Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-10-19
The Outcome of Negotia-
tons Now Under Way
Will Determine If a "Fu-
tile Agency" Was Created
FREIGHT RATE CUT is
y FER CONSIDERATION
$S/nnent Has Completed
lgS,5 Defensive Plans and
g Watching Developments
EIn Strike Situation.
(By The Associated Press J

fthreatened railroad strike was re-
cognized in high official circles
today as having developed into the
first real test of the practicability
of the railroad labor board. The
outcome of the negotiations now in
progress, it was declared, would
Idetermine whether an entirely
futile" agency has been created.
Prominent in the defense put
forward by labor leaders in every
controversy in the past, it was
pointed out, was the plea that there
was no legally constituted body be-
fore which they could lay their
grievances, or to whose impartial
judgment they could submit petit
tons for relief. With the labor
board expressly created to fill the
sap, assurance was given today
that it would be permitted to have
a free hand in its efforts to meet
the initial test provided by the
disagreement of the railroads and
! their employees over wage sched-
tiles and working conditions.
Centercd In Chicago.
With practically every active ef-
fort toward averting the walkout
scheduled to begin October 30 CEN
tered in Chicago, the government
today had completed its defensive
plans and was watching develop
ments.
While authoritative information
still was lacking IS to the basis on |
which the labor board was pro-
ceeding, the impression was given |
that it involved some features, at |
least, Of the suggestion put forward |
| by the public members of the |
board Sunday as "one feasible |
PLAN for preventing a tie-up.
The probability that officia!
saiEtion would be given the pro-
posal that the July wage reduction |
be offset Immediately by propor- |
tionate freight rate decreases was
discussed in official circles. In
case this was adopted as the gov
ernments compromise plan, the |
test of the railroad boards au-
thority would arise Immediately,
it was pointed out in the question
of its acceptance by either or both
of the parties to the controversy.
apart from the suggestion of
the public group official, intima-
ton was given that freight rate
reduction was being considered.
There was no indication as to the
factors on which such a rate revis-
ion would be formulated, or how
soon a decision by the proper gov
ernmental agencies could be eX-
pected.
Governments Backs Board.
1t was indicated that the entire
support of the government would
be given the labor board in its eff
forts to reach a settlement and that
other government agencies would
he instructed to cooperate actively.
\, ith respect to his conference
with the public group members
here yesterday, Attorney General
Daugherty said he had gone over
with them every angle of the law
under which the board operates
and had examined into legal argu-
ments and court decisions cover
ing various conspiracy cases.
Whether this reference had any I
thing to do with the possible use of {
the Injunction, he declined to say
he declared. however, that the de- ;
partment of justice expected to {
silence on phases Of the ;
strike until called on for action, [
adding that if that time should
come the governments legal branch
would be ready. Ii
The department Is concerned {
with rights of the public to I
the transportation facilities, Mr.. S
said, adding that the
claims of each side would be given t
He held, however, {
that the keeping open of the traffic ,
lines was paramount. i
Officials Are Silent. e
White House officials declined i
again to discuss the possibility of c
the brotherhood chiefs being called a
here by the president. The presi-
dent was understood to feel that q
the labor board should go ahead !
on whatever plan was worked out \
and that he would deal with the t
question of talking witt. the union Il
heads when developments should {
make It apparent such move was a
necessary or advisable. t
Reports that the acton of the S
abor board in summoning the
brotherhood leaders to the Chicago Il
was result of the con- b
'erence at the White House prior to n
heir departure for Chicago, lacked $
0