The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-01
PRESIDENT IS
STUDYING THE
Rail PROBLEM
Holding Conferences with Ex-
perts i'm Effort to Get
Information.
SOLUTION TO DISPUTE
SUGGESTED BY WORKERS
Ask That a Meeting Between
Railroad Executives and
Union Heads Be Held. ~-~
(gv The Associated Press. J

WASHINGTON, March 31.APresident
Harding began his diagnosis of the
railroad situation today by consultation
with the two government agencies that
have kept closest watch over the pulse
of the nations transportation system
during the after-war period of readjust-
ment.
For more than two hours the presi-
dent was closeted with E. E. Clark,
chairman of the interstate commerce
commission, and R. NJ Barton, chair
man of the railroad labor board, in a
conference designed to provide precise
data on every angle of the railroad prob
lem. The executive asked not only for
information, but for frank opinions of
how serious the condition of the car
riers really Is and what remedies can
be applied with greatest promise of re.
suits.
Other conferences, at which railroad
managers and employees can present di-
rectly their recommendations are ex-
pected to follow, but it was said at the
white house tonight that definite dates
for these consultations had not teen
fixed. Decision was deferred on the ap-
peal of the railroad employees department
of American Federation of Labor, an
nounced at Chicago for a joint meeting
of railroad executives and railroad
workers, white house officials declining
10 COI1fuSHL unlll the leQeTdIlOH I6Ie-
gram was officially before the prssi-
dent. Details of the, ceaf lsence between
Mr.. Harding and the two chairmen we're
not revealed, but it was Indicated that
there was no disposition to attempt a
decision on any specific subject 1t was
said the president was holding his mind
open until he had gathered all available
information and had canvassed the best
opinion of those familiar with condi-
tions.
The information laid before the chief
executive is understood to have included
detailed figures on the recent earnings
of the carriers, whose executives have
painted black picture of the prospect
unless government relief IS given. At
the same time the conference had be-
fore it the petitions of shippers for
lower freight rates to permit them to
compete with foreign goods in American
markets and the pleas of the railroad
employees against any reduction in
wages.
One feature said to have been given
particular attention was the relation of
freight schedules to volume of traffic
Some railroad executives have expressed
the opinion that present rates are so
high as to curtail traffic and really re-
duce earnings while others have taken
an opposite view. In that connection
the president was told the recent re-
ductions in rates on feeder cattle in the
south and alfalfa in the northwest and
middle west had been followed by a
large increase in the amount of those
commodities shipped.
In the background of these considera-
tions was the question of possible gov
ernment Ownerships, although there
was no Indication that it was seriously
discussed, The administration has
heard suggestions, however, that unless
some remedy is found soon, the gov
ernment may have to shoulder the bur
den of railroad management indirectly
Continued on Page Two)