Evening star., 1920-02-17
REGIONAL, DISTRICT
OFFICES Of ROADS
TO co ON MARCH |.

DiScontinuance of all regional ana
district offices of the Railroad Admin
istration on March 1 was directed to-
Gay by Director General Hines as the
second step in rehabilitation of the
federal railroad organization which
was assembled by former Director
General McAdoo when the roads Were
taken over.
He announced two weeks ago plans
for the creat ation of new divisions and
the discrimination of others in the
general headquarters here, in prep
aration for return of the roads and
tie establishment of the Railroad Ad-
as a liquidating agency.
Other orders and the general policies
to be followed in winding up affairs
of the government in it's connection
with transportation lines are under
cosideration.
Lesislation Plan Agreed On.
Upon the signing today of the final
compromise agreement on legislation for
the return of the railroads to private
ownership two movements for the set
tlement Of the railway wage dispute will
be under way.
Coincident yesterday with the an
nouncement that the House and Senate
conferees had practically redrafted the
labor section of the bill so as to provide
tOE compulsory DlfcCtOT
General Hines sent a request to Pres'-
dent Cuyler Of the Association of Raj
road Executives, for conference her.
with him Of committee representing
the railroad corporation heads to dis
cuss President Wilson's proposal for
the creation Of joint commission to
hear the union employees demands.
Provides Board Of Nine.
The railroad legislation as agreed to
<3.N- s-l-
chairman hoped would be in shape for
presentation to both the House and Sem
ate tomorrow was redrafted so as to
meet such labor troubles as developed
recently through the wage demands of
the employees brotherhoods
Instead of a federal board of five ap-
pointed by the President to deal finally
with wage disputes the provision as re-
written would create a board of nine
members whose decisions would be bind
ing. This commission or board also
would be appointed by the President,
but would consist of three members rep
resenting each the employees and the
executives and three representing the
public.
The redrafted provision was sub
mitted to Director General Hines and
was said in principle to meet his
views. Efforts will be made in both
branches OF Congress to expedite pas
the roads March 1 will be governed
by a fixed legislative policy.
AT the conference Mr.. Hines will
have with the railroad officials he
viii seek to learn their attitude
toward President Wilson's plan for
settlement OF the wage controversy
In event the arbitration machinery
proposed in the reorganization bill
fails to become law. The general con-
vention of union representatives will
be held here next Monday. and Mr..
Hines hoped to have his conference
with the officials before that date.
Rail Heads Attitude Uncertain.
Officials were uncertain as to the
attitude which the rail heads would
assume with respect to the voluntary
tribunals suggested by the President.
who told the union heads in his COM
munication proffering terms of peace
in the wage controversy that he
would seek the cooperation of the
corporations which will receive their
properties from the government
March 1. Public statements Of many
OF the rail officials in recent months
have indicated an uncompromising at
titude on the subject of increased
wages-uncompromising unless the
companies were promised more rev.
enue through higher transportation
rates.
In union circles the belief was ex-
pressed that delay would mark the
efforts of Mr.. Hines to reach an
agreement with the rail officials.
Union leaders were skeptical of sue
cess of the efforts. and argued that
the committee of executives which
comes to Washington would not have
power to bind all roads to the pro-
gram outlined by the director general.
Union leaders asserted the corpora
tons officials seldom have stood to-
gether. and some even are refusing
to enter into any kind of a general
agreement except as to rate classi-
fcations.
The conference between Mr.. Hines
and the committee from the Associ-
alton of Railroad Executives there
fore will bring to a head an entirely
new problem. aside from the differ