Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-05-25
PUBLIC Warned
OF RATE BOOST
noad Executive Points Out to
Labor Arbiters Result of En-
plOyeeS' Demands.
PEOPLE MUST PAY FREIGHT
Problem of BiIIion-DoIlar-Pay Increase
Up for Final Hearing of Wage
Board in Session at Head
quarters in Chicago.

Chicago, May 19.-Wage increases
Of more than $1,000 100000 to railroad
employees, with an advance of % per
rent to the public in the cost of freight
transportation service, were forecast
a the first meeting of the United
States railway board, now in perma-
nent headquarters at Chicago.
The roads already are asking for a
% per cent raise in freight rates to
take care of the wage Increases al
ready granted. spokesman for the
re- IS declared They will need an
Oturr 30 per cent raise to grant the
additional wage demands Of the rail
workers, the board was informed
\ statement of the railroads side 0
the problem was made by f. T. Whit
er. chairman of the conference com
mittee of the Association of Railwa'
Executives.
The entire board, appointed Apri
IL by President Wilson, was present
The members are: Henry Hunt
George w. Hangar and r. NJ Barton
representing the public; Horace Bak
er, J. Fl. Elliott and William l.. Park
for the railroads, and Albert Phillips
A. o. Wharton and James J. For
roster, for the employees.
Washington. May 19.-Railway and
public service commissions in every
state were called to the aid of the in
terState commission and the railroad,
to break the freight blockade.
The commission telegraphed the
state agencies asking them to cooper
ate fully and to use all means in THEN
power to alleviate conditions in their
states.
The commission announced definite
iy that it did not contemplate holding
hearings upon the appeal of the rail
roads for the government to use its
emergency powers under the trans
p0rtatiOn act.
Members of the commission me.
with representatives of the railroad
20 discuss means of breaking tn
freight blockade. Officials declared
the problem was OF such magnitud.
that a solution might require NOR
time than at first anticipated. They
were hopeful, however, that today O
Wednesday would see a definite pre-
gram for the movement of the vast
volume of accumulated freight.
The railroads suggested several de
tails to the commission for inclusion
IN irS traffic plan. One of these was
a general scheme for the movement q
grain cars westward and coal cars east
ward to meet current requirements.
Cars for food and perishables. how
ever, would have full preference owe
aH others under the railroad mems
plan.
Meanwhile. more trouble for the
railroads doomed in reports to til,
commission ana the car service com
mittee of the railroads. Several lines
hitherto able to keep their tracks reia
lively clear, were reported as smooth
cred under the avalanche of freight.
Chief among these was the WheeI
ing aud Lake Erie. Numerous ShO
lines were said To have felt the req
tiOn of the congestion violently with
IN the last few days Advance pre-
cautions by the short lines. however
have STAYED off tieup for them soy
eral DAYS, but its effect is now being
felt. and only local shipments are
moving, according to late advices.
The great need mt the moment is t
clear the tracks of noneSSential ship
mentS and open the way for the fire
movement of the necessities of life.
So great is the traffic congestion, &C
COrdfng to reports and complaint
from many quarters, that there Is i'm
mediate danger of Wholesale clOsin.
Of big Industrial plants and the COZ
scQUent cut in production
Should the commission find, on tn,
strength of reports laid before it b
the railway executives. that the emer
gcucy justifies It. orders taking owe
virtually complete control of the move
ment of freight may be issued.
The first step would be the iSSuanc,
of priority orders for shipment of coal
for which there is crying need at man,
points, food and periShablcS. The us
of cars would be limited To these cor
modjtieS. hut railroad men said the,
were more concerned with The prob
lem of moving and unloading upWar,
of 3OO.OOa cars that have caused III
congestion.
The process of currailing paSsenge
service has been considered by tn
roads to expedite freight movement
hut officials said this would be dor
only as Il last resort.
Guests at Imperial Jap Palace.
Nav