Evening journal., 1921-10-17
GOVERNMENT TO
KEEP nations
RAILROADSOPEN
contlnued frorn FIrsi PaEs.

1NMAlnNtu lANIN EHot "r"-
yet framed no program OF action.
Whether the government would
seize the roads In case the strike
call is not rescinded and the walk
out begins. no prominent official
would say.
Il was stated authoritatively. how
ever. that governmental operation OF
the railroads will not be resorted 10
until all other efforts TO avert the
threatened strike and keep the
transportation lines open have failed.
Authority to operate the roads IN
case Of a grave emergency Is given
the President by the Esch-Cummins
law. but Il was indicated that under
present plans the Administration
would not use this authority under
any circumstances until an actual
tie-up comes. Seizure and operation
Of the roads is tremendous task,
which the Government Is loath to
/ assume. remembering the costly
wartime experience.
Omciais believe many steps 10
avert the strike can be tried before
/ the time set for the actual walk-out
October 80. Despite statements OF
union leaders. the feeling undoubt-
edly pervades ofnciai Washington
that a large percentage Of the rail
workers will not obey the strike call
President Harding, Il was learned,
! Is considering calling a conference
of rail executives and union leaders
here this week. Decision regarding
this conference may be reached to-
day
The railroad executives. officials
believe. hold the key that will avert
the strike. They must agree O a
rate reduction before attempting 20
obtain any more wage cuts.
Wages have been cut once since
the war peak period while there
has been no general drop In rates
This view was reflected by the
public group OF the Railroad Labor
Board In statement here raid 10
have been approved by President
J Harding The President II wa.
, learned. is amazed that the railroad
executives should demand another
wage reduction before agreeing "a
. decreased rates. lie is said to have
received assurances from item thai
they would accept rae cuts hrst In
conferences here last week.
The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion Is poweriess 20 make rate rc
auctions because OF the guaranty
provisions Of the Esch-Cummlns law
g which require that rates must b'
> kept on. level that Will yield th'
p roads six per cent The present yiel'
b Is about that.
: Thus. the administrator hop
2 for averting the strike Is that tn
- roads make temporary sacrifice j
% earnings and accept rate rcductiols
before asking wage cuts.
sl From President Harding down. OF
}. hcials were trying to devise practices
means Of
il l. Preventing altogether tn
o strike. OF
e p. Making such preparations tina
e the general public and the goverr
= ment shall suffer as little as possib
as result OF the strike.
q Harding had two sets OF exper
at work gathering Information ,
, the basis OF proposals which he ma
make to the railroads and their en-
u ployes. These proposals. n mad
will be OF a nature TO obtain th
I. support Of American public opinio
" generally and this will be counte
on to force both the railroad oxect
. tlves and their employees to acceI
!, them.
r. Meanwhile. both sides had befoI
r. them proposals put forth last Nigh
by the public group" OF the Raj
e way Labor Board. in which the raj
e roads were urged TO make rate n
q. duction at once on the ground thi
,- wages have already been reduce
d once by the board. and before the
a are cut again rates should com
- down.