Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-30
Committees Report
Continued from PAGE On,


advantages of New England jnau.
try, and likewise of the RAILROADS
themselves. In all essential resnec,S
there is no New England railroad
problem as such. 1t is a railroad
problem for the whole country.
"One of the outstanding features
affecting the financial condition of
the New England railroads and of
most of the other railroads is the Ia.
Dor situation. When the roads were
taken over by the Federal Govern.
ment forty cents of each dollars of
operating revenue went to tie pay.
roll. When the roads are returned IN
their owners by the Federal Govefn-
ment sixty cents is going to the pay
roll, and the railroads are prevented
from making any adjustments in the
scale of wages and working condi
tions, except with the consent of their
employees, or failing that. by action
of the Railroad Labor Board. Cp to
the present time no railroad has sue
ceeded in reaching an agreement with
it's employers looking to a modifica-
ton OF the wage scale or the work
ing conditions. Thus the railroads
continue to operate at time of Sc.
rious financial difficulty under condi.
tons which require them to use six
ty cents Of every dollar of operating
revenue for payroll purposes. No
railroads have ever operated success.
fully under such conditions
"a substantial increase in wages
was not only inevitable, but was man.
ifestly just. But a large portion Of
increased labor costs was caused by
the enforcement Of impracticable work
ing rules which should be modified
and which are now receiving the at
tention of the Railroad Labor Board
Until that work is completed the rail.
roads cannot be efficiently operated
We have undertaken to confer with
the responsible leaders of the rail-
road brotherhoods, but they have de-
clined 10 confer with us. We have
suggested to the railroad executives
that the railroad employees should be
invited to agree to a temporary de.
crease in wages pending the final de-
cisions of the Railroad Labor Board
but no action of this kind has taken
place.
1--WE believe that every effort should
to extend to the railroads credit suffi-
cient to bridge the period of emergen-
cy and that any efforts to avoid receiy-
crships should be commended because
of the serious results which would
follow. But we feel confident that
there will be no receiverships because
of failure to secure the suggested ad-
vance of rates. If there should be re-
ceiverships they would come about
for reasons other than such refusal"
1--WE are willing" he said, ito sub
init this whole thing in its absolute
entirety, without reservation to the
President of the United States and
we will adopt his decision as organ
izations and will go to every one OF
our members and plead with them to
loyalty abide by anything that he de-
cided, and that is all we can do"
The offer was rejected by the
chairman and by w. A. Thompson
for the ship owners.
Men of America, men of the Unit
ed States" Chairman Benson said
eve are supposed to be the support
ers and aid of the President of the
United States. We are supposed moi
only to carry our own burdens but
to help him carry his. |, for one, VIII
not add one iota to the burden he IS
already carrying. We are respoh-
sible citizens. I trust all Of us are
for America, and it is for us to ala
the President. In attempting 10
carry this question to him which you
should decide and which is your re-
sponsibility you are Sinking your re-
sponsibility as American citizens.
Upon the rejection of his proposal
Mr.. Furuseth declared there was
nothing more to do but appeal to the
President and the conference came
to an abrupt end.
In a statement tonight, Chairman
Benson said:
THE efforts of the United STATES
Shipping Board and the steamship
interests to avert a break with MAI
inc labor have come to naught. luz
refusal of the men to recognize tne
need for readjustment on reason
able basis has ended prolonged nego'
tiations. The Shipping Board mas
to meet the men in 'le
fairest and most conciliatory splfi'
il is however. deeply conscious OF IL
obligations to the people of the Unit
ed States to protect their interest IL
the merchant marine. 1t is reluctap''
ly compelled to meet with all the te
sources at its command the SITUATION
which confronts it,