New-York tribune., 1920-02-20
Calls
For Defeat
OF Rail Bill
Unions Will CarryFight to
Wilson if Congress Up.
holds Measure Termed
Blow vat w orkers'Liberty
Rule by Capital
Seen in Provisions
Arbitration Plan Could
ShutOutEmployees,S Say
Compers and Car Men

|
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Organized
RAILROAD workers and union labor in
general, holding the redrafted rail-
! road reorganization bill to be destruc-
tive of the employees constitutional
privileges and liberties, tonight called
on Congress to defeat the measure in
it's entirety.
Representatives of the fifteen rail-
road unions at the close of an all-day
conference, attended by President
Gompers and Secretary Morrison of
the American Federation Of Labor,
made public memorial to Congress
embodying this declarations:
"The pending bill deprives citizens
employed upon railways Of the invio-
late right to enjoy gains of their own
industry. The returns to capital are
fixed upon an arbitrary basis, the rate
which the public must pay and wages
which labor must receive must accom-
modate themselves to this basis fixed
for capital. This act makes the public
and labor subservient to capital. For
these reasons herein set forth ard
many others, we request and respect
fully urge that the bill be defeated in
its entirety."
First Battle in Congress
During the all-day conference in
formation was given out that letters OF
protest against the wage provisions of
the bill would be sent to President
Wilson and Director General Hines.
Later it was decided to make the first
fight in Congress, and intimations were
! rrty, hat i / I. IL
ers then would carry the battle to the
White House, hoping that the Presi-
dent might veto the legislation.
Charges by Representative Sanders,
Republican, of Indiana, that members
of Congress had been called into "cau-
Gus" to be dictated to by union labor
on the railroad reorganization bill al
most broke up an informal conference
tonight between Congressman friendly
to labor and labor leaders.
Mr.. Sanders said he had received
an invitation to a caucus and found
instead an assembly at which labor
leaders were prepared to present their
commands to the legislators.
81 charge that this meeting was
called to defeat the railroad BILL" he
ownership upon the country"
Mr.. Sanders bitterly arraigned
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor, who was seated
near by, for having "unjustifably and
unfortunately insulted the present
Congress-"
Lie Passed at Conference
Turning about to face the murmurs
of disapprobation which had arisen at
his unexpected remark, Mr.. Sanders
shook belligerent forefnger at the
labor leaders as he said:
"Yon can't have your own way about
everything!"
Immediately Representative Mead
Democrat, Of New York, arose and de-
clared "the man who will say this
meeting was surreptitiously called is
a liar"
A dozen Congressman present, in
Guiding Mr.. Sanders, jumped to their
feet and turmoil reigned until the
chairman had called the meeting to
order Representative Mead consented
to withdraw his assertion insofar as it
might have been construed to include
Mr.. Sanders.
The memorial, addressed by the labor
leaders to the people of the United
States as we'll as to the two houses of
Congress, declares that the bill in
enunciating principle for basing the
financial return of investors subverts
the principles of American government
This provision, the memorial holds,
would constitute "an abandonment of
government for private interest, special
privilege and class benefits"
Provisions of the measure for arb-
tration of disputes are attacked be-
cause of the manner in which the
special arbitration boards would be
constituted oOd hocouoo ~ +bo 1,,o,, -,
which they would operate. The arbi-
tration boards, including the perma-
nent Federal board of nine MEMBERS
might be SO composed, the memorial
declares, as to eliminate labor from
repre- esentation. Procedure of these
boards as set forth in the bill, the
memorial states, would "destroy all
discipline and lead to chaos"
Rail Owners to Aid Hines
While the labor representatives were
in session Director General Hines, in
conference with a committee of lead
ing railroad executives, received d
pledge of their cooperation in the
establishment of a committee of ex-
perts to gather data bearing on the
wage problem. The executives OK
pressed desire that solution of the
wage problem be expedited and Mr..
of constituting the committee of ex-
perts would be recommended to the
President as soon as conference with
the railroad union officials could be
held
Forecasting at least one aspect of
the final fight to be made OH the re-
organization bill in the House, Repre-
sentative Barkley, Democrat, Kentucky
filed late o-day a statement of reasons
for refusing to join in approving the
conference compromise measure, which
he attacked as comforting Financial
fayors" on the carriers that would
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