Evening star., 1921-10-21
Employees Leaders
Are Summoned
to Appear.
HINT VIOLATION
OF WAGE ORDERS
Federal Departments
Ready to Act in
Case of Refusal.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 2l.-The
United States Railroad Labor
Board, at 1:l5 this afternoon,
passed a resolution citing the
big four" brotherhoods, the
.witchmen's union and all rail.
roads named in the wage reduc-
tion order of July I to appear be-
fore the board next Wednesday,
October rs, at 10 am.
They were cited to appear that
the board may determine whether
they have or are violating the
wage reduction order.
The board also said that in SO
far as the threatened strike is the
result of a dispute between the
carriers and their employees con-
cerning wages, rules and working
conditions "this board hereby as
sumes jurisdiction of said dispute
on the statutory ground that It
is likely substantially to interrupt
commerce"
The boards action virtually
means that there will be no
strike October 80, unless the
unions should choose to openly
defy the government, for it is
hardly probable that a decision
will be rendered by the board
before that date.
Should the unions refuse to
abide by the boards order, it has
been pointed out, the board will.
under the law, issue q statement
to the public to that effect. and
the President and his advisers
can then proceed to take such
action as they consider neces-
sary.
While the transportation act
gives the board no power to en-
force its decisions, it is UNDER
stood that last weeks confer
ences between President Hard
ing, members of the board, At
torney General Daugherty, Sec
retary of War Weeks and the In
tersfate Commerce Commission
placed all the departments of
government in accord as to what
shall be done if either side
moves in open defiance Of the
isbor board.
Whether to resory to the wal
powers of the federal government te
maintain railway transportation in
event of the threatened nationwide
strike of railroad workers is under
stood to have been under considera-
ton today by the administration.
After the regular cabinet meeting
Al became known that some members
of the Presidents official family had
him to use the wartime au-
thority to prevent the threatened
strike from seriously interfering with
the transportation of necessarles. The
provision authorizing the President
to take such steps is part OF the
national defense act, which continues
in force until there has been for
NAL proclamation of peace.
List of Volunteers Prepared.
At the same time it was learned
that officials urging that course had
gone SO far as to draw up lists OF
men on whom the government could
rall in emergency to keep enough
trains running to supply such ar
Iicles as food and fuel wherever they
are needed.
1t was not indicated that a definite
decision had been reached. however
md most of the evidence tended to-
ward a continuance of the waitiaa z
attitude adopted by President Hard
ing while the negotiations betweeE
he Railroad Labor Board and union
officials are in progress and while the
interstate Commerce Commission is
putting into form its new rulings On
freight rate schedules.
War Department Control
should the war powers be invoked
It is expected that the War Depart
ment would be called on to perform
most of the duties thus imposed upor
the government. The degree of con-
troll which would be exercised over
the roads would depend on the de.
mands Of the situation and nigh,
reach the proportion Of direct govern
mental operation.
Personnel data showing the occupa.
ton of every man in the service is g
part Of the permanent record Of the
War Department. and Is understood
to show that a large number would
be available from that source to give
attention to the task OF
operation.
Invocation of the wartime au-
.hority would be expected to follow
,nly In case the union leaders disre-
gard an official notice on the part o1
he Railroad Labor Board and bring
IN a strike of such proportions that
he railway companies themselves
could not keep the centers OF popu-
lation properly supplied with the
Of life.
UNABLE TO HALT STRIKE.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, October 21.-Lack Of any
provision by the unions for suspend
ng the railroad strike called for Oc-
lober 80 made It impossible to accept
he plan offered by the United States
Railroad Labor Board yesterday. II
vas said today in union circles.
The strike authorizations provide
,nly for ending the strike. presuma-
,ly after a settlement which, union
eaders have maintained. must in
'olve more than the question Of the
July wage reduction on which the
'trike was technically called.
The board. 1t was said. presented
hree proposals to the presidents of
he big four brotherhoods and the
Union, They were:
l. The railroads make a reduction
n freight rates corresponding to the
' age reduction of July l, less such
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