Omaha daily bee., 1920-07-20
While Awaiting Official Report
Early This Morning Rail
Union Chiefs Consider Action
If Increases Unsatisfactory.
INVESTIGATION STARTED
TO FIND STOLEN COPY
Heads of Four Brotherhoods
Hope to Delay General Strike
Be Taken on Question.


Cummins transportation act, will
hand down at $50 a. m. tomorrow
its first award, increasing the pay of
virtually all the 100000 railway
employees.
Tonight reports from reliable
quarters indicated the award would
average from so to 90 per cent Of the
amount asked by the man. or be-
tween $500000,000 and $600,000000
of the billion dollar total they
sought.
Judge R. NJ. Barton, chairman,
admitted that is not far Off" when
shown the report.
Whether an award on the basis re-
ported would be acceptable to the
men, no union officer tonight was
prepared to say. Nearly 1000 broth
crhood chairmen and executives as
sembled today to discuss union af-
fair and adjourned until tomorrow.
A feeling of pessimism was evil
dent when union leaders met and
privately they did not hesitate to
declare general strike was a posi-
bil;ty. Tonight, however, it was vir-
tlally certain that the union chiefs
themselves would not call a strike,
but would submit the question &C
ccpting or rejecting the boards
award to a referendum.
Copy of Award Stolen.
The labor board today began in
vcstigating the looting of its offices
last night, when some one broke in
and stole among other things a copy
of the award. Two copies had been
prepared, one for the boards files
and the other for the printer. 1t was
the former which was stolen.
The printed decision covers twenty
pages. making about 5000 words.
While an air of doubt hung over
the railroad situation here it was an
nounced from Philadelphia that the
Pennsylvania railroad planned a 10
per cent reduction in its working
force this week The roads an
nouncement said that in the western
region between 1000 and 10000
workers would be laid off.
]. G. Rodgers, vice president of
the northwestern region at Chicago,
said that the reduction applied only
to the eastern region, but that a re-
duction in this territory was under
consideration.
From the office of the southwest
ern region in St. Louis it was learned
no reduction in working force was
contemplated.
The reports from Chicago that the
railroad organizations probably
would reject the proposed award,
affected Wall street, active trans
portation shares averaging one point
decline.
All Are In Conference.
The most closely watched con-
ference of rail leaders today was that
of the Big Five" group, compris-
ing the brotherhood of railway fire
men, conductors, trainmen and
switchmen.
Representatives of the six feder-
ated crafts, including the black
smiths, boilermakers, carpenters and
electricians also were in session,
while leaders of the maintenance en-
ployes, clerks, freight handlers and
laborers met in several conferences.
There is nothing to be said yet"
said w. S. Stone. grand chief OF the
enginemen. 1--WE are here to re-
ceive the awards of the railroad wage
board tomorrow. None of us know
what the award will be. We are
talking things over today"
Immediately after announcement
of the award tomorrow the grand
council of the brotherhoods will be
called. 1t will be the first session
in more than a year. Sixteen groups
OF rail workers will be represented.
They will act upon the award, Sec
ton by section.
At the general meeting of union
heads today, at which Peter Kill
duff, chairman of the engineers un-
ion on the Rock Island system was
selected chairman credentials OF all
union employees were carefully ex-
amined before they were allowed to
enter. Secrecy shrouded the meet.
ing.
Compromise Unacceptable.
The only union leaders here who
we're outspoken concerning the sit
uaton was S. f. Heberling, presi-
dent of the switchmen's union, OF
North America. He declared the
unions were not bound to accept the
awards. Asserting that he should
not like to see a general strike call
ed" he said that with the switchmen
asking a 90 per cent increase" COM
promise would hardly be accept
able"
IF the award is not sufficient to
assure us decent living, we will
take concerted action" he said
While the recognized brotherhood
chiefs were in session another
group representing the new rail
unions organized during the rail
strikes in April met under the
leadership of John Grunau, prcsi-
dent of the Chicago Yardmen's as
8 sociation, to formulate plans of
their own. They have asked that
their seniority rights be restored,
but the board refused their repre-.
and it was understood
that the awards would not touch
on their status.
1--WE are not ready to say at this
time Just what we will do" said
John Grunau. "But l don't believe