New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
Harding Discusses
$5O0,0O0,O0O Rail
Fund With Aids
Early Completion Expected
of Negotiations Between
Roads and Treasury ON
Rehabilitation Proposal

WASHINGTON, July 9.-The expe-
diting of railroad claims and the pro-
posed advancement by the government
of $500,000,O00 to the railroads were
among the topics discussed to-day at a
conference at the White House between
the President and heads Of the govern
mental railroad agencies. Secretaries
Mellon and Hoover, with Chairman
Clark. Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and Director Charles A.
Davis, of the Railroad Administration,
were closeted with the President for
an hour.
AS a result it is expected that ne
gotiations between the roads and the
Trcaslry Department, whereby the
government will advance $500,000,000 to
the carriers, will be concluded shortly.
The money is to be paid the roads to
make up deficiencies in amounts earned
which were expended in maintenance
and equipment.
The subject of railroad claims was
dwelt upon at length; it was said that
many of the roads were still delinquent
in submitting their claims.
In connection with government aid in
rehabilitating the railroads. the Presi-
dent is interested in rate adjustments
and examined a report on recent rate
adjustments worked out by the In
terstate Commerce Commission. Re-
Gently the President personally called
upon Chairman Clark, at the Interstate
Commerce. Commission Building, in
quest of information concerning rates,
and suggested that reduction in many
cases would facilitate freight ship
ments. A number of rate reductions
have been made since.
Valuations Announced
Tentative valuation of the Western
Pacific Railroad was placed by the In
terstate Commerce Commission to-day
at see, 730,011. The capitalization Of the
road is $172,72O,912 and the general
balance sheet Of the carrier claimed
that the investment in road equipment
amounted to S156,3t8,136.
The commission also announced ten
tative valuation of the Grand Canyon
Railroad at s1,a59,39s, and that of the
San Joaquin & Eastern California;
at $1,148,000.
CHICAGO. July 9.-Charges ident-
cal with those made by shop crafts
before the United
States Railroad Labor Board yesterday
to the effect that the Pennsylvania Rail
road had failed to make proper efforts
to meet with shop craft employees to
negotiate new working rules were
made to the board to-day by the
Brotherhood Of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, freight handlers and express
and station employees of the Pennsyl-
vania system.
Denied Closed Shop
Prior to this case. the shop crafts
reopened their argu-
ment and B. F. Jewell, president Of the
railway employees department of the
American Federation of Labor, reply
ing to the statement made by E. T.
of the Pennsylvania, yesterday
denied there was any attempt made to
force closed shop on the railroad. :.
The Long Island Railroad appeared
failure to negotiate with the union
According to the testi-
mony, vote taken May q selected
System Federation No. 90, whose larg-
est membership is on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, to represent the Long Island
The Long Island. after learning that
the negotiations committee of the Fed
Grafton was composed of Pennsylvania
refused TO conger. j.. X.
general superintendent, told
the board that the road raised no ques-
ton of what organization represented
their employees, but did insist that
the committee be employees of the
Long Island. He said this was neces-
sary that they might be familiar with
conditions on that road.
The board took both the Pennsyl-
vania and Long Island disputes under
but decision is not ex-
pected for several weeks.