The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
EXECUTIVE AGREES
Will Use Full Power, He
Tells Maintenance of
Way Chief.
REPEATS SUPPORT
OF LABOR BOARD
Surprised At Hearing OF
Roads Violations OF
Body's Decisions.

z. F. Cradle. president Of the
union of railway maintenance OF
way employees. urged President
Harding yesterday to take drastic
action to compel the railroad ex-
ecutives and the striking snop
crafts employees to come together
and settle their differences.
Unless such action is taken speed
iIy by the Executive, Mr.. Cradle
said, the strike is likely to spread
within the next week or two ana
assume disastrous proportions.
The President informed Mr.. Cradle
that he is doing everything possible
to settle the strike and that ne
will not hesitate to employ the full
power of his office to terminate the
dispute. He expressed surprise at
the extent of the violations OF the
Railroad Labor Board decisions 10
which Mr.. Cradle called mis- atten-
tion and asserted that had he been
earlier advised of the situation he
would have taken action against
the offending railroads before the
beginning of the strike.
VIII support Board.
Mr.. Harding. however. reiterated
that the full power of the govern
ment will be exerted In support Of
the Railroad Labor Board and that
the government demands full COM
plfance with the boards decisions
by both the railroads and the en-
ployes-
Tha Railroad Labor Board was
created by Congress to settle rail-
way disputes and prevent interrupt
tion of transportation, the Presi-
dent pointed out, and the aim of
the law cannot be achieved unless
there is compliance with the orders
OF the board II the law Is unjust
and inadequate, Mr.. Harding con-
tended, the proper recourse is to
ask Congress to amend 1t. Amend
ment of the law cannot be effected,
the President asserted, by Interrupt
tion of transportation.
Plan Remedial Legislation.
Respects in which the transpcrta-
tion act may be regarded unjust
or inadequate were the subject of
discussion by Mr.. Harding and the
union head. The President told him
that he had taken up this matter
Friday night with Senator Cummins
of Iowa, chairman of the Senate
committee on interstate commerce.
with a view of initiating remedial
legislation. The President favors
a study by Congress Of the prac-
tical operation of the labor sections
Of the transportation act to ascer-
tain in what manner it can be i'm
proved.
Senator Cummins said yesterday
III a 4
hearings soon on the amendment
of the law to guarantee a fair
living wage to railroad workers
and to provide penalties for viola
tions of orders of the Railroad
Labor Board. These hearings, how
ever. are 10 have no bearing on
the settlement of the present
strike.
The meE undoubtedly are en-
titled to a guarantee of a living
wage inasmuch as the transporta-
tion act attempts to define wage
standards" said Senator Cummins.
u don't mean nationwide,
standardized wage. but the law
should be so amended as to guar
antee a living wage under a bet
ter formula of law than in the
present transportation act, which
will be capable of better admin
istration of the Railroad Labor
Board"
Later, according to Senator Cum
minis. who is co-author of the
present law. must come legislation
to make the board decisions en-
forceabIe.
They are binding now on both
sides, but not enforceable" said
Cummins. II think we must have
an amendment which will make
them enforceable, by providing
penalties against conspiracy among
railway workers and also fines and
Imprisonment penalties against
railway officials for violating the
boards orders"
Transportation of mail by motor
truck was installed yesterday by
the Second Assistant Postmaster
General between Bedford and Switz
City, Ind, all mail trains having
been annulled between those two
points.
At Toledo, Ohio. all depot en-
ploes including porters in mail room
At transfer clerk offices are on
strike and the railroad company
has asked for more mail clerks to
handle mail.
Beginning Monday trains Is and
10, Baltimore & Ohio, between
Pittsburg and Chicago and trains
and 10, B. & o.. between Wash
ington and Chicago are to be dis
continued