Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-17
Railroads Urged
to Avert WaikOut


Continued from Page One
partment. however, that there had been
NO oHiriaI discussion Of any pro0"Sal In
connection with the strike within the
department, and that such consideration
as had been given was e. result of Of
fee rnutine requiring preliminary study
in order that reports as to what m"
army could do would be quickly forth
coming il called for by Secretary Weeks.
Cummirs Meets Board Representatives
Chairman Barton and the other pub
lie representatives on the Railroad La e
Dor Board conferred today with Chair'
man Cunmins, Of the Senate Inter,
state Commerce Committee. Several
remedies were understood t" have been
suggested, but IL was sand that no con-
cluson had been reached.
Senator CumminS is Of the opinion
that Congress Can make no move untll
the Executive has exhausted every pos
sible means Of averting a strike. There
was some discussion today Of bringing
up the anti strike bill sponsored BY
Senator Pondcxter, Republican, Wash
ingtOn, but it was sGld there would be
no immediate action by Congress.
Official Washington ) lntertst in the
impending strike is C"utercd in the re-
leaders TO the proposal of the public
group of the Railroad Labor Board Of
zone feasible plan" to prevent the tie
up of the country 5 transportation Sys-
tEm.
In brief the board proposed:
First--That the railroads imme.
diately put into effec, freight reduc-
tions equivalent 10 the wag" reductions
authorized Ia I July.
Second-lhat requests for further
wage reductions b" Withdrawn.
ThirG-ThHt the employees withdraw
their strike order pending action Of the
board upon any request for further wag,
reductions which the carriers subsc
quenuy might file.
Expect Hays to Take Action
Federal action in connection with tL,
strike had tceu confined mp 20 toda,
to the conference arranged by Pres!deu
Harding between the public grouD o
the Labor Board nnd the Interstat
Commerce Comm! !Ssinu. the imnrpssioI
being that the President intended +
leave the matter temporarily in III
hands of the two agencies created b.
law to supervise railroad transpOrta
tion.
Both Mr. Hays and Attorney Genera
Daughcrty have been busy in Surveyin
the situation generally, with a view (
laying reports before the Cabinet a
the regular meeting tomorrow. Mr.
Daugherty' 3 report would cover the au
thority of the Federal Government,
was said, and the proper procedure I
be followed if decision was reached t
utilize the power of the Government di
rectly in the controversy, while that .
Mr. HAYS was to outline tentatiy
plan for the maintenance of operation
of mail trains.
Proposal of Public Group
Instead of sanCtionlng further wag
reduction of 10 per CONT bringing I'll
aggregate to - per cent. the lave
which existed prior to the July, l9Gu
Increases and freight rate cut 2f II
per cent, the Public Group offered as
counter proposal to the President
r,lan .hnf there be an immediate tram
fation OF wage reductions already an
thorIzed into low" freight mriI
The Public Group be- .cvrd. and Prc>i
dent Harding is said to have ccncurrCd
that the threatened nation. wide raj
road strike ;hus might be aVCrtcd
The Public Group gave expression t.
the view that il the railroad executive
would "immediatCly and in go-.! faith
adopt Its suggestion the tarcatenc,
strike situation could "bo cleared up
fSsight rates reduced to sl6pperk, tn
cost q lisbg reduced to consumers an,