Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-26
LEGAL SQUABBLE
Is EXPECTED AT
CHICAGO TODAY
CONTINUED from page one.)
the public that the high rates were
caused by high wages

the public that the high rates were
caused by high wages
Cummins- Esch Act.
1.-THE opposition of railroad emf
ployes to the enactment of the
Cummins- Esch law was based upon
two principles:
"1-One of the results Of the
transportation act was TO increase
the supposed valuation of the rail-
roads from less than $l3,00O,0O0-
600 to almost 100000, and
upon this inflated value the inter
state commerce commission is re-
quired to fix freight ard a passen-
ger rate that presumably would
give to railroad owners Il return
for their investments of between
.515 and per cent. Any man con-
nected with the railroad business
should know that such an increase
in capital charges could not be IN
CURED without disaster, either to
the corporations or to the en-
ployes. They knew that If these
railroads upon this great imitation
of capital investment were to earn
5h or 6 per cent railway employees
must suffer in the end.
Railroad Labor Board.
"2-Title III. of the transporta-
ton act, creates railroad LABOR
board, made up of three factions
the railway employees, are repre-
sented, the railway corporations
are represented and the public is
represented thereon. If there are
three representatives of the rail-
road corporations and three repre-
sentatives of the public then az
that would be necessary to destroy
the standard of living of railroad
employees would re to create
public opinion so that the repre-
sentatives of the public would unite
with the representatives of the
railroad corporations and thereby
establish a two-thirds majority
against labor on the labor poard.
"a vast number of railroads, no.
content with the wage reduction
brought about by decision NUMBER
lat of the labor board have de-
manded revisions Of wage agree
ments that will destroy rules In
effect for many years. Nothing
has alarmed the men to a greater
extent than this seeming determin-
alton to abrogate rules, until an
nouncement is made that another
wage reduction will be insisted
upon.
Carriers Stood Firm
cat the meeting OF all OF the
&c Aeral chairmen in Chicago IN
July instructions were issued to-
the chief executives Of the organi-
cations to endeavor to get some
understanding with the proper
representative Of the railroad cor
porations 80 that peace could
again be restored. Notwithstand-
ing effort extending over so days
the only reply obtainable from
the railroad corporations was that
thew could not agree to leave the
rules of employment intact and
would not agree not to demand
further wage reductions. This sit
uation was set forth in the strike
ballots submitted to the member
ship.
Voted for Strike.
"When the ballots were counter
and it was learned that an over
whelming majority Of the railroad
employees had voted In favor of
a strike the general committees,
reluctant to resort to strike,
passed a resolution instructing the 4
chief executives to again get into
communication with the proper
Representatives of the railroads In
the hopes that there might be
some satisfactory adjustment of
all these matters in controversy.
This was done and at a meeting
of the presidents Of the railroad
corporations in Chicago a COM
ittee was appointed to meet the
chief executives Of the organiza-
tons, at which meeting the chief
executives used every effort to
persuade the railroad presidents
to adopt some concillatory atti-
tude. In reply the chief execu-
tives were told that the railroad
presidents had that afternoon
passed resolution that they
would proceed Immediately to Sc.
cure another wage reduction. This
was reported to the committees of
general chairmen, when they set
the date for the strike. and asked
for approval of the chief execu-
tives. which approval was given.
"1f press reports are to be taxi
en- at their face the whole power
OF the administration is going to
be used to defeat the strike OF
the employees. Not one word
comes through the press that any
influence Is being used on the
railroad corporations What is to
b. done between now and Octo-
Der 80, no one knows. There
seems to be no disposition on the
part of any one to bring about
an equitable adjustment. and there
is where the matter stands"