The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1921-10-22
RATES
BASIS FOR THE
RAIL SETTLEMENT
PRESIDENT is CALM
Brotherhood Chiefs and the
Rail Presidents Must Wait
Upon the Announcement bv
the Interstate Commerce
Commission for its Revision
of Freight Rates.
(By David Lawrence).
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily


Washington, Oct. 21.-Notwith
standing the apparent inability of the
U. S. Railroad Board and the broth
erhoOd chiefs to reach an agreement
in Chicago. few, if any. persons in
the Harding Administration expect a
strike
Perhaps it is the fact that more
than a week must elapse before the
strike order goes into effect which
keeps official Washington from grow
ing excited over the railroad situa-
ton. But the outward calm which has
from the start characterized the atti-
tude of the Administration remains
dence in the ultimate solution of the
problem without a strike.
Broadly speaking, there are some
moves in process which affect the con-
tentions of both sides in the con-
troversy The Government is waiting
too. to see the effect of those develop
ment, appears to be this:
First, a reduction of freight rates
more drastic than any made thus far.
Second. further conferences imme-
diately afterwards with the union
! chiefs with a request that they with
draw their strike order
Third. a request that the railway
executives simultaneously withdraw
their petition for second wage cut.
| Fourth, an order from the Railroad
Labor Board that the railway en-
ployees accept the first wage cut OF
July 1st and resume work.
Such program would maintain
(; the status quo, at least, but with the
! additional benefits to- the public OF
the U. S. Railroad Board which is by
J no means a rapid moving body would
/ take its time in investigating the
effect of the lower freight rates on
ultimately be prepared to say wheth
er a second wage cut would be desir
able
| One thing seems assured-there
will be no grant of a End wage cut by
/ the U. S. Railroad Board at this time
AS soon as leaders of the railway EN-
ployees become convinced of this
they probably will suspend thei
strike order. The return of the chiefs
to Cleveland is not looked upon her.
as necessarily meaning an end OF tn
NEGOTIATIONS. It was hardly expected
that the first conference would lea'
to settlement There is the posi-
: bility, too, that the railway chlef
:; will wait until the last minute be
J fore announcing their attitude. The
t have everything to gain sad yer
little to lose by holding their card
: in hand until the government and tn
railway executives have played theirs
!, The Government plays it's first car
by declaring a reduction in freigh
rates within a few days. There is
report current that the date OF tn
announcement is next Tuesday, DC
t25th.
: When once the rates have been n
}, duced, the government will be in
!. position to approach the railway III
ion chiefs with definite proposition
Heretofore, the union leaders ha'
always said they would not take mel
s promise of reduction IN 1relgi
t rates into account but would belleN
t. it when the Interstate Commer'
5 Commission really acted. The bell
s here is that the psychological enc
l. of the lower freight rates will
3 widespread and that it will nave u
il result at least of persuading the RAJ
J. way uninos to accept the first wal
;e cut of July 1st which, the brothe
A. hood chiefs say, was made upon Il
(Continued on Page 81