Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-25
WAGE PROVISIONS
BITTERLY ASSA|LED.
Prefer to Deal Directly Witt,
Corporations Rather Than Have
Public Mix in Controversy.
WHY DEMOCRATS OPPOSED IT.
Wilson Will Study Digest Pre-
pared by Hines-Unions. Pre-
pare for Battle at Polls.
WHY DEMOCRATS OPPOSED IT.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24-Ra;Iroad
| labor decided tonight to ask Presi-
dent Wilson to veto the railroad reor-
sanization bill.
In memorial TO be submitted prob
ably tate tomorrow. the representa-
. tires OF 100000 union workers Will
request the President to withhold his
signature from the measure until they
can present a brief of their reasons
why 1t should not receive. executive
! approval. announcement of the union
decision was made by Is. NJ. Jewell,
aesins presldsn5 Of the railway en-
tion of Labor. who. with f. j. Maniou,
president of the Order. OF Railroad
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
will draft the communication.
| knowledge of the Presidents inten-
rass on the validity Of the. railroad
merge. did not ;eter the union lead
from Thsr elss o, Of
against the legislation were explained
To- To- be apart from any question Of the
nar,a,sy n,,n, OF ,ne p,,i ana tne!' @ @.nerst0re,
through to the finish.
| To Test ConstitutfonalitJ.
The next step in the union program,
whisn WIN hi n15 be dsxeopsd ID Sdehnitsy
ihe consti,utionality of the law. Va
rious mcthod3 OF bringing this about
abeSance pending tho Presidents ac-
| tion.
Decision of the union officials to
reached suddenly. There had been In
| sistcnt clamorinE for such action by
many. OF the local committeeman.
| wage settlement proposal. The course
was not decided OH howayer, until .itS
appsarse;j that no other plan would be
| hle. The sentiment among the chair
men m appc9reL I ar almost ananimoas in
case to the President. o
Labor provisions OF the bill admits
tedly Will be the most bitterly assail-
sections, which labor holds to be ''un-
an far TO the 81, and burden on
vision Of tho law also will come in for
condemnation. 1t was indicated.
for N presidential " Veto. as eonaidera sie ton lie of
| the proposal OF the settlement of the
sonttroyeTsy cont submitted by the Presi,
be largely .perfnnctory at tomorrow's
/ meetings Of the labor representatives.
Many Of the delegates and some Of the
leave Washington Immediately.
Prefer TO Deal With Railroads.
! There remains for consideration.
! however, the question as to whether
the unions will join in, the selection of
commission or experts to begin the
gathering of data on wages and work.
ing conditions for submission to tho
This question rcopens the whole cate
! CORY OF objections to the bill and il
was asserted could be construed AS
meaning the, unions would accept thai
portion OF the legislation. The union
attitude on the tripartite wage hand
| ins machinery was declared to be ones
g. la pn ian ha1y
| fer TO deal directly with the railroad
! corporations rather than have the pub
lie as third party engaged in the
controversy, II was explained
lnterunion controversies also were
rumored rum today about un.on meeting
which had entered into tho agreement
of all fifteen organizations to stand to-
s,hnn se,ihher in the ..s wage fight were des-
their obigations under the affiliated
arrangement. But developments to-
night indicated these differences would
be. patched up and the solidarity OF
railroad labor maintained.
rrosident Wilson, will have before
proVal 10 or VetoinS the Culnmins- Esch
railroad bill comprehensive state
ment of the reason why most OF the
Democrats in the House opposed tho
This announcement was made today
tH,,. ny Kepresentative Barley. of Ken
oes who refused to sign the confer
ence report on the biii, and who led
the fight against it in tho House. He
consideration tomorrow or Thursday,
a, state statement going fully into, the pro-.
sons Tor opposing II.
!. BarkIey's Chief Objection
AIR. Barkley's chief objection was 10
tue financial provisions OF the measure.
especially the SECTION providing for
per cen; net operating return re ' to the
he pemoerWts 5eiieSe. H ofrer II .he ampls 15i,s
It is pointed out that delay OF tho
legislation beyond March 1. the date
on on which the roads are scheduled to
ers, VIII not necessarily cause confu.
sion OF ilnancisl difficulties, Con-
sgsss fnrsS gould ID ol!mnate the o5jectionabo
end OF March, the Democrats declare
The act as II stands Is not expected
10 DC operative much before that time,
and, therefore. no considerable tims
Will be lost.
II, the 100 members OF the Hous,
port hold that attitude. It Would be ,ne.
possible to pass the measure over tho
Prssident's veto. VIZ
an extended digest on the railroad biii.
prepnred by Walker D. Hines, dires.
to, ttsSr-general of railroads. and viii study
ton. He has ten days in which to
sign or veto the bill. = -.
President Wilson was also asfa.,,t~Yss.
day by George r. Hainpton managing. (
d ddireeter of the Farmers National
tions afb!iatcd With the council. 80 4
veto The railroad blu on the ..grounds
ter lie asked ssas sSsaassI the war rssidsat q sss
personally or through Socrstary%
Iumulty receive g delegation next
DAY, and that hc deser action or ttisE