The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-22
tentative AGREEMENT
SAID TO BE REACHED IN
CONTROVERSY ON WAGE
Salary Cuts to Stand, but
8-Hour Day and Arbi-
traitor Conceded.

Washington, March 22.-An
agreement between the five big
meat packers and their EN-.
plOyes, through which present
wage and other disputes will
be amicably adjusted, was fore
cast today . short time before
. second joint conference OF
spOkesmen for both sides with
Secretary Davis at the labor
department.
Secretary Davis told the cab.
met ut the regular session that
good progress toward . settle.
ment had been made, and from
other sources It was learned
that the negotiations had nd.
vanced 50 far that the further
attendance Of Secretaries H00v.
er and Wallace 1t the confer.
encos was not regarded ~
necessary.
1t was said that both sides
had tentatively agreed to . set.
tlement at private conferences
with Secretary Davis Last last
night and early today and that
all that remained was to bring
them together on the final terms
at the Joint conference late to.
day.
As the cabinet assembled to.
day to consider the controversy
between the packers and their
employees, there were reports
that . tentative agreement was
being approached
One plan being considered
was that the wage reduction
which went into effect yester-
day, should stand; that the
packers agree to extend the
Alschuler agreement providing
for settlement Uf differences by
a permanent arbitrator, and
that the S-hOur day be agreed
upon, subject to peculiar con.
ditions obtaining in the pack
ing industry.
Parties to the conferences re.
fused to discuss the reports.
Resume Conferences.
Representatives of the five |
packing firms and Of their uni
employees, will resume their &C
ferences late today with Secreta
Davis, who. with the assistance
Secretaries Hoover and Wallace,
endeavoring to settle by mediati,
the dispute arising from the wa
cut and alteration of working &C
ditions recently announced by
packers.
There had been no indication
day of the progress made at the i
tial conference yesterday, the p;
ticipants observing a request
Secretary Davis that they make
statements regarding the status
the discussions. Decision to h
conferences only in the afternoo
beginning today, was taken to
dicate that Secretary Davis desil
opportunity to bring to the att
tion of President Harding and me
bers of the cabinet the current
yelOpments in the situation.
Before Cabinet
The conference this morning |
lowed one last night at which S
retaries Davis, Hoover and Wall:
heard further arguments by
spokesmen for the packers. La
concilliators of the department
labor were called in by the cabi
officers. but only Secretary Da
met today with the union offici;
The utmost secrecy has surrou
ed the meetings thus far, but
controversy is understood to :
tie largely around the warti
agreement as to wages and wo
ing conditions which the emplo
claim the packers now seek
break by proposing a reduction
wages from 12hz to Is per cent. :
employees say the agreement was
be effective for one year after
war ended, while the contention
the packers is reported to be
the war actually has ended and
agreement therefore, no longer
effect.
MIR. Davis took much data rega
ing the controversy to the cabi
meeting.