New-York tribune., 1919-10-10

two different plans for the adjustment
of future industrial disputes. The gov
ernment wishes to extend and make
permanent the powers of the court of
industrial arbitration which recently
considered the claims of the transport
workers for higher wages.
Several prominent labor leaders, on
the other hand, have expressed them
selves In favor of the formation of a
central labor executive bod which
would coordinate the activities Of the
various trade unions and would be able
to deal effectively with the govern
ment II another emergency like the
railway strike should arise. Ip other
words, they want to preserve, as a
permanent body, the committee of the
big fourteen unions, whose mediation
paved the way for the settlement of
the railway strike.
Transport Workers Get Raise
The National Transport Workers
Federation abandoned Indefinitely it's
conference set for this week after the
settlement of the railway strike, but
they had previously applied for an in
crease of IL shillings a week for work
ers of all grades. A crisis was immi-
nent at one stage of the negotiations,
but the men finally agreed to leave the
matter to arbitration. and yesterdays
announcement OF an increase of from
to A shillings week was the result.
While the award does not fully satisfy
ne demands Of the transport workers
it will probably avert any Immediate
danger of further trouble in this di-
rectiOn
deputation appointed by the
transport Workers. Conference met
the Parliamentary committee of the
Trade Union Congress Yesterday af
ternoon to urge the convocation of a
special congress to consider the oues-
ton of standardization of wages in all
trades.
Lloyd Georges speech at Mansion
house tuesday IN reference to the
railway strike, in which he said that
the government last February con-
sldered 1T necessary to establish q
civilian organization to safeguard the
country's food supply in possible
future strikes, has been received with
protests by the National Union of
Railwaymen
Crisis Not Prepared For
President c. T. Cramp, when inter-
viewed to-day, said:
"All ! can say is that we had not
been actively preparing for any crisis.
because, foolishly perhaps, we believed
that the government would treat US
falrly enough to render any appeal to
a strike unnecessary. Lloyd Georges
speech is clear proof of the truth of
a statement often made during the
dispute: that the government intended
to make deliberate attack upon work.
ing class standards of living and that
the rallWaymen were chosen as the
first victims of this attack.
THE Premier's speech indicates a
belief that the government has won a
victory in this attack. If this is really
his attitude of mind it does not sneak
well for the future of industrial peace.
would prefer to believe that he has
been misquoted."
c. A. McCurdy, Parliamentary sec
retary of the food ministry, pointed
out in an interview to-day that the
ministry had been strictly neutral
throughout the strike
I'VE fed strikers and non-strikers
alike he said "and our priority
certificates for babies milk have been
given to the families of strikers as
freely as to the general public. Within
a few days after the outbreak of the
IKE the ministry mad secured prac-
t'cally normal supply of all esscntia
foodstuffs.
"The country may we'll be proud OF
the part it played in the history o,
the last nine days. Now we want tc
forget politics and get down to tht
work of business reconstruction. Once
TINS Is accomplished the wage problem
can easily be settled satisfactorily