New-York tribune., 1920-04-29

be named. Further action of the De-
partment of Justice will depend upon
the outcome of the negotiations.
Strike of the Marine Workers
"Thc Marine Workers Affiliation con-
tends that this strike grows out of the
transfer by the Erie Railroad Company
of certain of its floating equipment to
the Phoenix Transit Company. which
Immediately changed the hours and
wages of the men. They claim that
Charles Il. Stewart, who is president Of
the transit company. has until recently
been an employee of the Erie Railroad
Company and that the transfer is a
device by which Section 312 of the
transportation act of 1920 is being vio-
lated. The representatives Of the Erie
company deny this statement, and the
representatives of all the other carriers
affected by the strike state that, what
ever the facts may be as to the Erie
no such facts exist as to them.
"The carriers all agree that no effort
was made by the Marine Workers
Affiliation to settle the controversy
prior to the strike. Section 30l Of the
transportation act requires the en-
ployees and employers to undertake to
adjust any differences that may inter
rupt transportation. If they cannot do
so then appropriate boards are pro-
vided by law to consider such differ
resort to the legal and orderly proc
csses set up by the law to adjust the
differences. This they did not do and
therefore the strike cannot be justified.
"If the claims Of the men are true
they could have been presented to the
companies and thence to the board pro-
vided by law. The men, therefore, we
think, were not justified in this strike
and are not entitled to any relief eX-
cept that provided by the transporta-
ton act. When they return to work it
will be the duty of the Labor Board to
consider any complaint they make, and
manifestly that is the only course that
the Department of Justice can counte-
nance.
The Fish Handlers Boycott
"My time has not permitted a per-
sonal investigation Of the charge pre-
there is q combination on the part of
the truckmen and fish handlers to boy
colt fish caught and consigned by non
union fishermen. The department has,
however, a file on this subject and
further consideration will be given it.
"The outlaw railroad strike situation
seems to be improving steadily and l
do not think requires immediate atten-
tion further than possible punishment
for the violation of law"
Mr.. Ames added that passenger SER
wee on all the roads was about nor
NAL. Some classes Of freight, such as
foodstuffs, were also moving in and out
OF the city in normal quantities, while
there were large movements of other
kinds of freight "The railroads"
said he, "have the situation we'll under
control, having the full support of the !
regular railway brotherhoods."
Earlier in the day Mr.. Ames was
closeted with the general managers of
the various railroads, including E. A.
Rine, of the Lackawanna; w. j. Fripp,
Of the New York Central; Frederick
Le:pre, of the Pennsylvania, and John
Drogge, of the New Haven.
1. V. O'Connor, president of the In
.ernational Longshoremen's Associa-
lion; Anthony Chlopeck, vice-president, |
and five heads of as many locals of |
longshoremen, told the Investigators
that the coastwise dockmen would not
return to work until their demand for
more money was met.
The Public Service Electric Company
Of New Jersey, in a statement issued |
Yesterday, declared that the company
maX be forced to curtail it's power to !
industrial plants because of shortage |
Of coal resulting from the railroad
tie-up.
Acting on the authority of the Board
Of Commissioners Of Jersey City, po-
licemen were distributing petitions at
entrances to the Hudson tubes, pro-
testing against the increase in fare.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
will have a hearing on the matter this
at II East Thrty-sixth Street.
The Erie Railroad and the tacka-
wanna have announced their intention
to make an equitable adjustment with
their commuters on tickets unused