Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-26
CONFERENCE OPENS.
TODAY TO PREVENT
STRIKE OF. WORKERS.
Carriers to Stand Pat on
Plan to Seek New Paw
Reductions.
MUST CUT EXPENSES
TO GIVE LOWER RATES
brotherhood Chiefs Gather
in Chicago at Call of
u. S. Board.
SEE HOPE For HATING WALI<oIT
iuirs ana Working Conditions MuSt
he Settled First. Hoard
Announces.
MUST CUT EXPENSES
TO GIVE LOWER RATES
SEE HOPE For HATING wALkour
ituirs and Working Conditions Must
he Settled First, Hoard
Announces.
lny Associated rrcssl

CHICAGO. Oct -. - The United
States Labor Board today turned
10 the railroads In ~ attempt to
avert tho rail strike scheduled for
october 30 Suggesting tina, the roads
temporarily postpone seeking further
wage rcdmc,Ious before the boards
u"rkei. wi,'c;. w.,.S 80 crowded. a wage
decision could not be rendered before
-, III! ~. The carriers, however. in
formed the board that they were
|owcrlcss 10 take any other position
'han TIA. present one.
ln' "a formal statement the bcurd
Informed the carriers that IL would
not consider any petitions for wage
"Gts until the questions OF rules and
working conditions. now before IL,
were fully settled. The board then
unofiicialiy let the carriers know. il,
was learned. that sipcc a ruling on
wages could not he handed down be-
TOR. July. 1872. 1t would like the
roads formally to announce postpone
imcnt OF their plans to seek further
ipay cuts. taking the attitude that
such an announcement might avert a
waikout
Carriers 4" stand Pnt.
The committee Of the Association ui
hallway Executives, which conferred
with the board. announced. however
that the carriers would stand pat on
their plans TO seek new pay cu,., on
the ground that wages must u. rc-
,duccd before freight rates could be
lowered, nnd that sine" the strih"
Was called technically in protest OF
wage cuts already authorized by the
board, there was no necessity Ipr the
roads To take other than an inactive
part in the strike controversy be-
between the board and the unions.
In its communication to the roads
>thc board declared that If both sides
would consider the DELAY necessary
before wages again could be reduced
they would realize that there was no
cause for Immediate strife between
them over this point,
The unions. not taking into con-
sidcration this delay. were crossing
bridges before coming to them when
they called Il strike, the boards
statement said.
I.3OO StilI Unsettled.
board during it's eighteen months cx-
istchcc. 1900 still are unsettled. the
statement said. adding that proper
cooperation between the unions and
the roads would have prevented many
OF them coming to the board
The boards statement, members
said, was issued tonight, the eve of
tho strike hearing TO determine if
tho transportation act is being vio-
lated by the unions in their strike
plans. in the hope that il would re-
! suit in representatives OF one side
or the other voluntarily Offering
some plan To clear up the crisis.
The board itself has no definite plan,
ii was said. and will try in the hear
ing merely to bring out'all the facts
in the case.
a formal statement issued by the
executives committee declared that
the carriers were powerlcss to take
any other position than that of seek
ri&ns further wage cuts.
"Railroad executives are not aware
OF any present dispute between them
and their employees" said the state
ment in part. 'rhc strike vote was
taken solely against a decision OF
the Labor Board reducing wages by
- per cent last July.
Would Deprecatc n Strike.
The railroads have determined to
seek to reduce rates and as n means
TO that end to further reduce wages.
But the carriers have expressly de-
cidcd to proceed in accordance with
the law.
THE railroads wish il expressly
that they would deprecate
II strike, bue that their first obliga-
sion is to tho public to render
adequate service at reasonable
rates -.
'The issue is very clear. II pres
ent wages are continued. rates can
not be lowered. If rates are to be
reduced. present wages cannot be
paid. The railroads are powerIcss TO
Z take any other position"
The boards statement TO the car
f'trs was drawn by Ben Hooper, vice
= chairman Of the board and member
(, OF the public group.
Steamed oysters. fried oysters. Ho-
tel Rueger,-AdY.