Evening star., 1920-02-11
HOPE Of SETTLING
RAILWAY DEMANDS
INCREASED TODAY
Situation materially Clears
Following Conference of
Last Night.
new SET OF DEMANDS
MAY GET REPLY LATER
Committee of Ten Arrives in Wash
ington From Detroit-Members
Refuse to Talk.

AS a result of a conference last night
between officials of the United States
Railroad Administration and the De-
partment of Justice. it was said today
that the situation arising from de-
mands of more than 100000 railway
workers had materially cleared" and
that the chances for an adequate set
tierent of the problem were extreme
1y hopeful"
A new set of demands, which Di-
rector General Hines received from
the railroad brotherhood chiefs. will
probably be replied to late today by
Mr.. Hines. The railroad administrator
was busy working on his reply today.
He will make answer to the demands
of the railroad men on his own re-
sponsibility and from the standpoint
of the railroad administration. and
then make his report to the President,
it was said at the White House. Mr..
Wilson will then approve or disap-
prove the decision.
New Departure Not Explained.
Heretofore the President generally
has passed upon wage decisions be-
fore the railroad Administrators an
swer was given to the union repre-
sentatives. No reason was cited for
the departure from the usual custom
in this case. Mr.. Hines has held a
long conference with Secretary Tum-
ulty, who has submitted memoran-
dunn on the subject to the President.
D Conferences between Mr.. Hines and
brotherhood officers were to have been
resumed this morning. but at the ap-
pointed hour neither side was ready
to go ahead and the meeting was
postponed until $40 o'clock.
What the answer of the Director
General to the demands of the rail-
road men may be was not indicated
at the railroad administration. OFF,
cials declared that representations
from other government heads have
been made to Mr.. Hines urging him
not to waver in his stand on the Ques-
ton of wages.
C0mmfttee Arrives From Detroit.
The committee of ten. representing
the Brotherhood of Maintenance ,of
Way Employees and Shop Laborers, a
strike of which has been called for
February II. arrived here from De-
troit early today. Members OF the
convention, Of the organization at De-
troit. Immediately went into confer
Of the union. I'D 4ts csbss fsprss ]
BenldtlVeS IN Ine wage ne&0tloIlOn8
with Director General Hines.
None of the committee would dis
cuss the calling of the strike, or, for
that matter, any phase Of the wage
controversy. They were expected to
attend the general conference Of the
union officials with Mr.. Hines later
in the day. Railroad administration
officials said that thus far they had
not been asked by the maintenance
of way employees for a private meet
ing with Mr.. Hines on the proposed
strike
w. G. Lee Presses Demands.
w. G. Lee. president of the train
men, continued to press the demands
of his organization. which has served
thirty-day notice. effective February
%. of abrogation of the existing wage
contract and has taken strike vote,
said to be largely in favor of cessa-
tion of work il the demands are not
met.
While the other three brotherhoods
are not supporting the trainmen "ag-
gressively," a strike by one union, it
is pointed out. would affect traffic Sc
riously. as the laws of most states
forbid operation of trains without full
crews.
May Strike February II.
The maintenance of way employees also
have served notice of strike February
II unless they are given more money
Railroad administration officials, said
the union was violating its contract in
not giving thirty days notice
The high cost of living problem likely
will be injected anew into the confer
ence. The union men claim that their
membership is becoming restless in view
OF the alleged failure of the government
10 take the imitation out Of prices.