Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/307

 Concurrently with the national negotiations for railwaymen the Coal Commission was sitting, making astounding disclosures every day from the King's Robing Room! The former system of private control of minerals was unanimously condemned by and all the members. Sir John Sankey's interim report recommended a seven hour day from July 16th, 1919, and, subject to the economic position, a six hour day from July 13th, 1921. with an advance in wages of 2s. and 1s. to men and boys respectively. It proceeded: "Even upon the evidence already given, the present system of ownership and working in the coal industry stands condemned, and some other system must be substituted for it, either nationalisation or a method of unification by national purchase or by joint control. It is in the interests of the country that the colliery worker shall have an effective voice in the direction of the mine."

On March 17th, brought before the House of Commons his Ministry of Transport Bill, which set the world of privilege by the ears. "This is a cold bath the country has got to take,” he said, as he exposed the waste, inefficiency and duplication of the existing railway service. A House full of railway directors and shareholders shuddered, for it came bang upon the disclosures being made from the Coal Commission, and formed another weapon against the old order. Sir Eric Geddes expounded on the great advantages of a unified and well-organised railway service, of the future development of agriculture, industry, and housing, and even of a share in the management by the organised railway workers. Mines and railways seemed to be advancing on parallel lines into freedom from the old suppression by monopoly, and a storm arose which is not settled yet, although Sir Eric Geddes was mild as milk by comparison with the proposals of Mr. Bromley and this Society. To distract public attention from these subjects, there were daily and horrible stories, accompanied by faked pictures and gruesome drawings made in London, of Bolshevik atrocities in Russia. 'Twas bright to be alive.

There were very serious upheavals in London, Glasgow, Belfast,