The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-07
WILSON DECLINES
 ID INTERFERE IN
 RAILROAD QUARREL
President In Telegrams to Ex- excutives and Labor Union, Declares It Would Be Un-
 wise to Suggest Further
By Associated Press

W dSHluE LOnr eDTudTy U.~-I cSiuGHt Wilson today refused the request of railroad labor union representatives that he investigate the rsil executives claims before the railroad labor board face bankruptcy. He also declined to submit the matter to Congress.
 The President set forth his position on the appeals made to him in a tele- gram addressed jointly to two of the railway labor unions and to the Asso ciation Of Railway executives, who also had sent communication to the White House.
 Confidence was expressed by the President that all questions dealing with railroad labor and management might be left safely to the two bodies entrusted under the transportation act with such matters--the railroad labor board and the interstate commerce commission. He accordingly informed the labor and carrier representatives that he was submitting copies of tele- grams received from them to these two bodies as the only action deemed necessary" The Presidents telegram read as follows:
 WILSON'S MESSAGE
 T have carefully considered the sew eral telegrams addressed to me dealing g with the labor questions and railroad management now under consideration by the railroad labor. board in Chicago.
 The transportation act approved Feoruary 2S, 1920. to greater extent than any previous Legislation. places all questions dealing with the finances and railroad management and neces- sary rates under the Jurisdiction of the interstate commerce commission hence all questions involving the expense of operation. the necessities of the rail- roads and the amount of money neces- sary to secure the successful operation thereof. are now under the Jurisdiction of the commission. At the same time, the act placed all questions of dispute between carriers and their employees end subordinate officials under the jur- lsdiction of the railroad labor board now sitting in Chicago.
 This board is composed of three members, constituting the labor group representing the employees and subords Y nate officials. cf th@ carrie three ffnenbess cokstEtutiifs tne naaNsEe,nerit group, representing the carriers, and three members constituting the public group representing the public. So far as I am advised, the board may be re- lied on to give careful and intelligent consiueration of all questions within its Jurisdiction. To seek to influence either or these bodies upon anything which has been placed within their jurisdic- ton by Congress would be unwise and open to grave objection.
 CNWISE PROCEDURE
 Tt would be manifestlv unwise fo, me therefore, to take any e.ction which would interfere with the orderly pro- cedure of the interstate commerce com mission or of the railroad labor board and all the matters mentioned in your telegram are within the jurisdiction ot one or the other of these bodiesa
 Tn view of the foregoing. it does not seem wise to comply with your suRges- ton that the matter be submitted to the Congress, and the only action deemed necessary is to submit copies O, the telegrams received from you and the representatives of the railroad ex. ecutives to the interstate commerce commission and the railroad labo, board for such action as 4hese bodies may deem wise in the premises This will be done"
 The telegram was addressed to J IF Anderson. vice president of the Inter. national Association of Machinists Thomas Dewitt Cuyler. chairman of tho Association of Railway Executives. and B. F. Grable. grand president of the United Brotherhood of Maintenance Employees and Railway Shop Laborers
 The reply of the President to two telegrams sent by the railroad labor unions and to one telegram addressed to him by the Association of Railway Executives is understood to have beer based on recommendations of Secretary of Interior Payne. who still acts as di- rector general of the railroad adminis- traitor. The telegrams were referred to Secretary Payne when received early last week. and his recommendations were forwarded to the White House Friday
 The railroad workers in their frs, telegram. signed by the heads of sever unions and transmitted through B. M Jewell. president of the railway em ployes' department of the American Federation of Labor. asked the Presi. dent to investigate the carriers asser. tions as made by W. W. At.erbury. vice president of the Pennsylvania lines. b, the railroad labor board in Chicago Mir. Atterbury had declared that the railroads of the country must be per mitted to readjust wages or face the danger of bankruptcy. The unior heads asked the President to investi- gate this statement. and 1T found to be based on facts, which the union heads said they doubted. to ask Congress ts enact remedial legislation at once
 The telegram from the union. heads brought forth communication from the Association of Railway Executives who charged that the union request was Plumb plan league propaganda.' , In second telegram the union heads denied this charge and declared there was no economic Justification for any wage readjustmen at the presen,