Evening journal., 1921-04-20
senate ORDERS
RAILROAD PROBE
Passes CumminS' Resolu-
ton Without Debate or
Division
INQUIRY EXPECTED
TO BEGIN MAY I

NN 'NA AAA rfNNNA'NN NA AAAH ram NhM NAA~
uation has been ordered by the SEN
ate. A resolution offered by Chair
man Cummins. OF the Interstate
Commerce Committee. was adopted
yesterday without debate or divi-
sion
Senator Cummins plans 10 begin
this inquiry about May ! with rail-
road executives as the first wit
nesses His committee is author
lied hy the resolution 10 investigate .
railroad maintenance costs. efficiency
Of operation. reduction Of traffic and
the host way 20 effect reduction OF
freight and passenger rates
CHICAGO. April 2O-Tostimonv by
railroad witnesses before the Rail
road Labor Board yesterday that the
roads are Disseminated against and
robbed Of their freedom In having
TO pay higher wages for unsklled
labor than are paid in other indus
tries was coupled with a statement
by the labor side charging that ] .
New York financial institutions
through the roads. had inaugurated a.
policy Of nationwide shutdowns.
The railroads testimony came I'm
the formal presentation OF their evil
dence in the consolidated hearing into
the request Of 90 roads for lower
wages. while the labor contentious
were made In an extraneous state
ment filed by W. Jett Lauck. con.
sulting economist for the Unions
the regular presentation of Union
testimony not being scheduled until
the roads have finished
b. A. Worthington. president ~ the
Cincinnati. indianapolis and West
orn. declared that the roads "wore
in a terrible plight" that they were
facing a great emergency and that
unless his road received aid within
two or three months 10 would go into
the hands of "A receiver. This con-
cluded tho Eastern roads testimony
and Western road witnesses We're
called
Ralph NJ Shaw. counsel FOR the
Chicago Great Western which re-
Gently proposed 90 per cent. re-
duction for skilled labor and the
placing Of unskilled labor on a wage
par with similar workers in other i'm
dustries. declared that the roads now
were forced 90 pay their unskilled
employees 80 per cent. higher wages
than was paid in other Industries
He urged tho board TO consider the
wages paid in other work and the
cost OF living in making IT'S decision.
p. NJ. Jewell. Of tho labor side. I'M
terrupted him.
What do you want 20 pay un-
skilled iabor?" ne asked.
Thirty to 35 cents an hour.
answered Mr.. shaw.
W. G.. Lee. another union leader
Joined In Mr.. JEWELS questioning and
asked Mr. shaw why the roads didn't
reduce the pay OF their officials
where they were free 20 act'
r. a. Sargent. counsel for the Chi
cago and Northwestern. was the next
witness. He said the roads asked foI
reductions in unskilled labor. frs
because the season was at hand wher
this force was at It's peak and be-
cause thousands Of laborers were
out Of work. Tie also cited hnancia
statements Of the roads showing tha
government operation OF the lines
had doubled the payrolls.
One OF AIR. Sargent's exhibits gave
figures estimating that n the Chi
cago and Northwestern had had thu
same passenger and freight rates and
the same labor costs applied for th'
entire year To the total volume o
business in 1920. the road woui,
have fallen short by s19.297.152 from
earning s per cent. on the value OF
tho property.
with the heaviest business done
In years. we had Just 100000 out o
the years operation 10 meet inter
est ana surplus Mr.. Sargent said
We're not earning operating ex
peuscs and no industry can live un
der such conditions"
Tho Northwestern presentation wa
concurrcd IN by the Northern Pa
cinc. Great Northern and Union Pa
cinc. am of which operate In the SAINT
territory.
Representatives of railroads run
ming into the Far West and tn
Southwest testified al the afternoon
session.