New-York tribune., 1920-03-02
Union Chiefs
Debate Reply
To President
Brotherhoods' Decision
Delayed for Fear Roads
Won't Continue Wage
Contracts of War Time

From The Tribnc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 1.--Apprehen-
sion on the part Of the Railroad Broth
erhoods that the private railroad
owners wilEnot stand by the working
condition" contracts negotiated by the
workers with the government during
the period of Federal control pre-
vented decision by the Brotherhood
leaders to-day as the course they will
pursue in response to the Presidents
appeal that they accept the labor ad-
justment machinery Of the new law
Representatives Of these brother
hoods were in conference all to-day,
but it was announced that no state
ment would be forthcoming before to-
morrow, If then.
Although under pre- war conditions
most of the principal systems had SIM
liar agreements with their men, the
Federal government in the last two
years has standardized these arrange
ments for the country as whole and
as applying to all the roads under
government control. These contracts
are voluminous in form and deal with
the smallest details, such as lunch
time allowances and the like. More
over, the contracts made by the gov
ernment applied to all the organized
groups of railroad workers, whereas
the pre-war private arrangements dio
not
May Accept Gompers's View
The announcement by Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, at Miami to-day, to
the effect that there is no further use
in resisting the law and refusing to
accept the wage adjustment machinery
it establishes, is accepted here as fore
shadowing similar conclusion on the
part of the Brothcrhoods. Talk of pos
sible suit by these organizations to
test the constitutionality of the law
is discounted by the assertion that
the brotherhoods, not being incor-
porated, are not in position to start
such litigation.
The transfer of the properties back
to their private owners was made with
out hitch In preparation for the
event. the railroad administration some
time ago began a gradual relinquish-
ment of control. permitting, among
other things, the presidents { the com
Ianles, who previously had been linn
tied to management of corporate af-
fairs, to resume direction of the op-
Grating end of their systems. Thus, in
most cases, the men who took over the
properties to-day were actually the
same as those who were running the
railroads week ago.
Owing to the fact that the new egis-
lation was undergoing notifications
and changes up to the very moment of
its final passage by Congress last
week, the interstate Commerce Com
mission, which is to administer the law,
was not in position to-day to announce
a definite program. The commission
was in session endeavoring to outline
its preliminary course, but it is expect
cd that it will be some days before any
definite announcement of policy may be
Forthcoming.
Adjustment Boards Discussed
OF immediate concern is the task of
carrying out the Presidents promise to
the railroad workers to organize at
once the labor adjustment boards, the
personnel of which is to be made up
of groups representing, respectively,
the railroads, the workers and the pub
lie. Practically all of to-day was taken
up by the commissioners with the prob
lem of devising regulations under
which these boards are to be selected.
In the mean time, both the railroads
and the brotherhoods have taken under
consideration the Presidents sugges-
hot ~
to meet informally in ali effort to ad-
just their differences by direct nego-
tiation. The railroad executives are
understood already to have selected
the men to represent them in such ne
gotiations, although their names have
not yet been announced The brother
hoods still are debating the question.
Preliminary to the task that falls
uron the commission of establishing
new rates to enable the railroads TO
earn the guaranteed return of 5ls
sued circular to carriers, notifying
them formally of the fact that the
administrative functions of the rail
road administration, such as retained
in the present law, were now to be
exercised by the commission, includ-
ing the power to fix rates. Also the
commission called attention to the
fact that any schedule filed by the
roads providing for changes in rates,
effective on a date subsequent to
February 20, if not suspended by the
commission, will become effective, ex-
cept such as may reduce the charges
for service and as to which the COM
missions approval has not been OBJ
tanned.
Must File New Tariffs
Under the new law the railroads
will be required within the next few
months to file their new tariffs. Owing
to the fact that the physical valuation
Of the roads, begun by the commission
six years ago, has not been completed,
it is probable that pending the com
pletion of this work. the basis to be
used will be the book values, minus
cevtain items already determined to be
allowable.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion also is expected soon. in CO.
operation with the liouidating Of
ficers of the railroad administration,
to work out plan for meeting the