Evening star., 1921-10-15
Calls Meeting of
I.C.C. and Wage
Board.
WHOLE QUESTION
TO BE TAKEN UP
Says Step Is Part of
General Move After
Conference.

active leadership in the governments
effort to settle differences between
the railroads and their employees, and
designated as the best available agen-
cies to avert serious labor compilca-
tions the public group of the Railroad
Labor Board and the membership OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Takes Up Whole Issue.
The President brought together the
three public representatives on the
wage board and the full membership
of the commission in a meeting to
consider not only the threatened nation
wide strike. but the whole question of
a readjustment of railroad rates and
wages.
The three wage board members,
Chairman Barton. G. Wallace w.
Hanger and Ben w. Hooper. came to
Wa shington at the Presidents urgent
request and went with him to the
offices of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, where all the members
of the commission were waiting.
Part Of General Effort.
ference for fifteen minutes and then
returned to the White House. where
statement was issued. declaring his
move was part of a general effort at
realig nment Of the railroad situation.
"The purpose of the meeting, sand
the White House statement. was a
broad consideration of the possibility
of an early adjustment of railroad
rates and wages. in the expectation
that il would contribute to the indus
trial revival
No Mention of Strike.
No specific mention of the threaten
although it was indicated that the
situation precipitated by the virtual
decision of the employees unions had
, brought Mr.. Harding's plan to a
head. 1t was assumed that the str:&e
proposal formed the principal topic
! of discussion at the conference:
! The statement issued at the Whltt
| House outlined the Presidents belief
| that the public group of the wage
board and the members of the com
mission could do most for the pub
lie welfare if they worked in CO.
operation. 1t also emphasized the
opinion held in administration quar-
ters .r,t readjustment of the whole
rail sIuation would be of the great
est possible aid.
Authorised to Deal.
After setting forth the purpose OF
todays conference. the statement
"The Railway Labor Board, created
by the Cummins- Escil act, comprises
nine members in three groups OF
three each. The public group are
named by the President; the labor
group are named from list nomi-
mated by the railway labor organiZa-
tions, and the managing group from
! a list of nominees named by the rail-
way executives. The board is author
lied generally to deal with the labor
wage and working conditions that
concern the employees of the railways
and is given. in some directions, rath-
or broad powers.
Hopes for Important Results.
"In asking the members of the
public group to meet him the President
was moved by the desire to accomplish
what he hopes may be important re-
suits as early as possible. Recogniz-
, ing that the labor group and also the
managing group are In the nature OF
things partisans of the respective ele-
ments which they represent, the
President felt that it was unneces-
sary to invite these two groups. be-
cause their attitudes would neces-
sarily be partisan in any considera-
ton of wage questions. The labor
group could be expected to advocate
maintenance of the highest possible
wages, while the managing group
could equally be expected to insist
that wages ought to be reduced. ii
was, therefore, the Presidents opin-
ion that the most prompt and ef-
fective results might be secured by
simply calling in the public group
which is concerned equally with the
Interests of labor. of management. OF
shippers and of the general COM
munity.
Wants Definite Understanding.
"The President has been impressed
that a somewhat anomalous situation
surrounds the relations of the Inter
state Commerce Commission and the
Railway Labor Board. The Interstate
Commerce Commission has very large
powers. through its control of rates
| to determine what the revenues OF
the railroads should be, while the
Railway Labor Board, through its au.
thority in the matter of wage deter
mination. has a very large power In
determining the largest item of rail.
lway expenditures. The Presiden,
was. therefore, impressed with the
desirability of getting these two high
ly potential bodies together and
reaching something like a definite un-
derstanding between them. 1t is q
fact not entirely without interest that
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