The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-16
r. R. SITUATION.
lis CONSIDERED
by new BODY
Membership is Approved by
Senate After Bitter Debate
Pennsylvania Men Are
Returning to Work.
,HANGAR IS QUESTIONED
(Ry Associated PresS)

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, April 16-Direct
government Intervention in the rail
road strike situation took shape today
with the initial meeting of the railway
labor board, created by the transporta-
ton act to deal with all railroad labor
disputes.
The nine members of the board, CAL
led by the president to meet and or
ganize Immediately, were confirmed
yesterday by the senate after two
days of discussion of Mr.. Wilson's Sc
lections.
The board perfected a temporary
organization by electing Henry Hunt.
former mayor of Cincinnati, as chair
man, and G. Wallace Hanger, of this
city, as secretary. Both are members
of the public group.
The wages dispute, as it stood with
the breaking up of bipartisan wage
conferences here two weeks ago, was
submitted to the board, Mr.. Hangar
announced, and the board will consld-
er 1t at once.
There was pressure for speedy COM
pletion of organization by the board
in order that quick action might be
had in the strike situation. Virtually
all strikers throughout the country
who have voted to return to work, did
so with the stipulation that their de-
mands would be referred to the board.
Hold Out Assurances
Officials of the railway brother
hoods, which have opposed the strike
movement, government officers ana
members of congress in urging the
strikers to return to work nave held
out to them assurances of prompt
action through the board upon their
specific complaints or demands.
Chicago was contemplated in the
act as the meeting place for the labor
board although authority to sit in any
part of the country also was included.
Decision to hold the first meeting IN
WASHINGTON was announced from the
white house at the same time the
presidents nominations were dis
closed.
It will be held at the railway ad-
ministration offices, where necessary
machinery for organization and for
taking Immediately cognizance of the
questions involved in the present "out-
law strike already exists.
Confirmation After Battle
Confirmation of the board mem
bers came only after sharp criticism
of the presidents nominees had been
voiced by Republican and Democratic
senator's The only roll call forced
by opponents of any nominee was that
on the name of G. Wallace w. Hanger.
of the public group, who was confirm
ed by a vote of 81 to "a.
It was understood that the urgency
of the strike crisis impelled sena tors
to abide by the decision in Mr.. Han
gers case and to allow the other nam
inees to be confirmed without roll call
Walk Out Again.
EMPLOYEES of the Potomac yards
here, known as the freight gateway
of the south, who were on strike yes
terday for the second time within
four days, returned to work today
after conferences with union leaders
Switching crews at the lexington
yards of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
iroad, who walked out yesterday, also
returned to work.
PHILADELPHIA, April 16.-With
tthe assurance that the striking shop
men of the Pennsylvania railroad in
1.-THE Philadelphia district would return
ITO work promptly, following the ac-
ceptance of the company's offer TO
Itake up grievances within its Jurlsdlc-
ktion, efforts were made today to bring
about a settlement of the strike OF
trainmen, yardmen and others direct
lly concerned in the operations OF
trains.
Representatives of the shop crafts.
which include blacksmiths, machin-
lists, boifermakers, electrical workers,
carmen, sheet metal workers, railway
and steamship clerks, telegraphers,
boatmen, maintenance OF way en-
ployes and stationary engineers, all af-
filiated with the American Federation
of Labor, sent out notices today call
ing on the men to resume work at
once and expressing the belief that
their grievances would be adjusted
satisfactorily.
Men Assured Of Square Deal
William J. Tracey, chief of the
state bureau of mediation, who was
instrumental in bringing about the
conference that led to the acceptance
of the company's offer, will meet rep
resentatives of the striking trainmen
and yardmen during the day. He said
he felt confident a settlement would
be reached and that all of the men in
this district would be back at work
very shortly.
the railroad officials will unqualifiedly
treat with the men in adjusting grlev-
ances on square deal basis.