Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-21
n DEFINITE RESULTS FROM RAIL-
 ROAD CONFERENCE IN Cg'CAGO

threatened railroad strike was more pre- nounced today. Several cabinet nena- bers expressed, confidence that the
 cooling off period. which has inter- vened since the strike call, had served
 to lessen the danger of a national tie-
 up.
 | Administration officials when in l formed of the termination of the con ference at Chicago between the railroad 1 labor board and the union chiefs to-
 night declined to make any comment,
 preferring. it was explained to await | a full report of the proceedings before
 making any decision.
 | One of the definite developments of l the day, however, was the announce
 ment that preparations had been com pleted for the co-ordliIation under the
 commerce department of plans for the
 transportation of essentials should the
 strike ge Into effect
 After g conference at ths White
 House between President Hartling, Chairman McChord of the interstate
 commerce comnigsion, and Acting At torney General Golf, the decided impress
 sion was given that an order could be
 expected soon from the commission put
 ting into effect a reduction in freight
 rates.
 The only published plan for averting
 the strike Is the suggestion of the pub
 lie group of the railroad labor board.
 which hinged upon a rate reduction pro-
 portionate to the July reduction in rail- road wages. The other feature of this suggestion eT1lbodies the withdrawal of the strike order, a question which was regarded as the logical subject before
 the conference in Chicago between the broth erhood chiefs and the labor board
 Secretary Hoover in announcing that the department of commerce was pre- pared to serve as a foca; point for ef- forts of state and municipal govern ments to aSsure the movement of food fuel and other primary commodities ir
 event Of the strike. indicated that mo- | tor truck and water transportation
 would be used to supplement any DOT. ton of the railroads left in operation Traffic experts have computed that through the proper use of motor equip. q lnent the average American city car draw subsistence from contin g1ious ter | ritory within radius of fifty miles Un d der this plan, It was said, community j would not feel the effects of nationa s strike before several weeks had passed
 Instead of in 9 few days as would hay, h been the case ten years ago
 e Reports to the department indicate It that large industries generally hav 8 been busy for some time assembling re
 serve stocks of fuel and raw material IT This preparation would permit the de g partment's relief work, it was pointe IT out. 10 be >centered in behalf of tAos l. industries which had been unable tc > take similar precaution and would linni Q the danger of industrial shut downs le The tvo eases before the interstat t commerce commission. involving peti g tions for rate reductions are that c 4 western agricultura' interests who hay St urged elimination of all war time ir le creases on grain, hay and feed and tha B. of dealers in hardware and forest pro
 ducts operating through territory eas le of Arkansas. for material decreases i l. rates on lumber. Developments toda le strengthened the impression that th to administration would not move strik Id situation until the railroad labor boar or had been given proper opportunity rs function. Mt was reiterated that tn on administration was behind the boar, sy and would end full support to it's pr, he gram now in process of formation.