Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-28
TRA|NMENS'
WAGE Raise
IS FORECAST
President Will Discuss Elk
tent of Increase at Con-
ference With Brotherhood
Leaders; Program Ready
for Congress.
LEADERS BELIEVE HE
WILL TAKE SYSTEMS

Washington, d. c., Dec. 25.-Opin-
ions in Washington are divided as to
what the president will suggest in his
message to congress on the railroad
question. but there are several men
among the leaders in the senate and
in administration circles who expect
him to announce that he will take
over the railroads in the name of tho
government and appoint an admins
traitor to operate them during the per-
iod of the war.
Just before Senator Newland's death
last night he had been in conference
with President Wilson for several
hours and had announced that the full
senate committee on interstate COM
MERGE would meet tomorrow to ar
state commerce commissioners and
railroad executives.
MEETING POSTPONED.
This meeting, it was announced to-
day, has been postponed indefinitely
because of Senator Newland's death.
1t was at the presidents request
that the senatorial committee post
poned the investigation it had ordered
in accordance with Senator Cummins'
resolution. The president announced
that he intended to read message to
congress immediately after the holt
day vacation.
Thursday the leaders of the railroad
employees four brotherhoods will con-
fer with President Wilson.
The president summoned thei
brotherhood leaders primarily to dis
cuss with them a proposal he will
make for settlement of their dis I
pute with the carriers over the ques-
tion of increased wages. The brother
hoods have demanded pay advances
averaging 40 per cent, on the ground
that the war has increased the cost Of
living to point that has wiped out
all possible margin Of savings and
compelled a reduction in the standard
of living.
ROADS WANT INCREASES.
The railroads have stated that they
can not increase wages unless their
revenues are increased beyond even
the Is Fer cent advance in freight
rates for which the eastern roads have
applied to the commission. A dec;-
sion by the commission granting
large part, il not all Of this requested
increase, is expected unless the presi-
dent should prefer to deal with the
rate question after taking over the
roads
The carriers have placed them.
selves in the hands of the president
In regard to the entire problem Of uni
flcation OF the roads for war service.
The brctherhoods have promised to
consider any plan the president may
suggest, but they have not promised
not to strike. At the same time they
have pro!essed their loyalty in terms
which are held to preclude strike.
FAvORS WAGE ADVANCE.
The president is convinced that the
wages of the employees should be ad-
vanced to meet the increased cost OF
living and he wishes to induce the
brotherboods to accent plan of de-
ternining what is a fair increase.
The president discussed the unifica-
ton plan today with Senator Kellogg
of Minnesota, a member of the inter.
state commerce committee of the SEN
ate. Senator Kellogg is member OF
the subcommittee created to investi.
gate the railroad situation and recon-
mend legislation to render the trans
portation system equal to the demands
of the war service.
The larger cities and munition cen.
tiers will suffer in January and Feb
ruary an acute shortage of fuel un-
less President Wilson takes steps to
obtain federal administration of trans
portation, according to prominent rail
road officials. They urge that the pri-
ority system must be revised and that
production of non-essentials must be
curtailed. The railroad men say il the
present system continues 1t will cause
congestion Of coal shipments.
The food and fuel administrations.
which with the war department are
most directly concerned in solving the
transportation problem, agree that
they are greatly hampered by the pol
icy now in force. DR.. Garfield does
not favor government ownership Of
the railroads or of the coal mines ex-
cept as q last resort. But he believes
that his department can provide the
nation with an adequate supply Of COL
during the severe weather il the -
eminent will step in and lay down
rules for the railroads to follow.