The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-15
DAVIS SAYS HE
WILL NOT DO IT

Pretty soon, if not sooner, the lid
will be off as pretty concealed
scrap as has been seen for many
days. 1t is a three, not to say
four, cornered mixup which is rap
idly taking on the nature of
battle royal, the reason for which
may be found in the unwillingness
of the Director-General of Railways,
James G. Davis, to accept and pay
instanter, rightaway and at once,
claims for losses, alleged to be cor
rect, by railroads.
1t appears that Mr.. Davis has
been long connected with railroad
arrangements as counsel for rail-
roads and is not willing to act has
tily on claims presented. A read
ing of the following may lead to
the conclusion that he has good rea-
sons for his unwillingness and the
business of the treatment given
claims by Mr.. Davis seems to be
indicated by the fact that num-
Der of roads have accepted the set
Element as decided upon after in
vestigation by the railroad admin.
istration.
Forty-four roads whose demands
have been adiudicated claimed $685..
S21 ,801 as due them and were al
lowed in final settlement $42, 1885,
GA, or 43.68 per cent Of the amount
claimed. This is regarded by the
railroad administration as fair
average of what may be due other
carriers whose cases are in process
of adjustment. 1t is evident that
al h. !.
purposely made them as large as
possible. They now allege that an
overcharge of more than 100 per
cent is traceable to clerical errors,
which is all right as an excuse, but
rather cruel to the Clerks" who
made the 'errors."
That's one little thing the rail-
road managers have against the Di-
rector General = "he's too fussy
about accounts" They might over
look and forgive him for that, but
he's gone and refused to even con-
slider any part of any claim made
by railroads based upon "ineffi-
cheney of labor" during government
control. He turns such claims down
on the ground that nothing in the
contract entered into by the roads
and the government provides for
or even contemplated the making of
claims of that kind, and he further
allows that labor was not ineffi-
Gent. That's a knockout for the
roads from the only person author
lied by law to decide such things.
However, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, by a very tight vote,
decided to butt in and assume the
right to decide what is and what
is not claim and, of course, de-
cided that the railroads were JUS
titled in presenting claims for dam
ages based upon "inefficiency of
labor" The Director General still
says May" and seems to be will
ing to stay put on it.
The wrecking crew now spelling
the railroads need money, they ad-
nit it, and they've got so used to
going into Uncle Sans pocket for
it that they insist their claims be
paid at once so that they again
may pay dividends on watered stock
and interest on shady bonds to
themselves, and they're making all
kinds of attempts to pry Davis loose
from the hold he has on Uncle
Sans jeans.
Failing to move Davis they have
the President, hoping that he will
go over the head of Davis and or
der their claims paid at once and
without investigation. Warren is
between the devil of government in
business and the deep sea of bust
ness in government and doesn't like
the idea of being the goat Davis
is in the clear. He has obeyed the
law and made the roads like it.
No money will be paid out of the
treasury of these United States by
his order except upon lawful claim
lawfully made and fully certified.
He is not spending the money of
the people on snap judgment.
The managers, having pulled the
l. C. C. over their way, are now
asking the President to set aside
the acts and decisions of the Direc-
tor-General and to authorize pay
ment of claims without investiga-
ton. In plain English, to give
them 81 ,250, 100000 on alleged claims
and to accept their 81. 0, u" for
ten years for the money (about
$500, 000,000) they owe the govern
ment. Isn't that one nice four
cornered rumpus?
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