Evening star., 1921-02-24
RAIL BILL PROTEST
SENT T0PRES|DENT
WinsIoW-ToWnsend Provision
for Payments Attacked
by Labor Interests.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 24.-A protest
against the Winslow w-Townsend bill,
which would allow the government to
make partial payments to the rail-
ways of money due them under the
terms of the guarantee given during
federal control, was telegraphed to
President Wilson yesterday by Il. M
Jewell, president of the railway en-
ployeS' department of the American
Federation of Labor.
The bill was passed in the Senate
Tuesday after being favorably acted
upon in the House and now goes to
the President for his signature.
The message charged that the ROADS,
under threat of complete break :
down of the transported tion industry
are undertaking Ito levy a tribute OF
hundreds of millions of dollars on the
Treasury of the United States, and
adds that we insist that the railroad
owners shall not be permitted to en-
joy the financial benefits of the trans
portation act and of this proposed
amendment until they have demon
strated their Willingness to guaran-
tee the human rights of their work
erS."
Uphold Labor Provisions.
"a million and a half railroad
workers protest against the WinSlow-
Townsend bill being permitted to be-
come a law" read the message. THE
sordid selishness and sinister >pur-
pose of those who control transporta-
ton of the United States have been
revealed clearly in the recent pro-
ceedings before the Railroad Labor
Board, in the public utterances OF the
railroad executives and in their de-
mands on the government.
''They evade or refuse to comply
Lob nf he tray
portation act. They deny the work
ers the fundamental right, of collec-
tive bargaining. With every resource
at their command, they seek to de-
Stroy trade unionism. We believe
in equality before the law, and we
insist therefore that the railroad own
ers shall not be permitted to enjoy
the financial benefits of the law and
of this proposed amendment unless
and until they have demonstrated
their Willingness to obey those pro-
visions which are intended to guaran-
tee the human rights of the workers,
1t is our solemn belief that the finan
cial oligarchy which controls the rail-
roads is, in its present policy. a men
ace to our entire economic structure
and to our political institutions, and
we submit that it is intolerable that
the interest and welfare of all the
people should be jeopardized in order
what they want on their own terms"
Erie Railroads. Position.
Sharp contention over the powers of
the Railroad Labor Board and the pro-
visions Of the transportation act marked
the hearing of employees of the Erie
railroad against their employer before
the board yesterday. The petition of the
employees charged violation Of the act
and of decisions of the labor board.
Representatives of the road denied both
The case resulted from an order. eff
fective February /. reducing common
labor wages and deducting one days pay
a week from the salaries of all employees
paid on a monthly basis
Most of the argument centered about
whether a ruling of the board on Feb
ruary II. ordering the road to make no
change in wage rates. was compulsory
upon the road, which had already put
a reduction into effect 1t was conceded
by the rail representatives that the in
tent of the order was to maintain the
rates of the wage award Of July, 1920.
They denied, however, violation Of the
law in changing those rates. Business
depression and revenues below operating
expenses were given as the reason for
the reduction order.
During his testimony r. S. Parsons
general manager for the road, was asked
BY Henry T. Hunt. public member of
the board, whether the roads position
meant that it would not obey the Or
ders of the board
I'VE can't do it." Mr.. Parsons re-
plied 1--WE want to do everything pos
sible to go along with the board, but
I don't know what we would do if the
board issued impossible orders"