Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-15

matters. I shall employ the influence of
the executive to get the railroad COM
panies and the railroad employees to
join promptly in the creation of a trib
nnal to take up these problems and carry
them TO conclusion.
Will at Once Compile Data
Il shall ut once constitute commit
tee of experts to take the data already
available in the various records of the
nlted States railroad administration
including the records of the Lane COM
mission and of the board of railroad
wages and working conditions, and to
analyze the same so as TO develop in
the shortest possible time the facts
bearing upon just and reasonable ba-
sis of railroad employees. with due re-
gard to all factors reasonably bear
ing upon the problem and specifically TO
the factors of the average of wages paid
for similar of analogous labor for othe.
industries in this country. the cost of
living. and a fair living wage. so as
to get the problem in shape for the ear
liest possible disposition. The views Of
their board will serve is a guide to me
in carrying out the assurance l gave to
the employees last summer that | would
use the full influence of the executive
to see that justice was done them and
will / believe, be a means of avoiding
what might otherwise be Il long drawn
out investigation of facts and to avoid
any delay in doing so, I shall, never
theless. invite the cooperation of the
railroad corporations and believe they
will appreciate that it is to their in-
terest, as well as TO the public interest,".
TO get these matters promptly settled"
Wilson Urges End of Delay.
Mr.. Wilson said he recognized the
necessity for disposing Of the prob
lens without further delay. but asked
the continued cooperation of the unions
and requested them to use their influ-
enee in obtaining recall Of the strike
order issued by the maintenance work
ars. He said notwithstanding that
corrective factors were at work" In
the cost of living. these int
portant wage matters ought to be post
,oned for further indefinite periods and
ought to be disposed of on their merits
at the earliest practicable time"
The readjustments of living costs
could not come with rapidits. Mr.. Viii
son explained. but added his belief that
efforts TO force prices down were hay-
ng beneficial effect"
Unions object to Delay.
The union answer to this proposal
was reiteration Of their previous state
ment. demanding immediate relief. They
urged that the president not require
them to await the creation of tribunal
by legislation. They warn that they did
not believe the railroad employees would
be willing to accept any plan which con-
templated delay.
"It is our earnest conviction the en-
ployes' letter said. that the situation
us urging that you promptly
indicate to railroad labor that you Will
create by agreement spec,a! tribunal
to deal with this specific and important
problem.
with a full reaiization Of cur respon-
however, we have decided TO
submit to our constituencies the advisa-
bilitv Of the creation of a special JOINT
composed of an equal num-
ber of representatives selected By. the
railroad companies and the railroad labor
organizations signatory to this agree
ment and invested with full authority to
deal with the particular controversy on
1 Continued on Page Two.