The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-21

special 10 THIS suN AND New York HERALD
CHICAGO. July 20.-Final action OF
the Grand Council Of Railroad Chiefs
recommending either acceptance or re-
lection Of the wage award announced
to-day by the United States Railroad
Labor Board is expected before to-
morrow night.
Executives representing the sixteen
principal crafts involved in the award
adjourned late this evening after
secret conference in the Great North
ern Hotel without having arrived at
unanimous decision.
The executive conference will be re-
convened tomorrow morning, accord
ing to B. NJ. Jewell, who represented
the brotherhoods in the hearings be-
fore the board. When decision has
been reached by this body the opinion
will be reported back TO the Grand
Council Members of the council after
a careful digest. of the contents OF
the award and the suggestions of the
executive committee will make formal
recommendations to the membership.
These recommendations will be ap-
proved or rejected by the rank and file
Of the union membership in natinn-
vide referendum vote.
Labor Leaders Dissatisfied.
General dissatisfaction over the pro-
visions Of the award prevailed among
labor leaders tonight. There is no
menace Of an immediate rail strike,
however as the plebiscite among the
membership will require fully month,
high officials said tonight.
Considerable disagreement concerning
the probable attitude of the workers
toward the award was voiced In the meet
ing Of the executives tonight. From
an unimpeachable source 1t was learned
that the official representative Of the
telegraphers and maintenance Of way
men had expressed the opinion that
their constituencies would be opposed
to the award. The locomotive engineers
and shopmen, on the other hand, were
reported by their delegates to favor the
decision.
Retroactive pay increases aggregat-
ing S6OO,000,000 a year-approximately
half the amount demanded by the or
ganized railroad workers OF America
were granted by the Labor Board in its
long awaited decision fixing the wages
OF ls94.2S7 members of sixteen railroad
crafts.
The workers had demanded the ad-
ditlon Of $1,000, 900, 900 to the railroads
payroll. The board "split the difference"
disappointing the workers and perhaps
precipitating widespread labor trouble.
The seriousness Of the situation was
increased by the fact that detailed "ad-
vance" publications of the new scales
were not only all wrong but also higher
than the increases actually awarded.
This made further discomfort among the
men.
That the settlement Is unsatIsfactory
TO the union men Is evident.
How deep the dissatisfaction goes or
now emphatically it will express itself
cannot be known until the officials have
nae an opportunity to consult with one
another, and possibly to take the matter
OacT to the rank and file of their Or
sanizauons. The general attitude of
all the leaders was expressed by L. z.
shepard, president of the Order of Rail-
way Conductors
! do not believe he said, that the
award will satisfy the men. At the same
ume do not care to make any Off
Vial statement on the situation until /
nave had time to look over the report
thoroughly and to discuss It with the
other officials"
Shea Sees Dissatisfaction.
timothy Shea, vice-president Of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
also intimated that there were things
aoout the award which would not please
'ne rank and file Of his organization.
cart say what will happen" he
sdn' nobody can until the thing has
U'en more thoroughly discussed"
I, doubt whether there will be any
ioImal statement tonight" said B. NJ.
Se"el' president Of the Railway Shop
at Workers. 'The officials of the
.arlous unions have agreed that only
'"e statement will be issued and that
Continued on Seventh Page.