The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-07
WILSON KEEPSOUT
OF RAIL SQUABBtt
President Refuses to Start on
Investigation
BEYOND HIS JURISDICTION

Refers issues in Dispute to Railroad
Labor Board and cemmere. Com.
mission
Washington, Feb. 7.-PtesideTt VII
son refused the request Of railroad lie
Dor union representatives shat he ,t
7estigate railroad executives claim
before the railroad labor hoard tbs:
the carriers must adjust wages o
face bankruptcy. He also dccl;nci T.
submit the matter to congress
The president set forth his ,os;tto;
on the appeals made to him In a ta.s
gram addressed Jointly 10 two of tb
railway labor unions and to the Asso
citation of Railway Executives. vh,c,
also had sent a communication 10 IN.
White House. -
Confidence was expressed 1.y =
president !liHt ali quHSt!o;!> -}cat.y
Will railroad labor and rlanaCa1a>,
might be left safely 70 thc two hndIe
entrusted under the TRANSPORTATION act
with such matttrs--the railroad Iats,,
board and the Interstate cocl!9c.,~
commission. he accordInsly infnc.,ic
The labor and carrie. REPRESENTATIVE.
that he vas submitting copies ~ t. l.
grams received from hem to these ~,
bodies as The only action 1, %,.ti.l
necessary" The presidents teicgrar
read rs follows:
Il have carefully considered the snv
nral tciegranLS addressed "a me .1caliac
Will The l%hor questions and railroad
man. cement now uAIdel. consideration
by the railroad labor board in Ch!ca-
go. The transportation act arnrovca
February 2S, 1920, tn 4 greater extent
than any previous legislation, places
all questions dealing with finances and
railroad management and necessary
rates under the jurisdiction Of the In
tel state commerce. commission. hence
all Questions involving thc expense OF
operation, and the amGIHt Of money
ra,',> Sary to secure the successful op.
cruii"U thereof, are now under the
jurisdiction Of the commission. At the
same time TIE oct placed i'll questions
Ci dispute between carriers ap't their
employees and subordinate officials un.
der he Jurisdiction Of the railroad Ia
hor heard, now sitting in Chicago. This
board IS composed of three members
constituting the labt. group, reDre$ent-
ing the employees md subordinate off.
Gals Of the carriers; three members
constituting the management gT1sHp.
representing the carriers, and three
members eohStitutins the public gfoun
representing the public. So far as ]
am advised. the board may he relied
on 10 give careful and intelligent con.
sidrration 10 all questions within its
jurisdiction. To seek to influence either
Of these bodies upon anything which
has been placed within their iurisdic,
ton Is congress would be unwtse and
open to grave objection.
ut would he manifestiy unwiSe for
me, therefore, ia take any action which
would interfere with the orderly pro
cedure Of the Interstate commerce com.
mission or Of the railroad labor board !:
and all the matters mentioned In your
telegram are within the Jurisdiction of
one or the other Of -hese bodies; and
in their action I think we may repoSc
entire confidence.
''In view of the foi egoing, 1t Goes nor
seem wise to comply with your SUI.
gestion that the matter be submitted
to the congress, and the only actor.
deemed necessary Is 10 submit co2iN,
of the telegramS received from You ms,
from the representatives of tt" rail
road executives to the Interstate CON
merce commission, and to the raIlioaf
labor board, for such action rs thoSe
bodies may deem wise in The premise
this will be done"
The railroad workers In their first
telegram, signed by the heads Of seven
unions. and transmitted through y, "
Jewell, president of the railroad en-
ployes' department If the American
Federation Of Labor, asked the fresi-
dent to investigate the carriers aSser
tion as made by W. w. AtterhurY, vice
president of the Pennsylvania Inns
before the railroad labor BOARD In Oh:
cago. Mr.. Atterbury lad declared TIN
the railroads OF the country must II"
permitted to readjust wages "r f8ce
the danger Of bankruptcy. The rn:or
heads asked the nresident 70 invest
gate this statement and il found :" v"
based OF facts, viii i tha uni"I. heads
said they doubted, t" ask c"nG,"@s$ 70
enact remedial legislation ar "'l""-