The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-07-29

U tHo GUbtOT o. me ItW6S
The text of the resolutions of the
governing committee of the Board of
Trade as published in your paper of
July 26, 1922, seems to be a set of
resolutions against the former en-
ployes Of the railroads instead of per-
tanning to the railroad situation as a
whole, which shows that on account
Of the environment Of this committee
they do not understand the railroad
situation.
That the Railroad Labor Board, as
an integral part of our Government,
were not consistent with the labor
department of our Government, as
the labor department has decreed
that from $1,45O to $2,15O is the
amount necessary to support a fam
lily for one year and give thus family
decent living conditions, providing the
family does not consist Of more than
five. The Railway Labor Board hand
ed out a decision that 1868 was the
minimum rate tor the employees Of
the railroads, an annual rate that is
away below the amount necessary for
any family to live on with any kind
of comfort.
The striking shopmen had just as
much right to question the decision
of the Railway Labor Board as the
Pennsylvania Railroad did when they
had the Railroad Labor Board en-
joined from publishing a decision
against this road; and numerous rail
roads have sidestepped the decisions
Of the Railway Labor Board by let
ting their work out to supposedly
private contractors. in order not to
have to abide by the decisions Of this
board. The infractions Of the Rail
way Labor Boards decisions, by vari-
GUS railroads, is one of the chief
causes Of the strike.
During the six months guarantee
period, when the railroads were guar
anteed per cent on the running ex-
penses of the roads, rolling stock was
let out to private concerns. whose di-
rectors consisted mostly Of the same
men that were directors in these rail
roads, with the result that the cost Of
repairs on the rolling stock was
$3.50 600. 900 more than what these
same roads could have repaired this
rolling stock for, in their own shops,
or in other words the opportunity was
taken to overcharge the Government
that amount on repairs during this
period.
The facts with data compiled were
presented TO the Railway Labor
Board previous TO the last decision Of
this board granting the second reduc-
ton IN wages, showing that the cost
Of living had not decreased enough to
warrant the labor board handing down
another decrease in wages. This
argument is attested to by the fact
that three members Of the labor
board were opposed to the reduction
in wages and they submitted minor
ity report which subsantiated their
stand. The questions involved at the
beginning of this strike were the
question of overtime which has been
paid on different railroads Of this
country for over thirty-flve years; the
question of piece work and sub-letting
of the work out to sub-contractors,
which did away with seniority rights,
rates of pay and other privileges
which had been acquired through
OF least Importance the opinion of
most of the men involved was the re-
duction IN wages. The rates OF wages
paid to railroad employees have but a
small bearing on the freight and pass
enger rates charged in this country.
This is we'll illustrated by Henry Ford
and his railroad, by Mrs. Meta J.
Erickson, president Of the Amador-
Central Railroad Of California; the
Government owned railroads Of South
Africa and other countries which own
the railroads and run them for service
and make a substantial profit at the
same time. 1t Is a well-known fact
that 8 few bankers control most Of the
railroad lines Of this country with the
result that the railroads are not run
for the benefit of the people.
The first six months of private oper-
alton of the railroads of this country
after the World War. cost the tax pay
ers more than two-thirds as much, as
the two years and two months Of Fed
eral control according to Interstate
Commerce Commissioner Wooley.
AS far as patriotism is concerned,
inc TalIOdu WOIkCIS VI ILLS COOl4I4S
excelled any other branch OF the public
during the World War when they
stuck to their railroad jobs, while
other industries were paying a much
higher rate of wages and would have
been glad to hire any railroad man
that would apply for a Job. They
were then considered in the second
line of defense and some Of the men
that are now on strike were in the
first line of defense "Over There" and
they are still fighting for that Democ-
racy that we heard so much about
four years ago.
Every law of the railway labor
board has been complied with by the
railroad workers, and this is well il
Illustrated by Chairman Hooper of the
board, who made the remark some few
months ago that what the board need
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