Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-02-17
RAIL DEADLOCK IS
UP To PRESIDENT.
Director Hines and Union Men
Fail to Reach Agreement.
U. S. TO Reject INCREASES
Administration Expected to Give Out
Final Answer to Demands Today
Refusal % Be Based on Eco
nomic ImpossibiIity.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE railroad
crisis is in the hands of President VIII
son. The deadlock between Director
General Hines and representatives OF
the 100000 rail workers of the coun-
try has been reported TO the White
House, and upon the presidents deci-
sion rests the fate of the demands for
higher wages.
The increased pay sought for the
men by the brotherhOOds and the
American Federation OF Labor will not
be granted by the railroad administra-
ton.
The demands of the organizations,
pending for a year. will be denied by
Director General Hines, who has prom
Ised representatives of the workers to
give them a final answer today.
Refusal of the increases. it is said,
will be based upon the ground of eco
nomic impOssibIity that to increase
wages further would necessitate such
a large increase in rates, already in
commensurate with the>wage increases
granted by the railroad administration
under Mr.. McAdOO, that the cost of
living would Immediately take another
leap and the vicious cycle of mounting
wages and costs would be kept whirl-
ing along.
Government Cannot Yield.
No official announcements have come
either from the railroad administration
or the wage committee of the fourteen
railroad unions represented in the gen
pral demands. but from reliable sources
fhe information is obtained that the
answer of the government is, that there
can he no yielding at this time.
Strike threats. it is asserted, Will
make no difference in the situation.
For weeks Mr.. Hines has been
stormed by unofficial strike threats.
but he has been negotiating with the
railroad workers representatives
strictly on an economic basis, ana en-
deavOring to convince them by facts
and figures that the country cannot
stand the wage demands which the
men have insisted upon, nor any part
of them.
There will not even be any further
readiustment of wages. it is asserted.
the reimbursement in the opinion of the
railroad administration having been
taken care of in the orders issued last
summer, after the brOtherhOOds agreed
80 postpone action on their demands
until the government sought to de
crease the cost of living.
What will be the immediate effect
Of the governments course is problem
atical. The administration realizes
that the situation is a critical one and
that railroad strikes may result at
once. despite the fact that any such
strikes would be in violation of the
union agreements which require 30
day notice before men cease work.
Strike Not Formally Called.
No formal notices of any strikes
have been filed, not even by the 100000
maintenance of way men who have
been ordered to strike February II.
So serious is the situation regarded,
however, that Mr.. Hines has submit
ted n complete report TO President Will
son. mt whose request the railroad
workers deferred action last summer
Mr. Tumulty conferred with Director
Hines for three hours and reported to
the president. The president. it is he
lieved. will not veto the decision of
Mr. Hines. If he does not, the answer
nf the director general to the unions
will he n negative ono
It also transpired that Director Cen
eral Hines is considering legal steps
against threatening railroad strikes. 1t
is possible that an injunction may he
applied for before the United Brother
hood of Way Employees and Shop Is
h0rers puts its strike into effect nest
Saturday