The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-02
Seniority Rights for
Striking Shopmen Are
Refused by Executives
iWhite House Gives no Indica
ton Of Action Planned
to Meet New Con.
ditions.
Careful Study Expected

Washington, Aug. by A. P.)-
President Harding had the rail strike
problem back on his hands tonight
as a result of the refusal of the rail-
way executives, at their meeting in
New York, to accept the adninistra-
ton settlement plan so far as the
seniority issue is concerned. There
was no indication at the White
House as to what move, If any, tho
government planned to take in the
situation. 1t was considered prob
able that Mr.. Harding would study
carefully the text Of the executives
reply and that expected from the la.
Dor leaders meeting in Chicago, be.
fore reaching a decision.
The tone of the replies and the
circumstances under which they were
made, it was indicated at the White
House, undoubtedly would guard Mr..
Harding to some extent and there
was another intimation that publicity
could not always be helpful in tho
difficult and delicate negotiations in
to which the administration has been
drawn by the industrial situation.
From the government viewpoint
the railroad strike is regarded as I'M
mediately serious, only because of the
existing stoppage of coal production
and there have been constant intima-
tions that the administration would
be disposed to force quick settle-
ment of the railroad difficulties in or
der to cope with the coal stoppage,
even at the cost of some re-establish-
ment Of the former control of rail-
roads.
Contrast Seniority Views.
Cabinet members and associates
Of the president have sharply en-
phasized the contrast between their
view of the seniority issue" and
that taken by the railroad execu-
tives as expressed in public state
ments. Public statements of rail-
road heads that the granting of the
strikers demands for return of full
seniority rights would necessitate the
discharge of scores of thousands Of
efficient workers hired to take their
places have been flatly denied in in
formal discussions with newspaper
correspondents, said to be exaggerat-
ed and otherwise stamped as unre-
liable. 1t has been further repre-
sented III some government quarters
that such men as have been hired
would not generally be of character
and capacity which would make them
suitable as permanent employees.
That this was the presidents view
was further indicated by the pro-
posals transmitted to the unions and
executives meeting in that on the
crucial point of seniority rights the
proposals would give the strikers a
more complete rehabilitation in the
service than was suggested in any of
the unofficial summaries made pub
lie in advance. The presidents view
of the situation, it was said, that the
acknowledgement by the railroad
world of the supremacy of the rail-
road labor board was the chief OBJ
ject of the government at the mo-
ment.
New Laws Suggested.
The possibility that new legislation
will be sought in congress as a re-
suit of the strike test of the trans
portation act which would make the
labor boards decisions binding and
pehalize violation of them by either
employees or employers was again
suggested in official circles today.
Chairman Hooper of the railroad
labor board was expected to argue
for increases of the boards power be-
fore congressional committee when
the issue came up.
The Interstate Commerce commits +
sion has been constantly in touch
with the actual status of the strike
through its inspection division, which
checks up on the suficiency of re-
pairs given to locomotives and rol-
ling stock and through the continu-
Gus reports made to the commission
by number of men at work in all
of Glass | roads.