Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-02
ROADS and men
BOTH SEEKING TO.
WIN PUBLIC FAVOR
"PeopIe Are Bellies of the
BaII"-Erie Head Favors
2-Cent Passenger
Rate.
By ARTHUR M. EVANS.

by AN II y N M. Z ANS.
Washington, March. 1.-(By Chi
cago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased
Wire. e.)-Now that the railroads are
back in private hands, the dear old
public finds itself transmogrified
from wall flower into the belle of
the ball.
AS rival suitors, both employers
and employees are starting an ardent
courtship. "What will the public
say?" is the key to the situation on
both sides.
The 100000 railroad workers, so
far as their big leaders are con-
ceined at any rate, appear to hold
that the counsel labor should take
is the one which will get the back
ing of public sentiment. The rail
owners, on the other hand, frankly
say private ownership is now up for
its final test. They have no desire
to get ''in bad' with the public
again, as they were dozen years
ago, and thus help along the gov
ernment ownership advocates.
N SltIEI SliC-. NdlltS " hANoN 10
slate with old Vox Pop -
Union Heads Meet.
Today the heads of the railroad
Unions held group meetings and dis
cussed President Wilson's letter
holding that the machinery set by
the new Nt is fully adequate to give
the workers a fast and square deal.
No conclusions were reached.
AS soon as President Wilson sets
about the makeup of the wage ad-
Iust;ng machinery, the employees,
it is indicated, will be ready to par
ticipate.
But in the meantime, tenseness IS
growing out of reports that some OF
the railroad executives plan to abro-
gate the working agreements which
held good during the period of fed
era, control The act provides that
wage schedules cannot be reduced
during the next six months. But the
measure does not deal with working
conditions, such as the cight-hour
day and overtime rates.
Want rs Per Cent Increase.
In some, instances, it was rumored
among the labor leaders, roads are
considering return to preWar
status on working conditions. not
wages. If this is done the nnion
chiefs say it would be provocative Of
much serious labor troubles on the
roads.
Inquiry among railroad depart
ments today, however, failed to re-
veal any such move under contem-
plation so far.
The railroad executives are plan
ming to ask an increase of Is per
cent in freight rates from the Inter
state Commerce commission.
Until September, | the govern
ment guaranty holds good, so there
may be no mad haste on the part
of the commission to boost the
freight schedules.
Favors 2-Cent Rate. .
New York, March IA plea for
lower passenger rates and a read
Justment OF freighs rates to provide
equitable distribution" of revenue
from commodity tariffs was made by
F. D. Underwood, president OF the
Erie railroad. in statement con-
cerning resumption of private con-
trcl OF the railroads. He predicted
one of the first benefits to be no.
ticed by the public will be more ef-
ficient service.
Reduce Passenger Rates.
Il am opposed to class freight
rates." Mr.. Underwood said, "and to
higher passenger fares. In fact l
think passenger fares should be re-
duced to two cents a mile, except
perhaps on certain lines serving
limited territory and upon which
there are peculiar conditions.
The public is going to benefit un-
der private control, he continued,
thi ough the reawakening of keen
competition among railroads. The
individual responsibility of railroads,
he said. will be enliyened.