Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-09
Join in Asking Harding to
Call a Conference to Dis
CusS the Railroad Prob
lem Now in Dispute.
CONGRESS MAY PROBE
RAILWAY SITUATION
Cummins Says He Will In
troduce a Resolution Next
Week Authorizing a Thor
ough Investigation.
(By The Associated Press1

W ashlngtOn, April 3. -
The National Association of
Owners of Railroad Securi-
ties joined today with five
railroad labor unions in pro-
posing that President Hard
ing call a conference of rep
resentatives of both owners
and employees to discuss the
railroad problem, particular
ly as it affects wages and
working conditions, now in
dispute before the railroad
labor board.
S. Davis Warfield, president of
the association, and Darwin +.
Kingsley, president of the New
York Life Insurance company, con-
fcrred for an hour with the presi-
dtnt on the general transportation
situation and suggested the con-
ference as one Of the means for
adjusting the difficulties the roads
face. The request from the unions
from B. NJ. Jewell, head OF the rail-
way employees department of the
American Federation of Labor.
Inquiry Is Planned.
Coincident with the conference
at the White House and the receipt
of tho telegram, Chairman Cum
minis, of tho senate interstate com"
merCe committee, announced he
had drafted resolution for intro
duction next week, authorizing o
general and exhaustive investiga-
tion of railroad affairs. He plans
to begin the inquiry about April is.
Means for bringing about Il reduc-
ton in rates, operating costs ana
the question of efficiency under
private ownership will be the prin-
Cipal angles to be gone into. Rail
managers will be heard first and
labor representatives will follow
Covered Wide Field"
No Comment on the conference
| today was made at the White
! House, but after the meeting a
memorandum left with the presl'
dent by the representatives of the
securities owners was made public
by them, saying the conference
covered a wide field"
After suggesting that properly
called meetings between the men
and those representing the rail-
roads be held under the auspices oi
| the existing governmental agencies
the labor board and the Inter-
state Commerce commission" the
memorandum said:
I'VE are on record that wage ad
justment Is only part OF the prob
lens" and expressed the view that
this should be attained under
circumstances carrying assurances
to railway workers that whatever
may be brought about is reasonablJ
and just"
Object to Wage Gut Alone.
at occurs to us" the statement
continued, that IL is not an un,
reasonable position on tho part OF
those representing the men that
deficiencies in revenue should moi
| be met by wage reductions alone
IunacCompanied by evidences of the
| definite intention to bring about
obligatory general economies"
The securities owners. it wa!
added. felt assured that in cases II
which an agreement cannot be
reached with an individual railroad
management. the. employees would
! enter into immediate discussion o
their differences by regional board!
equally divided, formed by each o
the four groups of railways as nov
arranged by the commerce com
mission for rate making purposes
/ Procedure of this character, 1t wa
said. is encouraged by the Esch
I Cummins act and would avoid end
less bearings and clogging of tn
dockcts of the labor board.
! Want Settlement Delayed.
The telegram to the presiden
! from the labor unions proposed
that all wage disputes be held II
Allowance pending the conference
settlement of the question Of rules
1t included twelve points whiol
were described as "labor's sell
evident and inalienable rights
which would have to be settled a
the suggested conference. 1t fur
ther specified that the nationa
agreement should not be discount
ed in any way pending the OUT
come of the conference. Tn
twelve points included the eight
hour day, collective bargaining AM
pay for overtime work,