Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-07
REFUSES TO take Up
RAILROAD DISPUTE
Declines to Investigate Bank
ruptcy Claim of Ex-
ecutives
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Will Not Submit to Congrcss-Holds
Interference unwise-Railroad Ex-
ccutires Pleased.

Washington, Feb. President
Wilson yesterday refused the request
CT railroad labor union representa-
tlves that he investigate railroad ex-
ecutives' claims before the Railroad
Labor Board that the carriers must
adjust wages CT 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 rrions and to the As
sociation of Rai.way Executives, who
also had sent communication to the
White House.
Confidence was expressed by the
President that I'll 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 Com
merce Commissi,r. He accordingly
informed the labor and carrier rep
resentatives that he was submitting
copies of telecrans received from
them to these two bodies as "the
only action deemed necessary"
The Presidents telegram read as
follows: ,.
N have carefully considered the
several telegrans addressed to me
dealing with the labor questions and
railroad management now under con-
sideration by the Railroad Labor
Board in Chicago.
The Transportation act approved
February %, 1920, to a greater ex-
tent than any previous legislation,
places all questions dealing with
finances and railroad management
and necessary ,ates under the juris-
t'iction Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, hence all questions in
volving the expense of operation, the
necessities of the railroads and the
amount of money necessary to Sc
cure the successful operation thereof,
are now under lie jurisdiction Of the
commission. a: the same time, thc
act placed all Questions of dispute be-.
tween carriers and their employees
md subordinate officials under the
jurisdiction Of the Railroad Labor
Board, n..w sitting in Chicago.
''This board is composed Of three
members, constituting the labor
group, representing the employees
and subordinate officials Of the car
riers; three members constituting the
public group, representing the public.
So far as I am advised the board may
be relied on to give careful and m
telligent consideration to all questions
within it's jurisdiction. To seek to IN
fuence either Ct these bodies upon
anything which has been placed with
in their jurisdiction by Congress
would be unwisa and open to grave
objection.
'It would De manifestly unwise tor
Inc, therefore, to take any action
which would interfere with the or
,serly procedure of the Interstate
Commerce Commission or Of The
Railroad Labor board; and all the
matters mentioned in your. telegram
are within the jurisdiction of one o.
the other Of these bodies. and IN eae'r
action I think we may repose enslee
confidence.
In view of the foregoing. It does
rot seem wise to comply with your
suggestion thar the matter be SID
m;tted to the Congress, and the only
action deemed necessary is to submit
copies of the telegraIns received IRON,
YOU and from the Representatives OF
the railroad executives to the Inter
state Commerce Commission and to
the Railroad i.sbor Board for such
aetion as these bodies may deem wise
IN the premises; this will be done
The telegram was addressed J. F
Anderson, vice president of the In
ternationaI association Of Machin's;s
Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, chairman o
the Association of Railway Exesu
t:yes, and E. T. Cradle, grand prsss
dent of the Ur.;ted Brotherhood G
Maintenance Employees and Raiiwa,
Shop Laborers. =.