The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-17
MAY STRIKE
BECAUSE OF
ROADS ACT
Continued from First Page.)

(ConLlnued from First Hdse.J
ed that at least four big carriers
will follow suit Immediately.
The New Yoyk Central is al
ready letting out considerable of
its repair work to private con-
tractors and companies, it was
learned. Over $500 cars are now
being repaired for this road by out
side shops.
Result of Plan.
The action of the Erie, and the
contemplated action of many other
carriers, is the result of a long
considered plan of several general
offices here. H. E. Miller, vice
president of the Santa Fe, said that
his road had considered the move
and decided against it. B. B. Greer,
operating vice president of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and St Paul, said
he could make no statement on the
subject.
Union leaders are irate over the
Fries move, which they consider a
plan to defeat the purposes of the
railroad labor board and the trans
portation act.
The action of the Erie only af-
fects the shopmen, but we will take
it up while in our conference here"
said Timothy Shea, assistant presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen. What action we
will take, cannot say"
Leaders of the big four" and the
switchmen's union of North Amer
lea today continued their confer
ence with western railroad Off
Gals over the wage and working
rules questions.
The unions are asking the west
ern executives to put wages back
where they we're June 80, 1921; 10
stop asking for the abolition of
time and a half overtime; and to
not ask the railroad board for any
further reductions in wages.
Wait ON Board.
Eyes of the entire railroad were
turned towards Chicago today in
anticipation of the decision of the
railroad board on the overtime
question and the provisions of the
new working rules.
This decision is considered of
most vital Importance in both union
and executive headquarters.
There is a growing tendency on
all railroads to let out their repair
work now done in their own shops.
and the maintenance of way work"
said Samuel o. Dunn, editor of the
Railway Age and spokesman for
the American Association of Rail-
wav Executives. This is not done
to defeat the transportation act, but
in the interests of economy. If
contractors can hire laborers at Csc
an hour and we have to pay them
S5c an hour through the rulings of
the labor board, it is economy to do
so and the transportation act di-
reefs the roads to run their syS-
TENS economically"
On the decision of the labor
board rests the question of wheth-
er there will. be a general strike OF
railway employees of the four big
brotherhoods, it is thought.
Washington, Aug. 17.-United
Press - Passenger fares and
freight rates will have to be IL
creased throughout the entire Unit
ed States If railroads are permitted
to follow the leads of the Erie rail-
road in selling it's repair shops to
private interests, Secretary Davi-
son of the International Assod&h-
ton of Machinists Union said here
today.
Repair of locomotives and cars
in private shops is three times as
as when done by the
roads themselves and means the
wasting of millions annually, Davi-
son charged.
Attacks Erie's Act.
Washington, Aug. 17.-(Unitel
Press. THE direct charge that the
Erie railroad has formed a ficti-
tious corporation to take over It's
shops at Marion, Ohio, for the pur-
nose of evading the labor provisions
of the Esch-Cummins law, was
made today by Representative Hud-
dleston, Alabama
During a session of the house in
terstate commerce commission OF
the railroad bill, Huddleston said
many railroads were openly dis
obeying the law and orders of the |
railroad labor board.
During the discussion of the bill |
Senator Kellogg said that Eugene |
NJ. Meyer, director general of the
war finance corporation, is endeav- |
bring to interest big financiers in |
the formation of a syndicate to take |
over the financing of the railroads. /.
kellogg said it was a tremendous |
undertaking. but if successful would |