The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-23


stroylng all progress made dur
ing the negotiations with Dreo-
tor General Hines towards a set
tlcment of their demands for
higher pay.
Washington. Feb. 2S.-President
Wilson today holds the key TO the fu-
tufe of the railroad labor situation.
This was the general expression
here today as 1000 officers of railroad
unions and brotherhoods gathered for
d conference to decide whether they
shall accept the president's proposals
for adjusting the wage demands
which the workers have made,
Bert NJ. Jewell, head of the railway
employees department of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. stated that
the entire action Of the conference
would probably depend upon whether
the president will assure the workers
Immediate action to adjust their
wages to meet living costs. Most OF
the representatives who arrived here
today were willing TO accept any
measure of relief, but were insistent
that there must be immediate action.
The Cummlns- Esch bill for the re-
turn of the railroads, which Is before
the senate today. was under fire from
the railroad workers and 1t was re-
Rarded as highly probable that the
conference wuold ask President VIII
son to veto the bill II II passes the
senate. A movement was also under
way to stage demonstration against
the bill for tho benefit OF the senate.
Representatives of the workers were
unanimous In their opposition to the
provisions OF the bill which guaran-
tee a 5M per cent. return to tho rail-
roads and declared thht the president
must veto this clause or make some
sort OF a similar guarantee TO the
workers.
The labor provisions of the bill were
not acceptable to the lenders. and
they have virtually agreed TO insist
that the president appoint at once a
wage adjustment board, composed OF
employers and employees.
President Wilson may send a mes
sage to the conference, II was learned
at the White House. II he does not,
IL IS expected that the conference VIII
ask for a hearing with the president
before IL takes any final action on his
proposals.
Despite statements that union labor
forces would carry their fight into the
senate regardless of their defeat In
the house and the bare possibility OF
n fllibuster that may delay passage OF
the bill before March l, the date tho
roads are to revert to private control,
senate leaders expressed the belief
there would be little debate and vote
would come quickly.
President Wilson will make n re-
ply to the request for committee OF
employees to adjust wages. II was an
nounced at tho White House today.
A request for such committee was
transmitted TO the president on Sat
urday. Tho reply will probably not
be sent to the conference before late
today.
Not Dollar From Treasury.
Presenting the conference report
In the senate, Senator CummIns en-
phaslzed that the rate guarantee Sec
ton did not take a dollar out of the
public treasury.
In order to prejudice It among
the people IL has been termed q guar
anty OF income" he said This Is
not true. There is a guaranty in the
bill o the standard return and
against deficits continuing for six
months after the railways are re-
turned TO their owners; but It's nc
cessity is obvious.
THE rate making section is not
guaranty. Not dollar is 10 be paid
from the treasury on account of Its
provisions. and no obligation what
ever on the part of the government
is created
He said the bill merely directed
the interstate commerce commission
that insofar as was practicable II
should make rates that would yield
a net operating income OF IL per
cent. upon the true value Of the rail-
way property" The income would
depend wholly upon location OF the
roads, the Iowa senator pointed out,
asserting that some roads would
earn not more than ? per cent.
Can't Understand Objection.
ITO ell IL a guaranty Is 20 be
either maliciously false or stupidity
ignorant" he declared.
Discussing the antistrike section.
on which the senate conforecs yielded
Senator Cummns said they yielded
simply To supreme necessity and
that they recognized that a railroad
bill had to pass by March ] or chaos
would ensue."
with respect 10 the labor provi-
sions Of the conference report" said
Senator Cummins. Il am utterly un-
able to understand the opposition
which they have aroused among Ia
Dor leaders. for they leave all free
men. whether employees or employers.
10 do whatsoever they please at any
time. at any place or under any cir
cumstanccs."