New-York tribune., 1920-02-14
Rail Unions Will Reply
to Presidents Proposal,
Details of Which Are
Guarded, This Morning
Brotherhood Heads
Are Disappointed
Generally Believed Will
sons Decision Was i'm
Accord With Recon-.
mendations of Hines

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13. Nego
tiations Of the union railroad en-
ployees for an increase in pay prac-
ticaly were suspended tonight un-
til the rail properties again are in
the hands of their owners. There
remains as a finale only the presen-
tation to President Wilson of the
union reply to his statement, given
them earlier in the day, and this
probably will be sent to the White
House tomorrow morning.
Union officials conferred for six
hours on the Presidents statement,
but they steadfastly refused to
divulge its contents, on which White
House officials likewise maintained
absolute silence. Nor would the
. union chiefs give any information as
to their reply.
Director General Hines conferred
briefly late to-day with W. G. Lee,
president of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, and a committee
from his organization.
Wage Conferences Concluded
This conference, so far as the rail-
road administration is concerned, was
said to conclude the series Of meetings
on the wage question.
Mr.. Hines also late to-day sent let
ter to the brotherhood of maintenance
OF way employees restating his atti-
tude toward that groups strike. He
did not make public the nature of his
communication, but it was hinted he
had Informed the maintenance workers
they could expect nothing further in
the way Of wage increases from the
railroad administration. Members of
the committee which has been repre-
sentlng the maintenance employees,
however, denied this, but declared
there had been no decision to call off
the strike which has been set for Tues
day
After Mr.. Hines had given the Ad-
mlnlstrations final word to Mr.. Lees
organization the tra1nmen's president
ANNOUNCED he regarded the White
house decision "as binding on our
union as we'll as the other"
Although Mr.. Lee declined to dis
c cuss the next move he would make, it
was understood he would not break
from the other organizations. 1t was
indicated also that he would permit the
wage agreement, notice of abrogation
OF which was given for February 23,
10 remain in effect until the termina
tion of Federal control. Members of
MS committee seemed to accept this as
their chiefs stand.
Union officials Disappointed.
The general attitude of the union
'onieIals, after being made acquainted
with the Presidents statement in q
"hlte House, was plainly one of disap-
,n'ointment. Some Of them were openly
,dissatistlcd but the more conservative
leaders urged that they bide their
Ume IN the hope of success along
.*ther lines.
whether this attitude was proof that
me resident had fatty denied the re-
. puests for increases or was an indica
.tion ne had submitted an unsatisfactory
) counter proposal was the subject of
',a'nerences of opinion among union
LEADERS who were not made acquainted
4 'th the Presidents reply. Many Of
I'm had believed, it was stated, that
compromise would be offered by the
j. sident, but there was a growing
lei that the White House decision
''ad been strictly in accord with the
Hines
1t was understood Mr.. Hines had told
.he President that the railroad earn
lass were insufficient to take care of
new pay raise. The Director General
was said to have informed Mr.. Wilson
s'so that the railroad administration
had adopted u policy last fall which
euoed the war cycle" of increasing the
Nay OF its men, and that any further
iie'lsion In the wage agreements could
pe made only if there was more rev.
ehue provided.
Wilson Gets Answer To-day
Many of the union officials were pre-
CARING to leave Washington tomorrow.
Several conferences were scheduled for
sariy tomorrow, but union officials
t;n VINO were to attend expected only rou-
sine matters to be taken up.
A., me reply Of the railroad unions to
tne tne President will be submitted to the
,Mhits House at II o'clock tomorrow
Ky the committee composed of B. NJ.
ssWeii, acting president Of the railway
Gmpioyees 81 department.. Of the American
sederation Of Labor; e. J. Manion,
president Of the Order of Railroad
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