Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-14
Messages From
the People
Pueblo. Colo. March 10. 1921.

road Problem in March 9Th Pueblo
Chieftain. This editorial sees one
phase OF the question, while this let
ter will deal with another viewpoint.
The editorial is to degree mislead-
ing. inasmuch as 1t creates an I'M
preston to the casual reader or to the
not fully informed public that the
whole crux OF the problem is that the
railroad employees are grossly over
paid, and that the so-termed national
of the railroads, by forcing them to
pay for something In the way of Ia
Dor that they are not receiving. 1t
| is not generally understood that the
national agreements are chiefly the
granting to most railroad employees of
the basic S-hour day, with provisions
for overtime after thcsc hours, and
arrangements for handling of disputes
| in an equitable manner instead OF
| the autocratic way formerly main
| tanned by many railroad arrangements
and which we have seen in past years
result in expressions, disagreements
or strikes in many cases. All indus
| tries have had business depressions OF
various degrees Of magnitude during
| the past few months and in fact the
general situation has been practically
the same as panic, without the eS-
| tremely harmful effects, these being
largely overcome by the national fed
eral reserve law. Why then should
the general railroad situation not suf-
fer similar depression? Every year
during the winter months the rail-
roads have only made expenses or
slightly better, depending on the sur
plus earnings during the balance OF
the year 10 bring the yearly average
to a reasonable figure, so therefore
over emphasis should not be made
now on account of the railroads not
earning a considerable surplus at this
particular time. during this period of
depressed business, And 1t certainly
| is unjust to attempt to foist the en-
tire case onto the employees in the
Suise of excessive wages or national
agreements. When the railroads were
returned by the L. S. government ur-
der the Esch- Cummings bill, there was
created in this act, which was passed
| by congress duly assembled and sign
ed by Pres. Wilson, so-called rail-
road labor board, whose duties were
ton in matters of disputes which
might arise between the various car
riers and their employees in relation
to wages or working conditions ana
which might result in Interruptions
| to transportation. Disputes were not
| to be considered as properly before
this board until after conferences be-
tween the carriers and their employees
had been held and an am!cable ad-
! justment or agreement as to their
lreasonableness had failed: when the
dispute could be appealed to the la
Dor board in an orderly and lawful
manner by either or both parties to
tho dispute. The employees did not
ask for this law but since IL had been
duly and regularly passed and seemed
to offer solution to the problem
that was fair to the public, the car
riers and their employees, all members
OF the various railroad brotherhoods
and unions were requested by their
executive offices TO be governed IN
all respects by the strict observance
Of this Esch- -cummins act. What then
was their surprise to find n general
disinclination of the various railroad
managements to obey the law and fol-
low the orderly procedure which pro-
vides for the settlement OF disputes
so far as possible between the indi-
vidual carriers and their own cm-
ployes. this being particularly notice.
ablo as relates TO the younger organ
lzatious. such as the clerks, dispatch
ers or maintenance OF way men
much greater surprise was given when
Gen. w. w. Attcrbury Of the Penn
sylvaIia railroad AS chairman for the
labor division OF tho American Rail
way Executive association. recently
automatically demanded that the rail-
road la Dor board abrogatc the national
agreements, "in the next few days.
in total disregard to the orderly pro-
CcGure ~niGn the law prbNiutss 'hSn
practically telling the board to cancel
themselves. However, the board most
properly rcbuked this demand in reply
to Gen. Atterbury by declaring that
1t lis endcavoring to perform Its obh-
cations and will be better able to sue
coed in doing SO II 1t is not further
interrupted by the introduction OF un-
warranted demands by either party.
| II now appears that the railway eN-
ecutivcs have agreed thru their as
sociation TO proceed with wilful viola
ton OF the law under which the roads
were returned. This is most thoroly
Illustrated thru the actions of the Eric
whereby reductions of wages and
changes in working conditions were
made effective without either having
Iconferenccs with their employees or be-
ling authorized TO do so by the labor
board. and when the labor board made
n decision that the Erie Railway Co.
lis in violation TO law, they still con-
tinued' to ignore the law. because cas-
Judge j. NJ Barton, chairman Of the
board and one Of the public repre-
! lsontatives says, the board has no
power to force obedience OF the law
since no penalty is provided for vio-
lation. and can only recommend that
the law be obeyed." Does not the
course followed by roads such
as the Erie tend to mako
discomfort and unrest among the
blame in the event of serious disorders
or interruptions to transportation re-
sulting from these conditions Surely
not tho employees, who are not in vio-
lation OF the transportation act, but
who do feel the railroad arrangements
should also be required to obey the
law and give the transportation act "A
fair and impartial trial. The argument
| IL advanced that many railroads are
going bankrupt while the board is de-
libcrating, this is not the only reason.
many roads arc said to be operating
| in n wastcful manner due to inefficient
: management and claim is made the en-
tire country wide deficit Mt the pres
| ent time could be avoided thru more
| efficient and economical supervision.
Certainly the roads should be as well
able to pass thru the time of consld-
Grafton and deliberations as were the
employees to wait for years while the L.