The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-11-30
SITUATION
TO HEAD IN
FEW WEEKS
Tremendous Importance OF
Rulings to be Made
Tomorrow
HY JAMES L. KILGAIAEN
r~~asw rovrx<powprNr / N. SERVlCEl

tsTAPF CORRESPONDENT !. N. sER'lCEl
CHICAGO. Nov 3o.-The railroad
labor issue which few weeks back
almost precipitated a nation wloe
strike, is expected TO be orousnt
sharply to the front in the immediate
future.
Tomorrow the United states Rail
way Labor Board will make pubic its
lonx-awaited and tremendously i'm
oortant decision on working rules and
agreements effecting all class one
ratlrcads I'm the United states. This
decision. which the board has been
working on increasingly for months,
will contain more than 100 new rules
and will be q most comprehensive ana
Tar reaching document. It will be
revision OF the agreement negotiated
by the railway unions with the Federal
Railroad administration during the
war period.
Special significance IN given the IS
suanee OF the new working code at
this time, which Is earlier than antici-
pated. for two reasons:
1. II opens the way for a new
crisis IN the event the unions are not
satisfied with the revised regulations.
e. It paves the way for immediate
applications for wage reductions on
the part OF the railroads, move
fraught with dangerous possibilities.
While the strike set for month
ago was averted on the tacit under
standing that the question Of further
wage reductions would not come Up
for several months-untu after the
matter OF working rules was disposed
of-the board will now have no
alternative. Il is understood. than
consider such applications On the
roads might make.
Ths situation may come TO q head
within q few weeks IN the event that
beth the men and the roads are dis
satisfied with the decision which is
considered quite likely. 1t was point
ed out today that when thu board last
summer drafted only seven working
rules, both sides expressed dissatis
faction.
Tension Is regarded as almost cer-
tain to follow tonorrow's decision as
ths question OF working rules II con-
sidsrsd by the men fully as important.
II not more so. than the question OF
wares II will be recalled that OF
ths 100000 men involved In the call
For a strike October 2S last, 1,41e, ,663
declined to respond TO the summons
Of the big Five unions on the
ground they were more concerned in
the boards forthcoming decision on
working rules than they were in the
1914 per cent wage cut issue which
was then the basis for the strike call .
This majority faction constituted the
railway employees department of the
American Federation Of Labor-the
shop craft unions. 1t is tho shop
crafts that will be principally affected
by the boards new decision.
The questions overtime pay. Sunday
ray. ths piece work system and skill
~ men IN unskilled jobs are among
Ehs important matters expected to be
cowsrsd in the decision. The ques-
tions have been bitterly debated be-
fore tho board for months by repre-
sentaticns OF the roads and the men
Tho roads complained they arc beIns
puA 60 great and unnecessary expense
by fafiis union rules and restrictions
and asked for numerous changes dis
t&stsfui to labor sucn as Inaugural
eion Of tho piece work system. Labor
on the other hand. claimed IL was
lighting for the retention Of rcgula-
lions that represent enlightened public
opinion and the progress OF labor.
Any action taken by union officials
q was said today would be taken in
The light that brand new issue had
been created. There is no strike call
contingent on the decision rexardinp
new working rules pending.