New-York tribune., 1919-08-02
100000 Involved in Call
for Walk-Out i'm Demand
for Wage Increase to
Meet Cost of Living
President Appeals
For Law to Help
Seeks Right to Arbitrarily
Raise Rates if Needed
to Meet Mems Demands

WASHINGTON, Aug. IA new
labor crisis, growing out of the high
cost of living, is facing the railroad
administration.
SO pressing arc the demands Of the
railroad employees for more psv 70
maintain their standard of living that
President Wilson, following extended
conferences with Director General
Hines. to-day asked the House Of Rep
rescntatives TO abandon proposed re-
cess Of five weeks, beginning to-mor-
row. and remain in Washington to con-
sider the creation of a commission
which would determine all questions
concerning The wages Of railway work
ers
The House tonight on the eve Of ts
planned recess voted TO corp'l with
the Presidents request - face me prob
lem. The reqaes' had been indorsed hy
the Republican legislative steering
committee at special meeting.
shopmen Ordered Out
Meanwhile the Federated shcpmcn,
Union has issued aaton ado strike
order, affecting $50 0on men THIRTY
Ave thousand men in the Southeastern
district are already reported 10 have
walked out
The President took p new step IN
railroad legislation in suggesting 10
Congress that Tire act TO create the
commission should "mske the decisions
of that body mandatory upon the rate.
making body and provide. when neces-
ssry. increased rates t. cover any
recommended increases in wages and.
therefore in the cost OF operating the
railroads.
This was the first time that Congress
ever was asked b. the Chief Executive
to order the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to advance rates. Mr. vii
sons letter, addressed 10 Chairmen
Esch and Cummings Of the House and
Senate Interstate Commerce commit
tees. virtGslN transfers 10 the floor
Of Congress the question whether there
shall be on Increase in transportation
charles. Tong forecast by the steadily
growing dciicit arising from the faiiure
OF railroad income TO equal the govern
ment guarantee.
The Presidents Note
The text of the Identical notes -
Messrs. Gilleti and Mondell is as fo.-
/ lows:
The Director General OF Raj.
roads informs me that the situation
with reference go the railroads q
growing so critical every hour that
hope st VIII te possible .or the
House 10 postpone its recess un-h
some definite action i- taken upon
the recommc dstion con aimed % my
letter 10 Nr Esch
officials ol thr government have
been in consnltaflou with reference
70 the problem growing our as the
hlRh cost ot .Nlng. urar which
expect fsComm,.d4tl tloNs TO be made
within fortnight I si~cercis rust
TINT ne proposed recess or Congress
may be postponed at least 4nt. .uos
time As Nc may kNns detrlt,iv Ire
problems which coaffoat a. araN.
ing out II 81 Iu'fitaf. sItnaf.p1.
Conductors Ask More Wages
l.. +. Shepherd. eti,I e 'ac Broth
erhood of Railway t9nf ctors. accom-
panied b. na'fnlei ofHc'f. of 'hAi or
gsnlzAt.cr. cai' i on ~ .ieui Af
son to- day 80 a ruet WITH H.a fae nf
ductors' rec'nf demand .1 .at .rt
Wage 'ommiaalnn fer "ato efssa.s
averaging At teI cetf
Tho delegation fol. ffe lesl Idaff fra
conuuc.lts NtIc Obliged iu rfA fnf fae
increase bcg4use durnf IIr last
years tieir Nng'. taN fa..,u IeloA he
pncr' 49, Ac'"tsaliHs iu he ,l rut 81
30 Per ce'N.
Az A,fsats a5 nrf ceff par'f
pus Inc esfe-r'pfs ssali. faffH .
"ei" sax tsafa r l II
sad. "Ans even o.. rN.H .ia. Mr ttit
We "ste rNt H t.la
kef~refet maes hf rYe men.
ber ~ tN Drrrstlsn "a tho ircea,
action VI ft if.1aH .oNsfNrna aut "a
cuttng rs uf fnuI $50 usr t.ni
IN 1hat enan.if. fa which iae prssf
den was aH 80 tave ffrH,4 thai f.s
saeh a'.s.. trf ot could hc tu.ru un.
der the l fLe lnitsa -f.t..
On 'fa l.r NH.tc 1on4. Nr
Shenhofi tsA hse. a.4.s a.
understand 'ast Ihf President . i.aI.
ing Nita ti. slls4t.oN. Nas la .tel 20
thr entv at Of AVS already ot ths
statute DE.
is.tcr 10 i.el and Gummins
The Presidents 'oli.r ira9smtit,nx
10 Aaaifineff f-scn hnd trnlfnian tum
min cf f1a House and senate com
mlttees 'nr recommends ans OF Di
rector Gen,rsi h nes taIa.
y TAX" tha -s-fty ef Inciosiag a
copy O. "a iettel which / have lust re-
ceived from Mr. Waikeg y. Hines. Di-
rector General Of Railroads. and ~fich
Am sure you viii agree with nj in
thinking contains matter for cry
serious thought. and for action else
May l not sag that concur IL she