New-York tribune., 1920-03-03
Railway Unions
Agree to Wage
Arbitration
use tho inuuence Of the Executive to
see that Justice was done them.
Continued from page i


see that Justice was done them.
During the month Of February,
1870, the wage demands which we're
thus held in abeyance have been the
subject of renewed and careful con-
sideration by me. In communication to
representatives Of railroad employees
! expressed the opinion that, in view
OF the lapse of time during which the
matter had been held in abeyance my
judgment was that it ought not to be
postponed for further indefinite
period, but, on the contrary, ought to
be taken up and disposed of on it's
merits at the earliest practicable time,
and / also explained that such a mat
ter must be handled by an agency
which could continue to function after
March l, the date Of the termination of
Federal control, and statsd that, in the
law for machinery for dealing with
railroad wage matters, would prompt
~ use my influence to bring about the
earliest practicable organization Of the
machinery thus provided.
Hines to Arrange Conference
"Since the railroad companies have
now resumed the operation of their
properties and since the transportation
act has become law the way is open
for the immediate handling of the
wage matter in accordance with the
procedure contemplated by that law.
Il believe all will agree that the
matter calls for the earliest disposi-
tion and for the most active and ear
nest cooperation to avoid any delay
whatever in bringing it to conclu-
sion. Section 301 of the transportation
act conremplates that the carriers and
q N n ~
resentatives who will in effect consti-
tute bipartisan board for the purpose
Of attempting by conference to agree
upon solution Of wage problems sub
ject to other provisions of the law.
"ln view Of the generality Of these
demands, affecting the railroad en-
ployees on all the railroads which have
been under Federal control, and in view
of the manifest desirability and justice
Of the earliest possible disposition of
the demands, | request that the rail-
! road companies select such number Of
representatives as may seen appropri-
ate to them to conduct the conference
and negotiation contemplated by Sec
tion 301 to the end that such repre-
sentatives may promptly meet in con-
ference with representatives selected
by the employees in accordance with
the request l am making of them and
may thus initiate the necessary pro-
ceedings.
81 shall be obliged Il YOU will advise
the Director General of Railroads as
to the representatives selected as here
requested. AS soon as he receives such
advice and advice as to representatives
| selected by the employees he will ar
range for all such representatives to
begin their conferences, and at such
conferences questions of procedure can
be settled and any question that may
be raised as to whether the number Of
representatives of either the carriers
or employees is sufficient can also be
dealt with.
II understand that your association
represents almost ali the principal
railroad companies in the country and
am proceeding on the assumption
that whatever is done by the railroad
companies included in your associa-
tion will for practical purposes serve
as an effective and adequate dealing
| with the problem, and that other rail-
road companies, so far as they may
| be interested, will speedily associate
themselves with the companies Of
your association in carrying the mat
ter forward. l am therefore not un-
dertaking to address individually all
the railroad companies in the country.
II inclose copy of my letter of this
date to the executives Of the labor or
ganizations which have been pressing
their demands having general relation
to the railroad employees on the rail
roads which have been under Federal
control, and with which organizations
the Director General and l have been
in conference.
Sincerely yours.
Letter to Union Heads
The letter to the union heads fol-
lows:
Gentlemen: In my letter Of Febru-
ary % to the executives of labor or
CARNATIONS relative to the wage de-
mands which your organizations have
been pressing, said, referring to The
new transportation act:
"'The bill having now become :
law. the way is open for immediate
action on the wage matter in accord
ance with the terms of the bill. Sec
tion 801 Of the bill evidently contem-
plates that the carriers and employees
should, as suggested by you, select
representatives who will thus consti-
tute q bipartisan board for tho pur.
pose Of Attempting by conference to
J agree upon n aolution of this wa1e