The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-04-23
RAILROADS BACK TO
PRE..WAR CONDITIONS
(By Charles NJ. kelley

| again lllduSuIdleu us puDllC u6
damned policy of the pre-war per-
liod Representatives of the Rail
way Executives Association have re-
fused to act upon President Will
sons suggestion for the organiZa-
ton of the bipartisan board to adj
just wage disputes, and insist that
THE men must enter into negotia-
tions with the managers of each Of
the hundreds of systems into which
the nations transportation lines
have again been divided. They
forced a dissolution of the bi-parti-
san wage board which was organ
lied at President Wilson's request,
giving as reason that they
could not assume the responsible
| ity of adding such burden to the
cost of transportation except with
the full knowledge and consent of
the public" 1t is clear that the
railroads are maneuvering to get
| the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to first increase rates for the
purpose of paying dividends on the
billions of watered stock, and then
to oppose further increases in wages
on the plea that they cannot as
sumo the responsibility of adding
IN,,-1 70 hn nF
portation." 1t is limited that the
railroad managers consider this the
opportune time to defy its we'll or
ganized employees. Thousands of
railroad workers who never before
knew the meaning of Industrial
freedom gained it during the two
years of government control when
railroad labor was humanizd for
the first time. The Cummins-Esch
| act guarantees to the railroads I'M
| til September the same returns on
invested capital, including eight
billion dollars of watered stock, as
was paid during the period Of gov
eminent control. This is assured
whether the roads operate or not.
Hence many of the managers are
said to be in favor of forcing
strike in the hope of disrupting the
ORGANIZATIONS of railroad workers.
If the 100000 employees quit
work they lose their pay, but re-
turns to the owners of railroads are
continued just the same.
The sixteen railroad organiza-
lions are preparing to separately
submit their wage demands to the
officials of the various companies
on April 2S. Failing to secure sat
|isfactory results the matter will
then be taken to the Railroad Labor
Board. Officials of the railroad
employees, in a letter to President
Wilson on the day the bill was
signed, pledged themselves to give
the new law a fair test, and they
are going to keep their faith with
the government and with the pub
lie. In the first test the managers
have failed to comply with the
written terms of the law. They APP
near to be concerned alone in the
generous subsidies and rate guar
oo+ooc rrOvidad therein
This week the Railway En-
ployees Department of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor is holding
a convention in Kansas City to con-
slider the railroad situation. More
than 500 delegates are in atten-
dance, representing every shop craft
Iengaged in the industry. This is
the first general convention of
railroad employees held since the
return of the railroads to private
management, and follows immed-
lately the breaking off of negotia-
lions seeking to continue national
agreements and adjust wage scales.
According to a statement made
by one of the management members
of the bipartisan board, AL agree
ments and wage scales were abro-
gagged on March /, when the gov
eminent returned the roads to pri-
vate management" This means
that all hope of retaining national
agreements which prevailed during
federal control has been dissipated.
The old plan of dealing with some
26O separate corporations has been
reestablished by decree of the man
ayers, who expect this summer to
break down the solidarity of the
unions. A showdown between pri-
vate management, the public and
the 100000 railroad employees is
sure to come in the near future.
Smoke Chas. Sneets' CHALLENGE