Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-14
HOOVER SEEKS TO
HALT WAGE STRIFE
Calling of Meeting of Rail
Managers and Union Heads
Is Scheduled
(BY Mark SulliYan.l


Washington, d. c., Jan. 13.-What
is really back of the effort on the part
of Secretary Herbert Hoover Of the
department of commerce to bring the
railroad brotherhoods and the rail-
road managers together is a fore
handed attempt to prevent the arising
again of tho disagreeable situation the
country faced few months ago when
1t was threatened with a countrywide
railroad strike.
not settled by the calling off OF that
strike. The railroad managers have
again made application TO the railway
labor board for reduction in wages.
In the ordinary course these applica-
tions would come up for decision about
to forestall what might happen at
that time that Mr.. Hoover brought
about the rather extraordinary spec
tacle OF the heads of the brotherhoods
and the railroad managers sitting
down together in his house.
This was not only a striking event
in itself but 1t was also an indication
OF the far seeing policy on the part Of
that department of the government
which is responsible for preventing
such an interruption of business as a
railroad strike would mean. 1t was an
example of the amount OF quiet and
unostentatious work dono by many
government departments which does
not get much into the news. II strike
conditions should arise as they did in
September that would be spectacular.
The foresceing and preventing it Is
fully as important. but less startling
to the public mi.>d. No news has been
given out as to WHIST the nrotherhoods
and the railroad managers did when
they came together, but there In a
favorable indication In tho fact that
they are to come together again.
n ra l.
road wages, there are TWO other SINH
lar questions. both to come to a head
within II few months. Both OF them
menace business conditions as much
as the railroad situl,ion does. In the
building trades as fell as in coal min
and two years ago. between the unions
and the employers, Will como to an
end. When they end, it is certain
that there will be differences in points
OF view about the new wage scales, for
1t is obvious that wages fixed one and
two years ago are inconsistent with
present conditions.
1t is presumed that II Mr.. Hoover is
successful in bringing the railroad
unions and tho railroad managers to-
gether he will make the same effort In
tho other two fields. THO whole effort
Is in an attempt to bring about new
agreements on wages by negotiation
under the auspices Of tho government
some months before the crisis that
are sure 10 arise otherwise. The thing
is really broader than this. The whole
matter of the development of another
period of smooth running prosperity
Is dependent upon adjustments OF
wages to present conditions
The commerce department has made
exhaustive Investigations looking to-
ward what are reasonable wages un-
der the conditions of 1892 They have
tried TO arrive at a decision ON what
is normal now as compared with pre-
war conditions. In some lines wages
have already been arjusted to what Is
now normal. but in other lines the
wages are far out of line.
II this element can he stabilized sue
cessfully It is believed that it will be
one of tho largest steps now needed
towards the restoration of period
of steadily rising activity and pros
pcrity.