New-York tribune., 1922-09-12
$4,000 Clerks
Threaten Strike
On Pe1lrla Line
tcca,inued from pays ohs,

teca,inued from paas uhe)
coal. The railroads have assured the
| government of their ability to trans
port the coal in time to prevent suf-
fering and hardship this winter.
The possibility of government oper-
alton in the event of railroad break
down halting coal shipments is thought
| to have been responsible in some meas
ure for the determination of the roads
| to give coal the right of way over
everything except foods by placing
embargoes on all other classes of
freight originating beyond their lines.
In the case Of the Erie the embargo
has gone even beyond that Fresh
fruit and vegetables are also placed
under the ban and only food for human
consumption and grain for livestock
| will be accepted from Western connect
! ing roads. Perishabie rood will be ac-
! cepted, however, by the other railroads
| concerned in the embargo order. Other
freight classifications which will be
accepted from connecting roads include
all fuels, railroad materials, freight
consigned to United States government
| othciafs, newsprint and fertilizer.
| All of the railroads concerned will
| decline shipments routed beyond the
| eastern terminals of their lines Coal
! is the one commodity which is ex
cepted from this regulation. Even ex-
port consignments for transshipment to
steamers in New York harbor will be
refused by the Lehigh Valley unless
the shipper can show that cargo space
already has been allotted him on some
/ vessel.
Priority Freight Excepted
Priority freight also has been ex-
cepted from the New York Central's
4 embargo in addition to freight origi-
mating on subsidiary lines which are
part of the New York Central system,
In special cases permits will be is
sued tor the movement of freight
barred by the New York Central EN-
barge. Nv, A; Terry, freight traffic
ruff general freight agent at New
Noak,. will have authority to issue such
1 be ermits under a system of divisional
! control worked out by President A. n
Smith, of the New York Central when
he was regional director of all Eastern
railroads dueing the war Officials Of
| the New York Central believe the per
nait system will protect the movement
ot regular business and will prevent
It's disturbance by the unloading OF
heavy diversions from other lines.
Trouble between the clerks ana
freight handlers on the Pennsylvania
and the company comes after a two
months peace, which was effected
when the men secured partial vic.
tory in the Philadelphia courts uphold.
/ ing a ruling of the Railroad Labor
Board. Spokesman for the union said
yesterday that the men are dissatis-
fed, due to the company's efforts to
institute cut in pay of cents an
hour and its refusal to grant them a
| day off each week in conformance with
Labor Board regulations.
WalkOut Averted Friday
On Friday, they said, a walk-out on
| the New York division was only avert
ed by promising the rank and file that
strike vote would be taken if the
officials of the company refused to
meet with the leaders of the union.
According to G. M. Fenstemacher
vlce-general chairman of the clerks
employed on the Pennsylvania, the
railroad officials refused to even grant
them an audience when they called at
the offices here yesterday Followine
his visit to the Pennsylvania Offices
Mr.. Fenstemacher. who was accompa-
MED by H. j. Chapman and w. g.
Parker, representing the international
brotherhood of Railway Clerks, Freight
Handlers and Station Employees. said
Ihey have put up wall. The at
titude Of the Pennsylvania officials is
that they want to fight. Thev won,t
arbitrate with us at all. In view of
the intense dissatisfaction of the man
what happened to-day is the last straw
There is only one thing left for us ia
40, ana that is for the men to use
the1r e.n, economic weapon, the strike.
Inc strike will be called in an or.
strike ballot they have asked FOR for We We
nave appealed to the Railroad Labor
board and to the courts, and it seems
we can get no satisfaction. We were
partly successful in our eouitv sn;t i,
Philadelphia, but the time has con, >, =
when the men will assert themselves ;,
it was charged that refusal of Penn
sylvanla officials to meet with the
ciefks is IN Keeping with the roads
policy TO treat with none other than
the company union formed savarai
months ago among employees of the
railroad, and is an attack on all rail-
road unions affiliated with the An,er-
can Federation Of Labor.
4 Appeal Made to Borah
| The Central Strike Committee of tbe
railroad shopcrafts in the metronoli.
tan district appealed to Senator vii.
liam 3. Borah and to ATTORNEY General
Daugherty to prosecute the railroads
| for their failure to maintain enuin.
ment inspections in compliance with
the rules of the Interstate Commerce.
Commission. The telegram to Attornev
/ General Daugherty, addressed to him
at Cnleago,, where he appeared before
the Federal court yesterday to argue
IN defense of the injunction granted
against the strikers, demanded that bs
pay Some attention to the amisaeade
4 of the railroad executives" instead ~
devoting all his time to the alleged mis-
| deeds of the strikers. Senator Boral,
was again urged to institute an inyes.
tigation into the condition of railroad
/ equipment.
Although the Eastern presidents, con-
| ference did not hold its custon,a,.v
meeting at Chairman L. F. Loree's Of
/ ice at the headquarters of the Della
/ ware q Hudson, the weekly statement
/ showing the number of mechanics re-
cruIted to replace strikers in the shops
was issued By mir. Loree. The roads
/ report that they have 82.6 per cent of
| their normal force now at work. some
ats37 having been employed during the