The Washington herald., 1921-10-18
Harding Confers With
Chairmen of Labor
Board and I.C.C.
CUT IN FREIGHT
RATES is URGED
Both Labor and Employ
ers Are Blamed for
Deadlock.

Afte- a day OF government con-
ferences here. President Harding
was considering fast night a series
Of recommendations OF action in the
railroad strike crisis which are re-
! ported to include a reduction OF
freight rates to offset the wage re-
ductions against which the rail
unions are protesting.
That there will be an immediate
lowering Of transportation rates.
wheth the strike goes into effect
or is called off, is the conviction OF
many government officials in touch
with the situation. Il is for such a
reduction of the cost OF transpor-
tation that President Harding has
been working for months in the
belief that It would go far toward
reviving business.
Cabinet VIII Discuss Plan.
The recommendations made TO the
President by the chairmen Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
and the Railway Labor Board will
be discussed at the Cabinet meeting
today. after which it h expected
the President will be ready 10 an
nounce his attitude on the strike.
The members OF the Railway Labor
Board representing the public were
closeted with the members OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission
all yesterday afternoon in a dis
| cussion of the relation Of wage re-
ductions and transportation rate
decreases.
At the close Of the conference
Chairman Barton Of the Labor Board
| and Chairman McChord of the Com
/ merce Commission went to the
White House to lay the results VI
| their deliberations before Mr.. Hard
+! ing. They spent more than an
hour with the President for whose
benefit they reviewed the history OF
the wage reduction case and pre-
sented recomme ndations for the So
1 luton OF the problem
Hopes for Helpful Result
Anything bearing on the strike
| situation must come from the
| President" replied Chairman No
Chord when he emerged from the
/ White House with Chairman Bar
ton. we discussed every phase Of
the situation and we hope that
! something helpful will result Their
will be no further meetings with
the public group of the Labor Board
at this time"
! The public members Of the Labor
| Board also conferred with Attorney
! General Daugherty who Immediate
| ly thereafter went to the White
House to give the President hts
4 view OF the situation
| Mr.. Harding also summoned Sec
rotary Of Commerce Hoover and
/ Secretary of War Weeks 70 sovIse
him on the question of policy. Both
Cabinet members are reported to
have urged strong support Of Ehe
Labor Board. against whose decision
reducing wages the rail unions voted
TO protest in the form OF a strbke.
They viewed the attack of the
unions on the boards decision as
precipitatinE a test Of the maCnIU-
cry provided by the government to
prevent strikes.
Believes Strike Will he AVerted.
Senator Cummins, Of Iowa, chair
man OF the Senate Committee on In
terstate. Commerce and one OF the
authors Of the transportation act
discussed the situation with ~.
public members OF the Labor Board
and later with Alfred p. Thorn.
chairman of the Association OF
Railroad Executives.
Il am more firmly Of the opinfon
than ever that means will he found
to avert the threatened strike" said
Senator Cummins last night
by reduction of freight rates."
he was asked.
Reduction of rates is now in
evitable," the Senator replied. and
believe that the reduction will
come speedily"
i Postmaster General HAYS ana
Second Assistant Postmaster General
Shaughnessy began a survey OF the
available trucks. Automobiles and
airplanes which can be called into
service to supplement railway SER
vice In the event Of the strike crip-
ping the carriage OF the mails.
Says Mails VIII BE Moved.
i am sure the parties TO the con-
troversy will not permit deyelon-
ments which will interfere W tn GOV
ernment service" said Mr. Hsvs
This Is 10 time for statements from
this department. A time NAV come
lOI dctloh. sincerely trust that ia
VIII not. II II does there will he
action. The mails will be moved"
I'VE anticipate that there will be
no interruption Of the mails" de-
clared Mr.. Shaughnessy.
l 1t was indicated the government
might predicate its intervention on
laws forbidding interference with
the mails.
Injunction Possible Weapon.
The injunction was also consider
ed as another possible weapon, its
use being based on the theory that
the government inherently has the
right and duty to protect the lives
and health Of its 'tizens
Onhcials meantime are hopeful that
the suggestion OF the public group
OF the Labor Board will be product
i've Of results, and are waiting to
learn the attitude OF the disputants.
This suggestion was that there be
an immediate reduction Of freight
rates, a withdrawal of the strike
order and a later wage adjustment
when the bynefts Of rate cuts has
become effective.
Secretary o. Labor Davis reformed
TO the Capital last night from In
dianapolis. in response 70 a call from