The New York herald., 1921-10-19
CHICAGO MEETING WILL GIVE LABOR BOARD FIRST REAL TEST


might initiate movement for a gen.
cral reduction in freight rates to cor
respond with the 1914 per cent. wage
reduction decreed by the Railroad
Labor Board last July.
While the railroad executives have
stated they could not stand to be
crippled financially in this manner
unless they receive another wage re-
duction, it is believed a move of
This sort might tend toward an
smicaLle arrangement.
the railroad executives have an
noluccd their intention Of asking the
poarc or further wage reduction of
" per cent, but no such. request has
rcachel the board yet, and it is not
Icing onsidered officially in the situa-
uan II was stated at the White
Fnuse that tho Erie Railroad had de-
plea lie report from Chicago that it
nao cut the wages or it's maintenance
Of way employees from 371a cents an
hour 80 cents without consulting
the n..rd.
Pennsy Cited by Board.
Under the law II action of this sort
is taken without the board being con-
suited the board is required to cite
the railroad for this failure. Such ac
ton already has been taken in one
cas- against the Pennsylvania Rail
soa6
ne President did not direct the La
boz Board to invite the brotherhood
1his s to the conference on Thursday
in Chicago, but that action has his
fill approval. He expects the board
$50 to call in the railroad executives
IA i' attempt to perform it's functions.
II was suggested from an outside
sol,e to-day that the boards invita-
tscn to this conference was the first
step in Administration interference"
in situation. 1t was at once made
clear at the White House that such
was not the case at all, but that it was
board is futile agency.
The President has not been asked
by any one connected with the con-
troversy to interfere, and. as hereto
fore pointed out. is not moving in that
direction.
The President had been informed
previously that the threat of a strike
was due to the request Of the railroad
executives for further wage reduc-
ton of 10 per cent, but in allowing it
to become known that such a request
has not been made officially to the
board there twas a possible inference
that it might be STAYED Off to save the
situation.
However, the brotherhood leaders in
Chicago declared recently that their
men had voted to strike. not against
the proposed further wage cut, but
against the 12h per cent. reduction
ordered by the board last July. ali Of
which further complicates the situa-
ton and makes the boards task more
difficult.
Daughcrty Looking Up Law.
Acknowledgement Daugherty has
been consulted concerning the law IN
volved in the procedure under the
transportation act and the power of
the board to compel adherence to this
law. including the possibility Of man.
damus action to force compliance. He
is also making a thorough study OF
the conspiracy statutes and other laws
by which the public might be pro-
tected In case of strike.
"The consideration of the Depart
ment OF Justice is first and all the
time for the public" said Mr.. Daugh-
erty. THE public is our CLIENT
Although as a matter OF policy TO
announcement has been made by the
War Department of the fact it is UT
derstood that steps have been taken 10
make survey of the country TO get the
names Of officers and enlisted m an
who have had experience In railroad
operation and construction so that
they may be called out to keep mail
trains moving IL the strike should
come II the army could mobilize the
men who we're engaged in army rail-
road operation during the war in 'he
A. T.. r. tens of thousands would be
available.
Postmaster General Hays said this
afternoon that he had no more Official
statements to make regarding the in
tentions of the Post Office Department
In case Of walkout. but he reiterated
his former declaration that the mails
would be kept moving.
RAILWAY FEDERATION