Evening star., 1933-05-10
RAIL LHANFoUGHT
AS THREAT TO Jobs
Labor Executives Associa,
ton Counsel Says 100000
May Be Deprived.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The contention that the administra-
tion's railroad measure would put thou
sands Of railroad employees out of work
and retard economic recovery was laid
before the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee today by Donald r. Rich
berg. general counsel for the Railway
Labor Executives Association.
Richberg said the measure would de-
prive between $4,000 and 100000 en-
ployes Of jobs and would promote poll
cies that would work harm to the pub
lie interest.
Ihe bill enthrones only an infant
car under the regency of railroad man
agers," he said.
The railway labor organizations dur
ing the period of the development of
tnls legislation protested in vain against
the theories which seem to underlie It,"
Sees Time Now for Choice.
Richberg said the time had come
"hen a choice should be made between
continuing the operation of the railroads
as priVately-owned competitive systems
ano accepting the necessity for COM
piete direct Federal control.
II, even as an emergency measure"
nc salo, 1t Is necessary for the Federal
1oseInment 10 assume any such au-
tnorlty and responsibility as is proposed
"a tne present act, We submit that the
reoelaI Government can only effectively
exercise such control and meet its re-
sponsibility by ass Inning complete emer-
gency Federal control"
Wnlle Rlchbers testified before the
senate committee. Joseph B. Eastman.
interstate commerce commissioner. was
repeating 10 the House Commerce Com
Mlttee the arguments for the bill he
had put before the Senate COMMITTEES
yesterday
Richberg. who said he spoke for l.
Soo,000 railroad workers. 800 900 OF
whom were unemployed, suggested sew
erai changes in the bill, including labor
representation in the new set-up for
transportation economy and provision
means Of self-support, or a pension or
dismissal wage to take care of those dis
placed from service"
Considers the Impos5bye.s
In the proposed bill. the Congress 4.
considering an effort to accomplish thu
impossible: To bring about a consoljda-
tlon OF railroad operations whereby less
transportation service will be furnished
out more money will be made: to bring
ABOUT greater concentration Of private
control, fostering monopoly, while ut
the same time attempting TO increase
public control; to deflate capital and
labor drastically in a great essential
industry, while at the same time pro-
noting program Of imitation and
economic recovery.
We do not believe that such an sf-
Richberg suggested further amend
ments. including:
Extension Of the authority of the
Federal co-ordinator over motor. water,
air and other transportation services.
Provisions to improve labor relations
and to stabilize employment so that
railroads and other transportation serv-
ices may be operated not merely to pro-
duce returns to investors and serve the
public, but also to provide a secure live
lihood for a substantial part Of the
working population.
Provisions to obligate all carriers and
employees ito exert every reasonable ef-
fort to make and to maintain agree
and working conditions"
Authority for Improvement.
Authority for the co-ordinator to
direct rehabilitations, improvements,
and extensions Of transportation IA
cilities wherever funds are available to
the carriers or can be obtained through
loans, or where public funds are made
available for such purposes"
Specific authority to compel financial
reorganization and reduction of fixed
charges through refusing to extend the
benefits Of the bill to "recalcitrant"
roads
Richberg estimated sl00, 900 900 could
be saved annually under the latter pro-
visions without increasing unemploy-
ment.''
He asserted there was no question
that expenditure today Of between one
and two billion dollars was needed to
rehabilitate the roads and to repair
the depreciation in carrier Dropertiey
caused by long period OF und0
maintenance"
Richberg also proposed changes to
bar company unions and yellow dog"
contracts and to provide that no
regional carrier committee. In collabo-
ration with the co-ordinator. shall take
any action affecting employees until
regional labor committees are consulted
Suggests Adjustment Boards.
He also suggested establishment of
regional boards of adjustment COM
posed of carriers and employees rep
resentatives to settle controversies aris-
ing out of pay and working grievances.
Celebrating on the unemployment
angle Richberg said:
The Government of the United
States cannot at the present time as
sumo the responsibility for depriving
workers Of employment without assum-
ing at the same time the responsibility
for their future support.
Several hundred thousand railway
employees have been working only part
time for long period. The number OF
their dependents has increased: their
savings have been exhausted. If they
lose the employment which they now
have they will become public charges.
1T would be far better for the Gov
ernment to subsidize their continued
employment"