Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-24
WASHINGTON AWAITS
NEXT MOVE IN STRIKE:
Leave All Direc, Dealings
With Railroad Labor
Board.


INK attitude towards the impending
railroad strike still prevailed IN Of
iiciai circles today, and no modifca-
ton OF the indicated intention Of the
administration to leave ali direct
conduct OF dealings with II Ia the
Railroad Labor BOARD was observab BILE
The cut ordered by The Interstate
Commerce Commission in Western
grain rates remained the only salient
move OF the government in the rail
road situation sine" the strike call
Calculations upon this. prepared
for the Association OF Hallway Ex-
ccutives. indicated that the freight
decrra.e given Western shippers
would make n difference OF . cents
bushcl on average Shipment of
wheat between producing districts
ana primary 'narGct centcrs.
What the future course or the In
tcrState Commerce Commission to-
wards freight rate reductions. which
are considered directly involved in
the labor situation. would he official
observers were not disposed 10 pre-
dict notwithstanding. Their" were
indications that an early decision
might tie reached by the commission
upon the second demand for extern
stv. rate reductions before it. that
carried in the petition nlcd in be-
half Of hardwood lumber producers
and manufacturers.
ident OF the Order OF Railway Con-
huctors. aud w. :. Carter. president
Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Firemen and Engincmen. 7. c.
Eashcn. president OF the Switch,nen'S
Union OF North America. the other
member Of the big five" is expected
!" arrive here tomorrow aud at
tend future conferences OF tho chiefs.
Tho establishment OF open shop
conditions on the fremont and Guii
Railroad and the strike at noon
yesterday OF trainmcn on the Inter
national and Great Northern Rail-
road were under discussion at today's
conference. but none OF the chiefs
would comment on the situation on
those roads President Lee, however.
stated that he had received reports
from his general chairman on the
International and Great Northern
that practically 100 per cent of the
traininen had quit the service.
One of the subordinate leaders
however. said that IL IL is correctly
reported that the men on the TIE
mont and Gulf Railroad have ac-
cepted opcn-shop conditions il is due
ia the fact that they are few in
Number and have little hope OF their
resistance being successful They
intimated that the fremont and
Gulf situation will he brought Ia
the attention Of the Railroad Labor
Board when it meets IN Chicago
Wednesday,.
1t was learned that the chiefs have
received kilograms from large
number of the general chairmcn of
the five organizations reporting that
they had been cited by the RAILROAD
l,abor board TO appear before that
body in Chicago Wednesday, With
the approximately soc general chair
men. the five chief executives OF
the brotherhoods with their vice
presidents and other grand officers.
together with the goo railroad cx-
ecutives. IL was said tina, approx
mately 1000 officials of the unions
and cf the railroads have been cited
10 appear.
President Sheppard. of the conduc-
tors. commenting today on the action
Of the shop crafts in voting against
joining the strike. said:
II do not construe their action to
Ne break with the hrotherhoods.
They are probably reserving to them
selves the right to take action in
the matter in their own way and
pursuing their own tactics"
President Lee. Of the trainmen, to-
day issued statement on the HUI
man side" of the railroad wage uucs-
ton. III part as follows:
III is TO be wondered whether the
public really understands the railway
wage reduction question. There are
more through freight brakeinen in
the United states than there are al
togethcr train and yard service en-
r!oyes combined. and This class Of
service and the passenger train en-
.l..x
wages paid.
~ through freight brakeman is
paid at present s4.4s for an eight
hour day or at the rate Of sc cents
an hour. If the proposed wage cut
is made effective he will receive 81
cents an hour or Si.OS Il day. Pas
senEcr service employees receive 9
cents an hour more than this and To-
| cal freight and yard men receive Il
slightly higher rate.
This means that the bulk OF the
train service employees receive APP
prOXimately S27 week for six
i, day week. and whatever is carucd
| above that amount is through extra
service. The service is paid for on
"A mileage basis. but not on an eight
hour basis except for freight runs
that are within 100 miles. Overtime
is not paid on a strictly eighth hour
basis. except in yard service and on
| runs up to 100 miles.
The low paid train and yard en-
| ploycs have to meet the same high
cost of living that the public must
meet. They are asking only fair SER
| vice conditions and Il fair days pay
Tho railroads do not toll the
whole truth of daily wages paid
when they quote higher amounts OF
wages earned, because they do not
say they represent time and extra
| time.
There is an abiding faith in tn,
fairness Of the American people when
| they understand tho truth OF the
/ Siiuatlan. and what bag herc hx.ax