Evening star., 1936-04-05
WHEELER-CR0SSER
BILL [HEAR|NGSEND
Labor Pleads for Passage
to Protect Dropped Rail
Employees.

A House Interstate Commerce Sub
committee yesterday wound up hear
ings on the Wheeler Crosser bill to
protect rail employees, dropped in econ
omy moves with plea from a labor
spokesman in behalf of the legislation.
which has been vigorously attacked by
rail management.
The Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee will take up the measure
April 13.
In conformity with the suggestion of
President Roosevelt joint conferences
have been in progress for some time
between labor and management in an
effort to reach some solution without
recourse to legislation, but the Presi-
dent has been represented as believing
that legislation should not be held up
pending these negotiations.
The bill, sponsored by Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana and
Representative Crosser, Democrat, of
Ohio. is an amplification of the pro-
lection principle embodied in the
emergency transportation act of 1888,
which expires in June. 1t provides
that if workers are laid off in econ
omy moves, the employe is to be paid
tWo-thirds of his wage until he is re-
employed. or may ask a years fiat
pay without obligation to be taken
back and that those of retirement
age may receive a pension 1t also
subjects any economy moves to the
approval Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Harrison Speaks in RebuttaI.
George Harrison, president of the
Railway Labor Executives Association.
spoke in rebuttal at the closing
hearing.
He said that when labor met repre-
sentatives Of the carriers in Chicago
on January 6, this year, I'VE definitely
Informed them that while we wished
to negotiate an agreement to cover
this subject, We were preparing bill
for submission to Congress and We
were to be left entirely free to prose-
cute this proposed legislation"
Harrison estimated 10000 would be
laid of under contemplated consoli-
dations, but that the natural turnover
from death and retirements would see
that number restored to work in four
years under the plan.
After exploring the possibilities of
reaching an agreement without sue
cess until March 26,' Harrison argued,
certainly it cannot now be said that
we have not made a sincere effort to
reach an agreement with the carriers.
It ought to be plain to everyone that
the carriers have had an opportunity
to meet this problem through an
agreement, but they did not act'
Measure Opposed by Hood.
The measure was opposed by j. M
Hood, president of the American Short
Line Railroad Association. He said it
adds to the financial burden of the
common carriers by rail the necessity
of earning return in perpetuity upon
the capitalized amount of the en-
ployes' earnings" and said he was in
formed the legislation was of doubt
full constitutionality.
L. A. Downs of Chicago, president
of the Illinois Central system: Carl r.
vi dJ "a SuidiId' PlSoluSllI VI Lie SIllOIl
Pacific; Ralph Budd of Chicago, presi-
dent of the Chicago, Burlington g.
Quincy Railroad Co.; j. L. Lancaster
of Dallas, Tex. president of the Texas
& Pacific Railway, and j. j. Pelley,
president: r. v. Fletcher, general
counsel of the association of American
Railroads, and shippers representa-
tives previously appeared in opposition
to the measure. They charged that it
would strangle the railroad industry.
substitute bureaucracy for managerial
discretions, place the railroads in a
strait jacket, and interfer with service
to the public by making it impossible
for railroad to expand or contract
Its service as conditions required
If the purpose" Downs told the
committee, is to destroy railroads, or
% bring about receiverships or trustee
ships OF railroads, or Government own
ership of railroads. confessedly, the
enactment of this bill is a step in
that direction"