The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-20

Pennsylvania Road Is O
Carpet Today for Rule
Violations.
LACK OF POWER
HAMPERS BOARD
Hopes to End Threats Of
Walkout and of Wage.
Cuts.


railroad brotherhood chiefs are on
their way here for Thursday,S con
ference at which the Railway Labor
Board, backed by President Hard
ing. will endeavOr to open the door
marked this way out" for the
threatened railroad strike. with
ten days before them before the
date set for a wsikoUt by the
brotherhoods. October 30. the com
missioners tonight appeared con
fident that the tieup viii be averted,
although they, regard the situatio.
as most critical
The conference, which will be
held at the boards rooms at
o'clock. will be informal and secret
with a view Of permitting everyone
present TO get anything OF his
chest he desires, without an eye TO
how it might look in print Thus
the chiefs can talk cold facts with
out bothering about propaganda.
Cites PennsyIvaBIa Road.
As a coincidence, the PennsyI-
vania road goes on the carpet be.
fore the board tomorrow morning.
II is cited 20 appear 20 answer TO
the complaint that IL has violated
one Of the boards decisions in fail
ing to call a new election for the
selection Of shop crafts represent
atives as instructed. II is the first
case OF its kind to come before the
board.
Whatever disposition the board
makes Of Il, the case brings IN in
bold rehef the missing teeth" in
the Esch -Cummins act. the lack OF
penalties and OF powers OF the
board TO enforce its own findings.
Under section IL all the board can
do is 20 determine whether viola
tions have occurred and then 70
make public its decision in such
manner as IL may determine
At Washington. the public
group" reports there are two dis
tinCt and opposing views as to how.
! IL a pinch came. a decision Of the
board might be enforced. and the
preponderant opinion is that the en-
forcement would have to come
through some other governmental
agency. This has been one Of the
chief questions considered in the
consultations between the public
| group" and the Department Of Jus
tice and other branches.
Conference TO Re Informal.
Tomorrow's conference with the
big FIVE brotherhood chiefs. Il
may be noted again is informal, and
not a hearing over the threat TO
walk out instead Of accepting. the
/ wage cut Of July J. Between a
/ threat and an actual strike some
I draw a wide distinction. others not
so wide. and the probability Is that
later on. IL the strike evaporates,
| the board will call in the brother
| hoods for a hearing on the strike
vote as a violation Of the boards
wage ruling. Before the cOntro-
I vtrsy is over, the administratiou is
/ determined that the board as
| governmental agency shall be re-
| spected, by both carriers and worlS-
ers.
Meanwhile a series Of labor CON
! ferences began here today which
will determine the final attitude of
all groups in the railroad situation
towards the strike call issued by
the brotherhoods for October 81.
The Conference Committee OF 100 os
the sixteen standard unions Of the
railway employees department of
the American Federation Of Lab1r
began assembling for a conference
to start tomorrow. II expects 20
formulate a policy by Friday night.
Urges Freight Rate Cut.
The chairmen Of the maintenance
Of way employees and railroad shop
laborers start a meeting tomorrow.
Railroad executives Of tho Cen
trail division meet here Friday 20
discuss all phases OF the situation,
Reduction OF freight rates. {"
absorb some or most Of the wage
reduction of July l. is the basic
suggestion in the program with
to avert a tie-up Briefly outlined
the policy which the administration
is backing strongly is:
The workers to withdraw strike
action; the carriers TO pull back
their avowal that they will seek
another 10 per cent wage cut; re-
duction OF freight rates TO absorb
most Of the $500. .OOO. 900, potential
saving effected by the July ! wage
slash.
Fear Effect on Morale.
In Washiniton all indications are
; reduction in rates s on the wing.
Following hearings now in prog
ress. the Interstate Commerce Com
mission is expected shortly TO an
nounce cuts in rates on lumber.
grain. hay, vegetables.
The Association OF Railway Ex-
ecutives announced that it's mem-
bers "deplore the disturbance &c
the morale OF their organization In
volved in threats Of strike, far
more than they fear the results 90
an attempt TO carry out such
threats" In a statement given out
by Thomas Dewitt Cuyler at New
York. the association said that road
managenents -deprecste the neces-
sity Of reducing wages" and are
mot seeking TO place the whole
burden Of the present situation on
labor"