Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
RAIL UNIONS TO ASK
CONGRESS FOR AID
Brotherhoods Believe Shorter
Day and Week Will Re-
lieve Unemployment.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND. September 26.-With
the idea that shorter work day and a
shoser work week are the only immedi-
ate solution for present railroad unem-
ployment, 81 railroad brotherhoods to-
day disclosed they will request congress
sinoal action in December on an unem-
ployment relief plan. the details of
which are yet to be formulated.
Ten years ago the brotherhoods won
from Congress the Adamson bill, which
gave railraod workers the eight-hour
day.
D. B. Robertson, president OF the
Brotherhood of Locomtive Firemen and
Enginemen, who heads a special COM
mittee Of the 81 bodies, said the specific
plan Of railroad labor unemployment
relief viii not be made until a national
survey OF the problem, now in progress.
has been completed.
Mr.. Robertson explained that the de-
cision to take the relief program to
Congress was the result of refusals by
railroad oficials TO deliberate the prob
lem with the brotherhoods in jointicon-
terence.
Roads WouIdn't Confer.
I'VE have made no decision as to
what effect shorter hours should have
lpon wages, Robertson said. I'VE
wanted to thrash that matter out in
joint session with the railroads, but
they were unwillinglfo meet us. and so
the wage question, femains unsettled.
IAN Of the al brotherhoodS are
agreed, however" Mr.. Robertson said,
shorter working week are the only
means by which the unemployed rail-
road men can be put back to Work.
He estimated the number OF the broth
erhoods unemployed at $4,000.
further contributing cause 10 the
decision to take an unemployment re-
lief program to Congress, he explained
was the rapid depletion OF the protner-
hoods relief funds.
At the present time the railroads are
having troubles of their own IN tne
form Of greatly reduced revenues from
freight. Several months ago, however,
some of the brotherhoods expressed APP
uroyal of a Is per cent freight rate m
crease, which the roads are now trylng
to win through the Interstate Com
merce Commission. -
There have been hints recently IN
railroad circles that If the rate increase
is not approved by the commission, the
railroads would seek lower wages LOT az
their employees. Robertson SAID ne hao
heard no such proposals.
Decision Awaits Survey.
The president of the Firemen ana
Enginernen said the brotherhooos al
ready have endeavored to spread the
amount of work available among tne
maximum number of employees. ;,
At one time, recently, 1t was proposed
among some of the brotherhoods tnat
the hours of work should be reduced
but wages continued on an hourly OASIS
which in effect would reduce the IN,
come of the individual worker, Woulo
provide work for larger numbers OF
men. and vet not increase the LABOR
expenditures of the various roads.
Mr.. Robertson had no comment TO-
day upon such proposal. We can
decide the wage question, nor the nam
basis of the plan itself, until we have
completed our unemployment survey
he said. ar :.
The survey now being made VIII at
tempt TO obtain every important bit
of data available to show the results OF
the present situation and the possible
outcome OF tentative relief plans. ROD
ertson said the survey would continue
through october.