The Washington herald., 1920-04-13
Palmer Plans
To See Wilson
I. OnU.S. Policy
President Expected to
Name Nine Labor Board
Members Today.
All Trains In Yards Stalled
When ''Rump" Strike
Begins.

NOlIIplClC uC-up Ol IdllI OdC
transportation in Washington re-
suited last night when the entire
body of switchmen employed al
the Potomac yards walked out al
1890 o'clock, making it impossi-
bic to move freight consignment.
or passenger trains.
Preceding the strike at the Po-
tomac yards came the announce
ment that President Wilson is ex-
pected today to send the names oil
nine men to the Senate to COM
prise the Railroad Labor Board.
Announcement was also made
that the Motor Transport Corp.
of the army was mobilizing in
preparation to move to the aid oil
any city in acute need of food as
the result of the strike.
Will See President.
Late yesterday Attorney General
Palmer announced he would act
probably today in giving force to
the governments policy in the out
law rail strike. and will confer with
the President.
Secretary Baker said last night
he saw no necessity now for the
, use of troops but if the necessity
arose department commanders would
act at their own discretion, though
the secretary would. in each in
stance. be notified.
Would Prevent GouginE.
Attorney General Palmer yester-
day moved to prevent the strike be-
ing made a pretext for profiteering.
He does not believe a food shortage
growing out of transportation diff
culties should be grasped as an op-
portunity for plunder by unscrupu-
lous dealers.
kilograms have been sent all
United States District Attorneys
and fair price committees TO mobi-
lize at once for constant scrutiny of
retail prices. especially foodstufs
The instructions made it clear that
unreasonable price advances would
not be tolerated and that immediate
prosecutions should be started
against dealers using the strike as
weapon to attack the public's
purse strings.
Plans for Transport.
Officials of the Federal Highway
Council, cooperating with former
members of the Highway Transport
Committee of the Council of Ma
( tional Defense. will communicate
with the mayors of strike-center
cities and suggest the organization
of pool of all motor trucks under
the direction of local committees,
| These committees. which would in
clude representatives of the trans
portation bureaus. local chambers
of commerce, railway and truck
users, and the Motor Transport
Corps of the army. would have full
power to establish priorities as to
goods to be moved by truck In
, general. il was thought the trucks
could be used to bring goods int
affected cities from a distance 40
great as seventyfive miles. and il
was ascertained that the War De-
partment is ready TO act the mo-
ment it receives instructions
The army's motor transport has
1.S00 trucks in service which could
move Immediately upon the assign
ment of drivers, and the War De-
partment has nearly 10000 more
which can be put into operation in
a short time.
The interdepartmentalb board, rep
resenting the governments execu-
tive departments. will meet with the
Council of Defense today.
Train Service Restricted.
Washington was Handicapped yes
terday only in its passenger serv-
ice. At Union Station thousands
were forced to be content with re-
stricted service out of the city. and
all tickets were sold subject to de-
lay.
Two engines, operated by crews
appointed by the local "vacationers."
handled what little movement there
was in the Washington terminal
yards. and these crews moved only
cars containing milk or mail So
congested was the yard with cars
of unpacked expressage that, in
many cases IL was impossible TO get
milk cars to designated sidings.
Yard work ordinarily handled by
more than $50 trainmen, switchmen
and brakemen was at a standstill
while the "walkouts" held a secret
meeting
Many Trains Omitted.
Train service on the Pennsylvania
lines, both incoming and outgoing.
was limited by the annulment or
service ordinarily offered. Trains for
New York. leaving at s, 8. sos, 1905
and IL a. m, and incoming trains
arriving at 5. 4:4o. 1880. 9:i5 and