The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-07
DELAY REPLY
OF LABOR IN
RAIL HEARING
Another Postponement Of En-
ployes Repres entatives
Answer to Request for Alb
rogat:on of Agreements.
WILSON TO STAY OUT
lRy Associated Pressl

quest for immediate abrogation for
national agreements was granted to-
day by the United States railroad la
Dor board over the protest of railroad
executives. This is the second delay
granted at the employees request. The
board set Thursday, Feb. 10. to hear
labor representatives in rebuttal.
When W. W. Atterbury of the Amer
ican Association of Railway executives
apeared before the board last Monday,
he declared that unless the board
granted relief by abrogation of the ma
would be flooded for petitions for
wage reductions. B. M. Jewell, presi-
dent of the railway employees depart
ment of the American Federation of
Labor. sent a telegram of protest to
President Wilson and the board set
last Thursday for his rebuttal. A post
ponement was asked at that time and
the board set the hearing for today.
Intimations at that further delay
might be asked brought from After
bury on Saturday opposition against
further postponement. With the sec
ond postponement granted today no
comment was forthcoming from the
railroad committee which was expect
ed to proceed with the regular pro-
gram of evidence. f. T. Whittier, chair
man of the carriers committee has
been working steadily for four weeks
and was expected to conclude his pre-
sentation today. The general reply of
the employees will follow.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-President
Wilson today refused the request of
! railroad labor union representatives
to investigate railroad executives
claims before the railroad labor
board, that the carriers must adjust
wages or face bankruptcy. He also
| declined to submit the matter to con-
| greSs.
The president set forth his posi-
ton on the appeals made to him in
| telegram addressed jointly to two
! of the railway labor unions and the
| Association of Railway Executives,
who also had sent a communication
! to the White House.
| Confidence was expressed by the
president that all questions dealing
with railroad labor and management
might be, left safely to the two bod
les entrusted under the transporta-
tion act. with such matters-the rail
| IOdQ ldUOI EOdlu dliu lIlC lAtCi StdtC
commerce commission. He accord
| ingly informed the labor and car
rier representative that he was sub
mitting copies of kilograms received
, from them to these bodies as the
only action deemed necessary"
Considers Telegram.
| The presidents telegram read as
, follows:
Il have carefully considered the
several kilograms addressed to me,
/ dealing with the labor questions and
railroad management, now under con-
sideration by the railroad labor board
in Chicago.
"The transportation act approved
Feb. %, 1920, to greater extent than
any previous legislation. places all
questions dealing with finance and
railroad management and necessary
rates under the Jurisdiction of the
! interstate commerce commission,
hence all questions involving the ex-
penSes of operation, the necessities of
the railroads and the amount of mon
! ey necessary to secure the success
| full operation thereof. are now under
the jurisdiction of the commission.
At the same time, the act placed car
rers and their employees and subordi-
nate officials under the jurisdiction
of the railroad labor board, sitting
in Chicago. This boad is composed
of three members constituting the la
| tor group, representing the employees
and subordinate officials of the car
rier: three members constituting the
public group, representing the pub
! lie. So far as am advised the
board may be relied upon to give
careful and intelligent considera-
tion to all questions within it's jur-
isdiction To seek the influences
either of these bodies upon anything
! Jurisdiction by congress, would be
unwiSe and open to greece objection.
Hold Action Unwise.
ut would be manifestly unwise for
me. therefore, to take any action which
would interfere with the orderly pro-
! cedure of the interstate commerce
commission or of the railroad labor
! board, and all the matters mentioned
! in your telegram are within the juris
dction of one or the other of these
! bodies; and in their action | think we
may repOSe entire confidence.
| In view of the foregoing it does not
seem wise to comply with your sug
/ gestion that the matter be submitted
! to the congress, and the only action
! deemed necessary to submit copies OF
the kilograms received from you and
! from the representatives of the rail,
| road executive to the interstate com
merce commission and to the railroad
board for such action as these bodies
may deem wise in the premises; this
will be done
The telegram was addressed to J. F
Anderson, vice president of the Inter
national Association of Machinists;
| Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, chairman O
the Association of Railway Executive
and E. F. Cradle, grand president O
the United Brotherhood of Mainten
ance Employees and Railway ShoI
Laborers.
Based on Recommendations.
The reply of the president to two
kilograms sent by the railroad labor
unions and to one telegram addressed