Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-01

their employees the money that
would otherwise be returned to the
Government.
with the roads of my State. with
most Of the roads in the West and
South, the situation is far different.
The proposed wage demands, II
granted, would indefinitely postpone
freight reductions, IL they did not
necessitate freight increases.
"As has been stated, there are
three parties interested in these rail-
road labor disputes-the carriers,
their employees, and the public:
Some months ago representatives OF
the first two parties held disarma-
ment conference and unanimously
voted to disarm the third party
Caughter), retaining at the same
time all their own weapons ct offense
and defense. You may study the
provisions Of the bill as you will and
you will find that statement to be
Mr.. BLANToN. Will the gentle
man permit an interruption right
there?
Mr.. NELSON Of Maine. I will,
but hope to be able to finish in the
time allotted to me. =.
Mr.. BLANTON. This will be the
ONLY interruption I will make. They
not only retain all their own arms
but they took over all the arms of
the public.
understand 1t.
The carriers and their employees
entered upon a composition Of their
difficulties and upon the drafting
of this bill under the mistaken
assumption that the matter was one
of personal contract between them
selves. The public was not repre-
scented in that conference and had no
voice. It is said that each group
made substantial concessions to the
other, all predicated, however. on the
proposition that Congress in return
should wipe from the statute books
all the public safeguards now exist
ing for the benefit of that great I'm.
organized majority which, in the anal
analysis. must pay all the bills"
Mr.. Nelson here reviewed railroad
legislation Of the past.
'If you pass this bill without
amendment, you repeal Title Ill. OF
the transportation act: you destroy
the only existing preventative remedy
against uncontrolled wage agree
ments; you remove the representa-
tive of the public from wage negotia-
tons; and at time like the present.
when there is universal demand and
need for reduced freight rates, and a
pending demand for increased wages,
you deprive the public Of any voice
or control in matters that are to
them of supreme Importance. Gap
plause.)
II you pass this bill, as I assume
you will. and repeal Title Ill. the only
surviving hope the public has is in
the power of the Interstate Com
merce Commission to refuse to recog-
nize an unreasonable wage agreement
as a proper element Of cost of SER
vice In fixing freight and passenger
rates. AS suggested by the Hoch
amendment, even this provision is
endangered by the pending bill.
II believe that Title III Of the
transportation act is sound law ana
Of great public benefit and protec-
ton. That law as drafted has ex-
listed for six years and has never
been upset by any court. 1t pro-
vides that the Railroad Labor Board
may suspend an unreasonable agree
ment as to wages. It also provides
must join in any wage award made
f, by the board. AS the law stands to-
| day the Interstate Commerce Com
mission can refuse to consider in the
making of rates an unreasonable
| wage agreement, and l maintain that
even this last provision Is endan.
gered by the present bill.
II believe in self government in In
! dustry. I would encourage these
parties to set up their own machin-
cry of adjustment and to use it.
would assist them in any legitimate
agreement, subject only to the para
| mount rights of the public. In any
dispute I would allow them to ex-
haust their every last remedy before
| governmental interference. But when
those remedies are exhausted, when
their machinery has broken down
when disaster threatens the whole
social structure, then I believe this
government should exercise the pow
err inherent in 1t and take every pro-
per and reasonable step to avert a
great national catastrophe"
"My friends, just want to say this
in closing. l had hoped, as men,
| Der of a great congressional commit
tee, to have shared in some small way
in the joys Of intellectual conception
in the pains of mental travail, that
would have brought forth for your
consideration here bill embodyingi
in some slight measure. the states
manship. the Americanism, the cour-
age, and the intellectually of the
members of that committee. Instead
we bring you an adopted child. OF
uncertain parentage. We bring it to
you, In all essentials, exactly as II
was brought to us. No profane hand
has sought to remodel its features, or
stiffen it's backbone. We had to take
it just as it was or not at all. It is
a tender child. and temperamental
To my mind, 1t is too sweet to be
wholesome" daughter and ap-