Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-12
Failing to Reach Agreement
With Representatives of
1000, 900 Railroad Employees
On Wages, Hines Sidesteps.
UNION LEADERS REQUEST
APPEAL TO WHITE HOUSE
Matter Will Be Put Before
Wilson Today, When He
Shall Determine Whether or
Not Increase Be Granted.

Washington, Feb. ll.--Failing to
reach an agreement with the repre-
of the more than 100000
employees on demands for
increased wages, Director General
Hines decided tonight to submit the
whole case to President Wilson for
decision.
The appeal to the president is to
be taken at the request of the union
leaders after they had conferred with
Mr., Hines for two hours late today.
and after he had Informed them
there was no hope of an agreement
under present conditions. Mr.. Hines
will send to the White House to-
the statements of the
unions together withShis own repre-
sentatons in the controversy.
The president thus is called on to
determine whether the government
will grant the increased wages or
transfer the wage demand contro-
versy to the corporations soon to
regain control of their properties.
INO TlIldl DISdh MCdIll.
Submission of the claims and ar
guments to the president, while tenn
porarlly ending the general negotia-
tons. does not mean a final break
railroad administration officials ex-
planned. Neither members of Mr..
Hines staff nor the union spokes-
men indicated that they felt that
deadlock had arrived, although the
discussions were ended. Regardless
of the presidents decision in the
matter, the difficulties could be
ironed out after return of the roads
through machinery likely to be set
I'D by pending legislation, it was ex-
plained.
Mr.. Hines refusal to grant A,e
employees demands apparently was
based entirely on the fact that fed
cral control soon will cease. The
director general was understood to
have kept this angle consistently be-
fore the union men together with
argument that it would be unfair to
the thousands of owners of railroad
stock to increase the expenditures
of their corporations when the gov.
ernment would be responsible for
the revenues obtained for so brief
period.
Statement of Hines.
Tn explanation of his action. Mr.
Hines issued the following state
ment:
"Since February 3 the director
general has had frequent confer
ences with the chief executives of
the railroad labor organizations for
the purpose of devising means for
wage increase. During these con-
terences the executives of the labor
organizations have expressed their
views with great ability and frank
ness. The director general has not
been able to agree with them as to
how the problem should be disposed
OF in view of the early termination
OF federal control and is now LAYING
before the president the representa-
TONS of the executives of the organ
izations and also his ssown report for
the purpose of obtaining the presi-
dents decision in the premises. Tn
any event. the conferences have been
decidedly helpful in bringing out a
clearer development as to the real
issues involved and as to the char
acter of evidence pertinent to those
issues and the discussion throughout
mas been characterized by courtesy
as well as candor and with sincere
purpose on the part of all to try to
ind solution"
Presents Data Early Today.
AT the White House late tonight
1t was said that Mr.. Hines woull
present the data in the controversy
to Secretary Tumulty tomorrow
morning and that it would be sent
to the president Immediately.
Submission of the matter to the
president was in accordance with
information given out earlier in the
day at the White House that after
decision in the matter, Mr..
Hines would report to the president.
While the director general was
said not to have made any final an
swer to the union leaders, his state
ment of disagreement with their
claims could be considered as a def
mite answer.
Living Cost Not Reduced.
In a statemen tonight Mr.. Lee
declared that the government had
not succeeded in reducing the cost
of living by the campaign begun last
aud hn th,rnFA-A 81 n
could no longer hold the demands
in abeyancc.
Il expect to get the written an
swer of the director general to the
tranmen's request at the next con
ference with him." said President
Lee. After which the special COM
mittec Of 20 officers and general
chairmen, authorized by the interna-
Continued on Pare Two. Colum. o..