The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-05-21
RAILWAY MEN ASK
BILLION INCREASE
Wage Board Is Likely to Favor
Pay Boost.
EMPLOYEES SIDE is HEARD
Road Executive Points Out to Labor
Arbiters Result of Mems Demands
Means So Per Cent Raise in
Rail Rates.

of more than ST ,0OO, OOO,OOO to railroad
employees, with an advance of SO per
cent to the public in the cost of freight
transportation service, were forecast
at the first meeting of the United
States railway board, now in perma-
nent headquarters at Chicago.
The roads already are asking for a
% per cent raise in freight rates to
take care of the wage increases al
ready granted, spokesman for the
roads declared. They will need an
other 80 per cent raise to grant the
additional wage demands of the rail
workers, the board was Informed.
A statement of the railroads side OF
the problem was made by e. T. Whit
er, chairman of the conference com
mittee of the Association Of Railway
Executives.
The entire board, appointed Apri
Is by President Wilson, was present
The members are: Henry Hun
George w. Hangar and r. M. Barton
representing the public; Horace Bak-
er, J. III. Elliott and William L. Park
for the railroads, and Albert Phillips
A. o. Wharton and James J. For
roster, for the employees.
Call on States for Aid.
Washington. May 18.-Railway and
public service commissions in every
state were called to the aid of the in
terstate commission and the railroads
to break the freight blockade.
The commission telegraphed the
state agencies asking them to cooper
ate fully and to use all means in their
power to alleviate conditions in their
states.
The commission announced definite
ly that it did not contemplate holding
hearings upon the appeal of the rail
roads for the government to use it's
emergency powers under the trans
pOrtatiOn act.
Members of the commission met
with representatives of the railroads
to discuss means of breaking the
freight blockade. Officials declared
the problem was of such magnitude
that a solution might require more
time than at first anticipated. They
were hopeful, however, that today or
Wednesday would see a definite pre-
gram for the movement of the vas
volume of accumulated freight
Preference for Food Cars.
The railroads suggested several de-
tails to the commission for inclusion
in it's traffic plan. One of these was
a general scheme for the movement
grain cars westward and coal cars
ments.
Cars for food and perishables, how
ever, would have full preference over
all others under the railroad men:
plan.
Meanwhile more trouble for the
railroads doomed in reports to the
commission and the car service com
mittee of the railroads. Several lines
hitherto able to keep their tracks rela
lively clear, were reported as smOth-
cred under the avalanche Of freight
Chief among these was the Wheel
lines were said to have felt the reac
ton of the congestion violently with
In the last few days. Advance pre-
cautions by the short lines, however
have STAYED off a tieup for them sew
eral days, but it's effect is now being
felt, and only local shipments are
moving, according to late advices.
To Open Way for Food.
The great need at the moment Is tC
clear the tracks of nonessential ship
ments and open the way for the free
movement of the necessities of life.
So great is the traffic congestion, &C
cording to reports and complaints
from many quarters, that there is i'm
mediate danger of wholesale clOsin
of big industrial plants and the Coz
seuuent cut in production.
Should the commission find, on tn
strength of reports laid before it by
the railway executives, that the emeI
gency justifies it, orders taking over
virtually complete control of the move
ment of freight may be issued.
The first step would be the issuance
of priority orders for shipment of coal
for which there is crying need at many
points, food and perishables. The use
of cars would be limited to these com
modities, but railroad men said the,
were more concerned with the prob
lem Of moving and unloading upwa
of 100000 cars that have caused the
congestion.
The process of curtailfng passenger
service has been considered by TIL
roads to expedite freight movement
but officials said this would be don
only as a last resort.