The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-13
WILSON READY
TO CRUSH MOVE.
To TIE UP LINES
No Fear of Serious Halt on
Railroads While the
War Lasts.

railroads of the country to be tied up
on short notice through the desire Of
the railroad trainrnen, or a small por-
ton of. them, to take advantage of
the needs of the government, to force
additional compensation for them
selves from the railroads.
Publication yesterday of the fact
that the passenger trainmen %of' the
lines north of the Potomac and east
of the Mississippi intended to force
an increase from the railroads has
seriously interfered with their plans.
AT the meeting to be held at Ottawa
secret plans were to be threshed out
and then sprung" on the railroads
at the last moment, but these plans
have now been frustrated; railroad
trainmen and possibly some Of the
other brotherhoods will seek increased
compensation next spring, but not
before then.
President Wilson now has the facts
regarding these latest plans of the
railroad brotherhoods. He is waiting
developments ready to act If the oc-
caaiOn arises.
With the labor crisis proposed, in
the opinion of railroad officials here
there were indications yesterday that
the government is about to take off,
cial cognizance in the Immediate flu
ture of tho need of the railroads for
more returns.
Investigations by the Internal Rev
enue Bureau has disclosed that very
few railroads are earning as much
as per cent. on their capital stock,
and that far from being in position
to grant increases in pay to their en-
p1oyes, are in need of additional rev
enues. This is true particularly Of
the Eastern railroads. The last effort
to obtain an increase resulted in a
raise of about 5 per cent. in freight
rates, when a horizontal raise Of s
per cent. was needed.
Informal and unofficial reports in
circulation here are that the Eastern
railroads will ask additional compen-
sation for moving freight, but the
application will be postponed until
the October returns are in
To meet the argument that the
consumer pays for increased freight
rates the railroads are prepared to
submit numerous examples of articles
made in one city and sold at the
same price all over the United States.
Hats made in Newark, N. j., and
Danbury, Conn, sell at the same price
in San Francisco, New York and New
Britain, Conn, they will show, and
the same is true of practically every
other thing shipped by the railroads.
This will be shown to demonstrate
that freight rates have only a negli-
gible effect. if any, on prices charged
for all sorts Of articles.
Frederick D. Underwood, president
of the Erie, Railroad, held a short
short conference with President VIII
son this afternoon. Immediately
thereafter he conferred with Samuel
Rea, president of the Pennsylvania;
Daniel Willard. president of the Bal
timore and Ohio; Fairfax Harrison,
president of the Southern Railway, and
a few other railroad executives and
officials
| AS a result of these conferences II
can be stated that the Administration
has no intention of taking sides in the
coming controversy, but will insist
that the railroads be kept running
at all costs Mr.. Underwood, while re-
fusing to. say anything of what trans
ptred at the conference in the White
House, or the conference with his
colleagues later Indicated clearly that
there is no fear of any serious tieur
/ at this time or while the war is in
| progress.
IF were to make bet" Mr. I'm
derwood said, sit would be that the
Administration is not going to permit
the movements of troops and the ship
ment of supplies and munitions for the
/ troops and for feeding the nation te
1 be interrupted"
It can be stated positively that the
will insist that the rail.
iroad traffic shall not be interrupted
In addition to the movement OF
troops and supplies, as well as foot
for the nation, the distribution of Goa
Throughout the country to homes and
| to manufacturing plants is looked up.
{ on by the Administration as a vita
war need which shall not be inter
Irupted.
The demand of small body of mel
for more compensation from the rail
roads after they had indicated thei
satisfaction with the increases givel
a year ago by the Adamson eight houl
law is not to be permitted to hampe
seriously the efficiency of the nation
during the war nor to make the situa
ttion in regard to railroad sh1pmensa
already bad. a great deal worse.
| Government and railroad official
here are optimistic. hTey believe tn
situation can be Strengthened out ant
will be settled through an increase il
rates granted the railroads-at leas
those in the East-before the wag
demands Of the trainmen, and posi-
bly, Of other railroad. employees, ar
presented in the spring.
THE railroad executives know tina
the employees were not prepared t.
go through with their threat to tie III
1 the whole country by which the,
forced the Adamson bill on the statut
books" Mr.. Underwood declared yes
terday. ST am sure the Presiden
knows a lot more about the situation
now than he did then. because tn
railroad executives did not know thel
that the brotherhoods were not pre-
| pared to go through with their threa
to quit and tie up the whole country
1.-THE railroad employees are not go
ing to be able to jam through anothe
increase at this time. The railroad
cannot afford it, and the Federal Gov
eminent will not countenance an
move, believe, to take advantage o
the dire war need of the nation. Their
lare two things, I am certain, whic
will prevent any grave dificu1ty-on
is the Government and the other
the conscience of the employees or
1