cause. and who is willing &c
strbmit il TO an impartial court. IL
cau,pcls no railroad worker 10 work un-
~ any conditions that nc does not ap'
Aroyc of himself. 1t does not limit hi.
Aght 10 strike. should he choose tc
Srtike. The entire intent and scope o;
lhe labor clause in the railroad bill Is
! 20 provide for a court OF voluntary ar
bitration on which employees. employers
T, And the public will be equally represent
Sd. This count would have power 70
ascertain facts. and recommend conclu-
Mons. Its recommendations are not
compulsory Of acceptance. They de-
Nrnd entirely on thu force OF public
pinion. the mandate OF the American
&eopIe. for their effect. For any man
Wr body OF men, to object 10 the Gre
Aion Of this fair tribunal for the pur'
Nose OF insurlnG stability in railroad
TRANSPORTATION. is to claim for them
Nlvcs an advantage at the expense OF
He whole people. which would be utter
unfair. and in the end. destructive of
organized society.
II The second statement thai lie rail-
million dollars year of the peoples
money is unqualincdly false. The bill
Eivcs to the railroad corporations an adj
Nancc Of three hundred million dollars
Cor the purpose os creating working
capital on which they are to be charged
Interest AT per cent. and which IS L
Se deducted BY the government in its
sinal settlement with the railroads for
the use Of their properties during the
war period.
. The third statement is equally in.
Sincere. The law does not guarantee
Nny railroad percent on it's stocks and
bonds. On the contrary. II limits the
earning of any railroad to per cent on
Ats invested value: and so per cent OF
: HI earnings above per cent go TO the
government. InRsmuch as. under this
bill, and under many previous laws. tho
Interstate Commerce Commission rcgu-
Gated railroad rates, this bill lays down
condition to guide the Interstate
Commerce Commission to the effect
Ahat rates. as a rule. ought 20 be made
IN any particular territory. sufhcien, 20
Give a So per cen. return on invested
capital. bat these rates will apply TO all
Railroads. the rich and the poor. the
1Qng and the weak alike. Many OF
them will not be able 10 earn that re-
Turn. and those who earn above it will
turn 80 per cent OF the excess earnings
over TO the national treasury.
The Anal statement that the bill in no
place provides for the protection Of rail-
road employees is equally false. The
bill specifically provides that wages
may not be reduced from the present
war rates for at least six months after
the return OF the railroads 10 private
ownership. and then. as above stated.
provides that any labor question may be
Submitted 10 an impartial cours and its
findings made public.
The Jntelligcnccr has hitherto point
ed out the animus OF the attack made
BY radical leaders Of the railway unions
upon the railroad bill. These gentle
men would have themselves made tho
Bole channels through which railroad
workers could appeal 10 tho arbitration
board. They would have the Congress
of the United States write into law. the
provision that workers could present
kheir grievances. and have them satisfied
pnly through the activities Of certain
leaders. The offending in the bill. from
their standpoint. is tho fact that the
doors leading TO equal justice are
Thrown wide open to all railroad work.
srs. Any body Of one hundred men. or
more. engaged in a particular line of
Employment will have the right TO state
their grievances. IL any. and their de-
sires, and have the case heard by the
board OF arbitration These employees
may, or may not. act through the lead
GERS who have assumed the authority TO
speak for their entire body. They can
act on their own initiative. and through
Tho channels provided by law. and be-
cause that liberty is given 70 the work
ers OF :he railroads: because the laws Of
This republic look upon all citizens
alike, and extend 10 all citizens the
banao privileges. these bodies. now Gg-
uring in the limelight. seek 10 break
Gown railroad legislation and bring
Abcut industrial chaos.
-
There Is no end to our Affections and