Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-28
President May Change His Plan of Asking For Special
Legislation Along These Lines-Other Similar
Legislation May Be Delayed
CONFUSION AS TO JUST WHAT is WANTED
Powerful Pressure Being Exerted to Have Harding Re
frain From Interfering With Railroad Strike
At Least For The Present

ping Board. and Senators Cummins
and Kellogg, from weekend cruise
down the Potomac river on the May
flower.
The federal government has drawn
up plans for secure and operation
Of the mines and roads, subject to the
approval of congress, and the Maytiow-
er conferences may have determined
under what conditions this program
would be put into effect or what new
moves shall be made in the critical
strike situation.
Senator Pepper, upon his return
from Philadelphia, where he has been
conferring with leaders of the United
Mine Workers and the anthracite op-
orators in the hope of effecting a set
Element. is expected to go over the en-
tire situation with Mr.. Harding Pep
per'.. belief that a settlement OF the
controversy can be reacned also may
be a factor in delaying seizure legls-
lation DESPITE the flat statements OF
Senator's Cummins and Watson, that
such measure would be introduced
early this week if peace were not eS-
tablishcd in the hard coal fields.
Administration officials continued to
emphasize that in any event actual sell
zure would not come for some time.
Mr.. Harding was said to want seizure
legislation enacted so that he could
act later during probable ADJOURN
ment Of congress, if he felt such
drastic step was necessary in the pub
lie interest.
Powerful pressure is being exerted
on Pt esident Harrington to refrain
from interfering in the railroad
strike anti the railroad executives
have had ample opportunity to dem
onstrate whether they can maintain
adequate transportation.
SpokeAmen for the railroad eXecu-
tives have let it be known to Admins
tration leaders that they feel coniI-
dent of winning the battle II the gov
ernment maintains a hands-off policy.
The railroad executives represent
ed bv the "irreconcilable" eastern
group believe that they can procure
enough men to keep their rolling stock
in condition to furnish efficient SER
vice and therefore are opposed to sur
rendering on seniority rights issue
Chicago. Aug. 2S.-The first step
for a general increase of wages for all
railroad employees was taken here TO-
day before the Unuited States Kali
road Labor Board.
-Four hundred thousand mainten-
ance Of wav men asked that their MN
imum wage be fixed at forty-elght
cents an hour. The present minimum
is twenty-three cents.
If the Labor Board grants wage
increase to the maintenance men otn-
er rail unions will immediately ask
for rehearing of their wage scales.
In the meantime federal authorities
were trying TO link recent outbreaks
attempts to wreck trains, bomblngs
and similar acts of violence-wlth the
activity of radicals working among
the striking shopmen.
Federal authorities declared they
had information to indicate that
"reds" had been active both at Gary
where the Michigan Centraps Mil
lion Dollar Express" was wrecked, and
at Roodhouse, H.. where the Chicago
and Alton was tied up by walkout Of
trainmen.
W. c. Lee. president Of the Railroad
Trainmen, has threatened to revoke
the charter Of his men at Roodhouse
unless they return to work immed-
lately.