The Washington times., 1920-05-17
STRIKES MAY
FORCE CRISIS
Railroad Men Ready 10 Walk
Out Unless Relief Is lmme-
date, Say Rumors.
ULTIMATUM THREATENED
Sweeping Order From !. c. c.
Expected to Aid Movement
of Essentials.
BY DAVID M. CHURCH,
International News Service.

InternationsI News Service.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission will take no action upon the
application of the principal railroads
for the establishment of freight
priority for necessities of life until
the end of the week, Secretary
McGinty announced today.
The commission desired time to
examine all data on the Transports
tion tie-up and to hear reports from
its own agents before taking action,
Secretary McGinity said
Rumors of Strikes.
Adding TO the critical situation
brought about by the transportation
tie-up is a rumbling of strike talk
among railroad workers. In labor cir
cles here today there was general
impression that the railroad brother
hoods will shortly issue an ultimatum
to the Railroad Labor Board demand
ing Immediate action upon their wage
demands with the alternative of =
strike. - -.t-
l-A nation wide strike at this tine
, would not only mean a national in
dustrial collapse. but would probably
force the Government TO resume con-
troll OF the railroads.
There was every indication at the
offices of the Interstate Commerce
Commission today that the commits
sion will issue a sweeping order CIV
ing priority in freight movement to
necessities of life. and will also place
a strict embargo on dead" freight
Priorities Are Planned.
The commission today is devoting
it's entire efforts to meeting the trans
portation tie-up which is acknoui
edged TO be serious. Special agents
of the commission are in the field
sending in reports on conditions a.
various terminals. all Of which data
is being compiled here and presented
to the commission.
Under the Cummins- Esch bill the
commission has authority to suspend
all car regulations. and it is believed
that an order will be issued for this
purpose. The return of empty cars
to terminals will probably be permit
ted, and every effort will be made to
divert available equipment to points
where congestion is most serious.
The Commiss is not now at
tempting to place the blame for the
Transportation tie-up. but is accepting
II as a fact and is devotng its efforts
To untsngle the situation.
Commercial and industrial leaderD
today flooded the commission with
| kilograms appealing for immediate
relief.
Information coming to the commits
sion indicates that the traffic jam Is
Threatening hundreds of industries
and that il is increasing the difficulty
of financing business. Many manuI
facturers have wired to the commits
sion declaring that unless they are
given transportation facilities within
a few days they will be forced to close
down their factories for lack of raw
materials and fuel. Other manufac-
turers have declared that their prod
ucts have piled up in their store
houses to such an extent that 1t will
be necessary to cease manufacture
until goods on hand can be trans
ported.
Food supply Mennced.
4 report on the movement of food
supplies rendered to the commission
shows that in the large terminals
there are huge supplies Of foodstuffs
"nlCn are threatened Win uestTuC-
ton unless moved to their destina-
tion shortly. The major part of the
1910 crop has not been moved to its
final destination, reports Indicate.
Traffic reports show that the vol
ume OF freight now In transit Is
greater than ever before. This IL
due in part to the congestion and
also because of the fact that the
amount of freight offered for ship
ment is the largest that 1t has ever
been. a factor which is contributing
to the critical situation.
Tho American Railroad Associations
Is cooperating with the Interstate
Commerce Commission and using It's
efforts to straiphten out the menacing
situation that has threatened Ameri-
can industry for some time Rail-
road executives blame the present
crisis partially upon the outlaw
strike partially to tho lack of equip
ment and partially upon the fact that
the railroads have been burdened
with a greater volume OF freight than
they have ever before had 10 handle.
The car service commission Of the
American Railway Association today
reported to the Interstate Commerce
Commission that the transportation
situation has not improved and is stili
very serious. The car service COM
mission Is meeting In joint Ses,isn
,coniinnAd an pzra Eoluu1n "A .