Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-17
PASSENGER SERVICE:
GENERALLY BETTER;
FREIGHT IMPROVED
CrumbIing of Strikers in
West Indicated - Labor
Board Takes Up Question
of Wage Demands

WASHINGTON, April 16.-(Sum-
mary of News to the Associated
Press )-Return of strikers and i'm
provement in service was reported
today by railroads in various sec
lions of the country as the newly
appointed railroad labor board as
sembled in Washington for it's first
session to consider wage demands
Of rail workers.
The New York district, where vol
unteer crews continued to man
trains in increasing numbers, there
were conflicting reports concerning
the number of men who had returned
after the railroads last night had
delivered an ultimatum that their
last chance would expire tomorrow
strikers were f1ocking back, but
others reported sporadic walkouts.
Some brotherhood officials express
ed fear that the men might regard
the ultimatum as a challenge and
prolong their walkout. Efforts at
Cancellation in Jersey City this morn
ing were without result.
Crumbling of. strikes in the CEN
trail and far west was indicated fol-
lowing the action Of the government
in arresting twenty-five strike lead
ers in Chicago. Improvement in serv-
ice also was reported in the middle
west, one of the sections hardest
hit. Almost normal operation was re-
ported by many roads leading into
Pittsburg.
Passenger Service Better
With passenger service generally
improved throughout the country,
ported in the New York and New
England districts. Officials of the
New York Central announced that
freight service was so much i'm
proved that the embargo had been
lifted east Of Buffalo and north OF
Yonkers on the New York Central
and north of Newburgh on. the West
Shore railroad.
New England points raported an
rival of more freight, including Coal,
than any day since the strike spread
to the east. Proposed drastic cuts
in railroad passenger schedules and
O. general industrial shutdown were
believed to have been averted.
Take Up wage Demands
Wage demand of the 100000
railroad employees of the country
were taken up today by the newly
appointed labor board, which held
its first session at the railroad ad-
ministration with seven of the nine
members present.
The absent representatives, Judge
R. M Barton, Of Memphis, Tenn,
of the public group, and A. o. whar-r
ton. Of the labor group, are expected
to arrive later in the day.
Both arbitration and railroad Of
fcials believe that the prompt as
sembling of the board will have it's
influence on the present strike OF the
railroad men. Many Of those who
walked out already have returned
with the understanding that their de.
mands would receive prompt atten-
ton.
AT the railroad administration e
was said that the demands of the
strikers would not be given prefer
employees; that the wage question
would be considered as a whole
The board perfected a temporary
organization at its initial meeting
by electing Henry Hunt. former
mayor Of Cincinnati, as chairman.
and G. Wallace Hanger. of this city,
as secretary. Both are members
the public group.
-, The wage dispute, as 1t stood with
the breaking up Of the bipartisan
wage conference here two weeks ago,
was submitted to the board, Mr.
Hanger announced, and the board
Will begin consideration of the dis
pute as it now exists.
row and by that time the two absent
nembers-Judge r. M. Barton, of
Memphis, Tenn, representing the
public, and A. o. Wharton, Of the
labor group-are expected to be
present. After their arrival the or
ganization Of the board probably will
be made permanent.
Secretary Hangers announcement
made it clear that the. board would
not consider separately the wage de-
mands OF the railroad men now OH
here between the representatives of
the roads and the unions undertook.
a settlement of the whole wage QueSl
ton and the board will take the mat
ter up where that conference AesC it.
NEW YORK SEES SIGNS
OF WALKOUT ENDING
NEW YORK, April 16.-Indica-
tions that the unauthorized rail
strikes were nearing an end in this
vicinity were declared to be visible
today by railroad officials and Off
GERS Of the big four" brotherhoods.
They said the ultimatum of the
railroad managers yesterday, giving
the men until Saturday noon to re-
port back for work on penalty of
being dropped from consideration.
was body blow to the morale Of the
strikers. AS an indication Of the eff
feet of the decision. Hoboken rail
road men belonging to the brother
hoods, as we'll as the men on strike.
have voted to stick by the loyal
u ions. They have asked Vice Pres
ident Timothy J. Shea. of the Broth
erhood of Firemen, to request Mayor
Hague, of Jersey City, to use his in
fuence with the roads to have all the
men taken back.
Other rebellious strikers were ex-
pected to take action during the day.
Meanwhile. the brotherhood leaders :
continued their efforts to induce the
men to return and submit their
grievances to the new railway la
boz board. r. A. Dodge, assistant
president of the Brotherhood of Rail
road Trainmen, said "the men had
better go back while the going is
good"
A gradual Improvement in the n.
transportati6n situation was report
ef by the railroads. The number of
college students and business men
who volunteered their services In
creased greatly today. Two young
women applied for positions as FIRE
They admitted they did not have the
strength to fire, an engine, but they
were hired by the traffic manager on
the ground that they had the right