The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-25
Will Meet Brotherhood
Chiefs Thursday to Get
Their Formal Consent.
NO STRIKE DURING WAR
Arbitration Board Will .Ad-
just Wages at Frequent
Intervals.

son is TO lay his plans for Government
control Of the railroads. before the ncads
OF the four railroad brothcrhoods and
their four legislative agents al It con-
ference to hc held al the White House
Thursday afternoon. This conference is
understood to have been brought about
by the desire of the President to place
the brothe hoods on record as to their
willingness TO accept Federal control Of
the transportation system.
Great significance is seen here in the
meeting. frs, because it indicates that
the Presidents plan is rapidly nearing
completion, and second because much
depends upon the attitude which labor
officially is to assume toward the epoch
making step the Government is to take.
There were indications to-day that the
President is to devote practically his
entire time during the next few days to
the railroad problem and that the rail-
road message will be delivered to Con-
gross the day after II roconvencs. A
visit. which col. f.. NJ. House is rhout
to make to the White House is UNDER
stood to be connected with the railroad
question. Col House having given much
study to railroad problems in the past.
He also got much information on the
British plan of operating the railroads
on his recent trip abroad.
senator KELLOGG Consuited.
President Wilson summoned to-day to
the White House Senator Frank n. kel-
have gone over the railroad plan in its
general outline with him. Senator kel-
logg is a Republican. but President Will
son is known to have a high respect FOR
his knowledge OF the Ieea, intricacies OF
the railroad situation. Senator Kellogg
having acted as the special prosecutor
for the Government in the case Of the
Hartman lines He is looked up to as
one Of tlr greatest railroad legal au-
thori,ics in the country.
The fact that the President called
Senator Kellogg into consultation vas
ae-ert~<f' ~--nn Indication that Mr.. Will
son is proceeding with the greatest eau
ton In handling what II admittedly the
biggest domestic problem OF the war and
wants l., to hc legal proof The Presi-
dent also is hopeful that when the plan
gets before Congress it will have the
In this. however, the President may be
doomed to disappointment inasmuch a.
many Republican Senators have On
pressed hostility to the idea Of the Gov
ernment assuming control OF the rail
roads. but this hostility may be overcome
if they are convinced that in il lies thu
only solution of tho coal programme
That President Wilson's Forthcoming
message will cover the lahor phase %
the sitlis ton as we'll the financial anc
other points involved is indicated by III,
fact that in the conference the Presiden n
is to see not only tho chiefs OF the for,
brothcrhoods hut also the legisla,iv,
agents Of their unions who are stationed
permanently here to watch legislation
that may affect the brothe hoods inter
ests
These men. who are vice presidents o
their respective unions. are II. f.. Will
Of the engineers, T. !. Mcnamara of th
fremen, w NJ Clark OF the conductor
and w. NJ. Doak Of the trainmcn.
Views to he Presented.
. The President has had one interview
with these men, but up to date he ha
seen none of the brotherhood chiefs oI
the subject Of Government control. Al
intimation OF their attitude was give
when A. r. Garretson, president of tn
Order Of Railway Conductors. after
became known that the President wa
contemplating such n step left word a
the White House offices that nc believe
that the brotherhoods would not oppos
the plan. Mr.. Garretson professed I
speak only for himself at that time
Since then the brotherhood heads hav
met and exchanged views and these vii
now he presented to the President
The President Is desirous of solvin
the railroad labor problem at the sam
time that he settles tho question OF rail
road operation. The conductors An
trainmen have presented demands fo
what approximately represents a 40 pc
cent. wage increase and the engineer
and hremen are about TO follow suit.
At conference which the hrotherhoo
leaders had with the President tw
months ago two OF them---Stone Of tn
engineers and Garretson of the conduct
ors---opposed arbitration in any form.
D with the Government taking over tn
railroads this question will assum
somewhat Of a new phase in view OF tn
peculiar relations that will exist betwee
the Government and railroad employee,
President Wilson has been advise
against any plan that would conscrir
workers for railroads and wants TO sci
tie the labor problem IN manner tha
will be acceptable to both sides.
Presidents Plan.
The plan the President is believed I
have in mind involves two leadin
features:
The appointment of an arbtratio
board that would investigate the que.
ton Of railroad wages and the increase
cost Of living since the war and woul
he prepared to make adjustments ever
three months should the cost OF livin
continue to increase the findings Of tn
,, board to bc. construed by the Unite
! states District Court rather than ny Il
, railroad managers AZ heretofore.
The second feature Is Intended to me,
one of tn" chief objections on the pa
OF the brCtherhoods to arbitration In Il
past. They have insisted that the roat
have construed the findings Of arbite
to suit their own purposes, and IN mar
instances have robbed them Of the frui
!. Of whatever victory they won.
The President, II In believed. is pr
: pared To tell the brotherhood lesde
9 that under any plan Of government co
!, trol any wage increases sought on Il
, ground Of rise In the cost Of living W
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