Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-14

gard to ability. integrity and exper-
fence. selected by the president of
the United states from a number OF
nominees submitted by labor. railroad
managers and the public. and the
selections are confirmed by tho United
States senate. No decision can be made
in any matter unless one or more of
the public representatives vote on the
side OF the deciding majority. This
means that the three labor and three
railroad representatives cannot carry
a measure II the three public repre-
sentatives oppose it This gives the
public n very decided advantage in
their representation. In. the dccisdon
which the labor board rendered on
July 20. 1920. four months after their
appointment and confirmation. and
which raised the railroad employees
pay to just and reasonable wage. II
is shown in the boards own synopsis
of its work. where the wages OF the
railroad employees remained substan-
TALLY unaltcrcd from August 1914 to
May 25, 1915. and then regardless OF
constantly rising costs in living. an
other wage raise was not granted ur-
I'll the decision OF the board on July
20. 1870 and which became effective
as of May I, 1890. which would indi-
cate that the railroad employees pay
had not nearly kept pace with in
creased living expenses. The public can
CFpfru lnHf 1nslf interests were amply
protected by their representatives dur
ing the progress OF the deliberations AZ
&c what constituted AUST and reasonable
wage. Another feature OF the Esch-
Cummins bill which is apparently re-
cetving very little Consideration by
railroad nanagomcnts. is the provision
for tho various railroad systems TO
group and consolidate into a number
OF competing lines. which would make
coast to coAst roads permisSablc and
which would enable the smaller weaker
lines that are constantly in danger OF
recolverships TO consolidate with the
stronger roads and thereby serve un-
profitable territories where ~ would
be to the interests OF tho public to
maintain railroad service. Press dis
patches lately indicate that Senator
Cummins' plane to Introduce into the
senate in the next congress. a bill
which will compel the Immediate con-
solidation into twelve to sixteen sys-
tens of all the United States railroads.
This would result In the more profita
bic railroad protecting with part OF
their .surplus earnings the weaker
railroads deficits, until tho territory
they serve develops until they, too.
can pay "A surplus. An idea seems to
obtain that the entire passenger and
freight rate increase granted to the
railroads was used by them to pay the
increased wages given the employees.
&
rate increase was used to protect "A six
per cent dividend earning for the
, United States railroads on capital
ization OF practically nineteen billions
OF stock. which many financial experts
claim is greatly in excess OF its actua I
value. \ very large part of this rail-
road stock never has paid n dividend
before. yet the managemcnts seem TO
be greatly surprised that II doesn't in
this depressed perior equal country
wide six per cent and this without con-
sidering the provision OF consolida ton
as authorized by tho Esch- -Cummins
transportation net. Most railroad en-
ployes arc good citizens. to n large ex-
tent owning their own homes and
contributing n good part OF their wages
to the communities In which they live.
and II is their earnest wish and desire
that the railroad problem be solved in
Justice to all concerned. but they en-
phatically do not believe Il can be
shown that they are in any manner
taking advantage OF either the carriers
or the public, in the way of wages or
working rules.
Yours truly
w. L. GADDIS.
Il