New-York tribune., 1920-04-13

On = Lines
To Return
Only Sign of Break
Comes From Syracuse
as Brotherhood Chiefs
Gather Here for Fight
u. S. Troops Will
Guard Mail Trains
Communication Service Is
Given Another Setback
in Jersey Central Tie-Up

The communication service in New
York was thrown into greater
tangle than ever yesterday by the al
most complete shutdown of the Jer-
sey Central, which, with the Lacka-
wanna and Erie systems, carried
scarcely any commuters. The New
York Central and the Long Island
railroads provided the only service
approaching normal
While employees in the passenger
service Of the Baltimore e. Ohio
lines on Staten Island suffered a
/ change of heart in their decision to
tie up ali the lines, those of the
North Shore division walked out at
11:45 O'Clock last night. The four
trains that run on this line from St.
George to Mariners Harbor were de-
serted by their crews as they were
brought into st. George, the last
train arriving just before midnight.
Twelve thousand commuters af-
fected will be forced to walk long
distances to the too few trolley cars
of the Richmond Light and Railroad
Company, which thread this terri
tory. 1t was reported that the two
other lines of the Baltimore g. Ohio,
running to South Beach and Totem
vile, will be closed down to-day.
Switchmen, trainmen and other
employees on the lines of the Del
aware, Lackawanna & Western and
New York Central lines in Syracuse
voted unanimously last night, after
session of nearly four hours, to
return to work at O'Clock this
morning for period Of ten days.
Reserve Right to Quit
They named joint committee Of
four men, representing employees
OF each road, to lay their conclu-
slons before T. W. Evans, assistant
general manager Of the Central, and
6. c. Ferris, assistant supcrintend-
ent of the Lackawanna, and dele
gated the same committee represen-
tatlves to go to Washington to take
up their demands for higher wages
with the heads OF the various broth
erhoods, and with and through them
the wage commission to be named
by President Wilson, or, in case Of
failure to Immediately appoint that
board, with the President himself
They reserved the right to go
out again in ten days if there was
no assurance that consideration was
to be at once given their claims.
The proposition of the workers
was accepted by the railroad repre-
sentatives. 1t marks the first big
break in the walk-out in the East
More tilan 500 men had left their
positions and the De Witt freight
yards, one Of the largest in the
United States, had been seriously
crippled.
Given the necessary lever for in
tervention by the interruption of
United States mails at Port Jervis,
N. Y, and Paterson, n j., the gov
ernment took hand yesterday
by using armed troops to take care
of the mails at the Erie Terminal
in Jersey City. The troops have not
yet been used on trains.
Prices of foodstuffs are beginning to
skyrocket because of the dwndling
arrivals of fresh products While milk
is still being regularly brought in by
ell the lines, only the Baltimore g.
Ohio and the New York Central are
handling other outgoing and incoming
shipments. These have dropped TO 3
rer cent Of the normal freight handled
in New York
Philadelphia e. Reading Railway at
Port Reading and the Lehigh Valley
yards at Perth Amooy has broug,:t
about an acute coal shortage, which
may result in the stoppage Of impor-
tant public utilities and Industries
which depend upon these points for
their stocks.
The movement of all freight to Long
Island and Staten Island las been
strikes of vardmen and switchmen of
the Long Island railroad at HOLDEN and
Jamaica and the Baltimore e. Ohio
lines on Staten Island.
Brotherhood Leaders Here
With the Hudson tubes still tied IN.
the ferries. all of which are running
on above normal schedules, provide.
the only means OF travel to about 500.
900 workers who daily come to New
ork from New Jersey.
inc leaders Of the railroad brother.
,heons ere beginning 70 concontrst.
fere Tor their battle with the "onslaws."
anu -. q Na'be. government labor