The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-03-05
Freight Rates Will Be Increased 25
To 40 Per Cent, Meaning
Higher Living Costs.

Washington.-Congress has voted
to return the railroads to private own
ers, over the protest of organized la
Dor, farmers and other groups of cit
izens who have urged that these prop
critics be held for at least two years,
that test of government manage
ment may be made under normal con-
ditions. The railroad workers have
asked the president to veto the bill.
The senate favored the return by a
vote of AZ to II, and the house vote
was $50 to $50.
The senate anti-strike section was
eliminated, but in its place was nj
serted a provision that trades union
lists declare will destroy all discipline
and encourage employees to disregard
existing agreements and long-estab-
lished orderly methods of procedure
This provision recognizes the right
of any 100 employees to initiate a
movement within any recognized class
1t is shown that this may be duplicat-
ed by dividing the respective classes
by 100 which would be approximately
10000 groups of not less than 100
employees presenting requests on 165
trunk lines, no two Of the requests
being the same.
The railroad employees say that the
failure to designate and treat with
the standard recognized organizations,
representing about 95 per cent of all
employees, can be construed as de-
termination to annul existing agree
ments and destroy the organizations
which negotiated them.
The workers fears are sustained
by the New York Times, recognized
spokesman for big business, which
frankly states that this section of the
bill is intended to stop organization of
railroad employees.
The bill also provides that where
trade unionist accepts membership
on the labor board, the appointee
must give up his rights as member
of this organization except insurance,
pension or other benefit funds.
In their protest against this pro-
vision, the railroad employees say:
Men in the organized labor move
ment, competent by their long years
of experience and training, to deal
with the questions evolving upon q
board of the character contemplated
cannot be expected to relinquish ar
association representing their life's
work, to accept a position under the
provisions above cited"
The bill guarantees labor against
reduction of wages until September
next, but after that date, the rail.
road workers declare, neither the in.
terests of the public or labor are safe.
guarded. On the other hand, capita
is guaranteed minimum return Of
51a per cent, leaving both the public
and labor at the mercy of capital after
September l, 1920.
"The returns to capital are fixec
upon an arbitrary basis. The rat,
which the public must pay and wages
which labor must receive must ac
commodate themselves to this basi!
fixed for capital This act makes tn,
| public and labor subservient to cap
ital"
1t is shown that heretofore com
petition was relied upon to keep rate
down, and upon regulation to proven
rates becoming extortionate. 1t ha
also been fleld that the basis upol
which compensation was to be receiv
ed by the railroads must be judicial.
determined. This theory is now aban
doned.
"By thissbill," continue the railroa
employees, "the government which W
have instituted for the common good
is prostituted to establish the privat
interests of holders of railway securi
ties as a class, giving them a first lie
upon the property of the country a
the expense of all other citizens, in
vestors, producers and consumer:
Tins is an intolerable subversion O
the principles of American govern