The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-06
BRITAIN AVERTS
POWER STRIKE
BY WAR ORDER
Electrical WalkOut Is Made
a Crime Under De-
fence Act.
PUBLIC IS PLEASED
Engineers Main Union Sus-
pends Secretaries Who
Led Disseminated.
LONDON STILL WALKS
Streets Are Slushy After
Heavy Fall Of Snow-Su-
burb Rush Worse.

Order in Council was issued to-day
under the defence OF the realm act
making it summary offence for any
person employed by the Government,
a municipality or a company which
has assumed the duty OF supplying
service or otherwise to strike.
The penalty Is six months inprison-
ment or a fine OF s2.5oo or both. 1t is
also made an offence to persuade men
to break such contracts.
The Governments quick action IN
taking advantage OF the Kings pres
ence In London to-day to call a meet
ing of the council to pass this order
giving the electrical supply Of London
the same protection as the gas and
strike measures has the full support
Of the public. and it is believed that
there will be no electric power strike,
especially as the electricians have no
grievances demanding such remedy.
Parent Union shows Disa ppro, al.
In addition to invoking the Defence
Of the Realm act the Government also
has taken measures TO insure a supply
OF current in the event that a strike
is persisted in and to protect loyal
workers. II Is understood that Premier
Lloyd George. now in Paris, Is being
Kept Informed OF all the happenings in
the labor world and Is in constant touch
by wire with the Cabinet.
The Associated Society Of Engineers
as evidence OF its disapproval OF the
strikes In London and Belfas. and on
the Clyde. has suspended the functions
OF its committees in the three areas
affected. The secretaries in the districts
have been suspended and will not be
permitted to hold once in the society
for a certain period. This action. 1t is
declared, Is without prejudice to more
drastic action being considered by the
society.
The people Of London experienced to-
! day the acme OF discomfort through the
tube strike. Snow fell heavily, convert
! ing the streets OF the city into quagmires
TO a depth OF several inches. The
suburbs rush on improvised transport
was worse than ever and the thousands
OF trsmpers had most unpleasant jour
neys.
Some suggestions for strikes in other
trade unions were made. but nothing
: definite developed, Lord Henry Caven-
dish-Bentlnck proposes to introduce in
! the House of Commons a bill ensctins
3 a universal working week OF forty-four
hours.
/ The situation on the clyde Is still I'm
proving though there has been no gen
eral resumption OF work. especially in
the shpbuilding yards There has been
no need to call upon the military, as
everything was quiet.
! Al Belfast Lord Pirrie. Controller Of
Merchant Shipbuidlng, had a long con-
! ference with representatives OF the strik =
ers. He proposed a temporary arrange
! ment OF work for flfty-four hours weekly,
with overtime paid for all work exceed
| Ing forty-seven hours, pending a com
plete settlement. for which ne agrees 10
call conference with tine firms con-
cerned. Il is probable that decision
! on this proposal viii be reached to-mor-
TOW.
/ Answers Untontst's Threat.
In replying to a letter from J. Brom-
ley, secretary of the Association OF L,o-
|
permission TO put the case Of the men
in the tube strike before the Cabinet
and threatening. II refused, to extend
the strike over the country, Andrew
Bonar Law, Government leader In the
House OF Commons. wrote:
II have before me the agreement OF
January 80, which was signed. among
others. by yourself and in which it is laid
down In explicit terms that conditions as
! TO an eight hour day as agreed TO BY
the Cabinet had been accepted. In these
/ circumstances there seems to he no room,
for any misunderstanding. much less d
charge OF breach Of faith ! am sure nc
useful purpose would he served by ml
seeing you in regard to II,
"1f you have anything new to bring
forward | suggest that you communi-
cate with the President of the Board OF
Trade. who is acting in this manner for
! the Government"
/ Mr.. Bonar Law pointed out that the
sudden and irregular manner in which
the strike began has caused the creates,
inconvenience and distress to the whole
community.
Plans for the formation OF civic
guard to maintain and protect public
service have been submitted to the ,au-
thorities according to the Daily Mail
which says that a similar plan has been
! successfully employed In Switzerland
| Holland and Australia.
The newspaper states that should the
actions OF the strikers warrant such g
course the citizens may be asked tc
form guard TO maintain transport
lighting and food supply services and
also to guard power stations, -four mills