Norwich bulletin., 1922-07-22

washington. July 21.-(By the IA. P). Determined to obtain a first hand view of the railroad strike situation. President Harding today called Chairman Hooper, Of the railroad labor board here from Chicago for a personal interview. Prior to summoring the labor board head. the president received Chairman Cummins and Senators Kellogg and Wat son. of the senate interstate commerce committee. who reported on their confer encs last night with eastern railroad ex- scutives and later the whole question was taken up for discussion in prolonged cabinet session.
 Tbe president was represented as de- sirous of hearing from Mir. Hooper on account or the positions taken by the leaders of striking shopmen, the rail ex- ecutives, and the board itself, during the negotiations aimed at strike settlement, but which now have been broken off. Some conflicting reports in the matter have been received at the White House, especially since the conference, held last nirht by the three interstate commerce committee senators and the exectives of the larger eastern trunk lines.
 Meanwhile. Attorney General Daugh- rrty conferred at the capitol first with Senator Borah. chairman of the senate tabor committee, and then with Mr. Cummins., the discussions involving the possibility of legal action in both the -aiiroad and the coal strikes, although he attorney general stated afterward that no immediate legal proceedings were under contemplation.
 With MT. Borah. the attorney general discussed particularly the railroad Ffrike situation in the west, while with Mr. Cummins he went over, not only the western problems but the entire legal Sltuation as 1t concerns both the rail- road and the coal strikes. the results be- ng. Mr. Daugherty said that he and Mr. Cummins were in agreement as to he governments power to act in both rases-
 The attorney general said no papers were now in course of preparation in con- nection with the strike. but declared that .he admlnistration's plan involved con alteration or an possibilities.
 The coal slluation," he continued. "is more or less involved in the railway sit lation. whether purposely, do not know.
 "A good many roads. however. are re- porting serious shortages of coal. Several have noticed in going over the reports, nave about only ten days supply"
 Regarding the railroad strike situation AAA- fNN-Af AliI aA-olnrJ bclrl ai odlQ II vas about the same as yesterday, ex- .ept that in Montana, and Idaho trains lre being interfered with mora than here .ofore"
 During the day. Samuel Gompers president of the American Federation of Labor. Issued statement calling upon Inc government to open direct negotia- dons' between union chiefs and em. sioylng corporations. both in transpor. .atlon and coal mining. and suggesting hat -the helpless and all but defunct failroad labor board" be set aside in the natter.
 Senator's Curnunlns. Watson and Kel logE during their visit to the White House told the president that they found the seniority issue the chief obstacle ts settlement of the railroad strike, but zlsc Indicated that the leaders of the strikinf shopment were also demanding that new federal board of mediation be set uI to- consider transportation labor contro rersies.
 Railroad executives, the senators re ported. would not reinstate returnini Hhopmen in the service positions the- formerly held, even should the strike b, be called off, because they claimed tha a total of nearly 240.000 men had beer employed to fll the places of 40O,ool strikers These new men, 1t was said had been promised permanent employ rent 1T they developed efficiency.