Bisbee daily review., 1920-03-03
RAILROAD BILL WILL BE GIVEN TRIAL; BOARDS
 TO BE CHOSEN
All But One Group of Broth erhood Agrees to Cooperate With Government and
 The Railroads
UNION MEN PREDICT
 MEASURE WILL FAIL
Decision to Give Transporta- ton Act Thorough Trial Makes Strike Prospects
 K m O t

WASHINGTON, March 2-Definite steps were taken today toward settle ment of the railroad wage controversy. which has been pending since last Au gust. Representative of railroad workers with the exception of one group, agreed to cooperate with the government and the railroads in giv ing a trial of the new transportation act with it's arbitration clauses and President Wilson, in letters to both the Association of Railway Executives and heads of the Is workers organiza. rions requested that they select repre- sentatives to sit on the bipartisan wage board Prompt action was urged by the president in order that the negotiations between employer ana employees might not longer be delay ed.
 The only group or workers which has not entered into the agreemei.r 10 "go along with the president" was the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Shop LabOrers, which recently withdrew from the conference between union heads and the admin ,stration. Committeeman from the To- calls of the maintenance union, how ever, will meet in Chicago Thursday. and it was believed, would follow the lead of the other workers in compli- ance with Mr. Wilson's request. In a statement tonight explaining their position, the union spokesmen declared that while they could not ap- prove of the transportation act, they had agreed to aid in giving the law a trial "in the interest of railroad la Dor" and "as American citizens"
 Notwithstanding the fact that Ia- bor in general, and railroad labor in particular, with the full cooperation and support of other bodies represent ing American citizens urged the con gress not to pass the railroad bill, and the president to veto it, and return it to congress-" the union statement said, i've are now officially advised the president has signed the bill and .t is the law"
 Labor's criticism ana pr,, I-s,
 
 record and were presented to the con- gress, the president and the public We have not changed our views in re- gard to this legislation and therefore do not endorse the law; however, as American citizens, we feel that in the interest of railroad labor there is nothing left for us to do at present ex cept to cooperate in the prompt crea tion of the machinery provided for in | law.
 Tn the case of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way and Shop Labor J CTS, this organization has not had duly authorized representatives in this last conference Therefore, in compli ance with their constitution, it was ne cessary to convene such representa- tives which they will do in Chicago Thursday, March f."
 The president in his letter said ht had turned over direction of the pre- liminary wage negotiations to Director General Hines who was entrusted witf details of the winding up or govern ment control by the president in hi' proclamation turning back the roads Both the railroad executives and thu union heads were asked to notify th' director general of their representa- tiVes on the board and were informed that MT. Hines would arrange for tn first meeting at which will be deter
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