Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-08-12
HARDING R. R.
PLANIND0UBT
Will Lay Before Congress
Problem to Get Railroads
Operating Again.
WILL MEET TUESDAY
Government Operation One of
Suggestions Being Discus
sed in Washington.
BY GEORGE H. MANNING
washington Correspondent of the
Perth Amboy Evening Ncws)

GcTtn AHnDOy ENcHlH& NcWsJ
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12:-Mem-
bers of the senate and House are
exhibiting deep interest in the ques-
tion of whether President Harding
will lay the railroad strike problem
before congress for solution when
the House reconvenes Tuesday after
its six weeks recess and what the
plan. if any, will be.
The President a few days ago ex-
pressed the hope that all the men,
bers of the House will return when
the recess is over SO that he can lay
the railroad problem before them
with recommendations for enact
ment of legislation to deal with the
aggravated situation. Members OF
the senate and House who have dis
cussed the railroad problem will
serted that President Harding die
not state to them that he intended
asking congress for special legisla
ton nor indicate that he had il
mind any special legislation tina
would enable the government tC
force an end of the railroad strike
Members of the senate who have
given special attention to the trans
portation tie-up Ne expecting, how
ever, that the President will. shortly
after the reconvening of the House,
address the congress on the railroad
crisis and suggest plans that will en-
able the government to end the
deadlock between the railroad COM
panies and their employees. Among
the plans that President Harding
is expected by the senators to pre-
sent are the following:
l Government operation and con-
troll of the railroads until the rail-
roads and the strikers settle their
differences and resumption of unin-
terrupted transportation is assured.
2 Placing of soldiers on all trains,
along all rights of way and about
shops and terminals to insure safety
of travel and protection of those
who want to work.
3.-Amendment of the Transpor-
tation act so as to place a penalty
upon organizations and individuals
who refuse to follow the directions
of the Railroad Labor Board.
Foremost in the whole problem is
the fact that neither the govern
ment nor any other agency "an
make men work if they do not want
to work and that legislation as a
means of putting the strikers back
to work is entirely useless no mat
ter what form 1t takes unless ii
brings about conditions that satisfy
tho strikers.
Passage of legislation authorizing
the President to take over the rail-
roads in the present emergency
would be bitter pill for the Repub-
licans to swallow after ehey nave
criticised for five years the action OF
this Democrats in taking over the
railroads to meet the emergency dur
ins the world war. They could be
taken over, of course, without guar
anteeing earnings to the railroa DIS
which aroused such criticism during
the war, but it is more than likely
the railroads could muster enough
support in congress to block any
plan of government operation with
our guarantee of earnings.
Attorney General Daugherty has
rendered an opinion that the Pres
ident already has the power to take
over the transportation lines to meet
threatened or actual emergency
But it is believed that the admins
tNtion will insist that congress and
no. the Chief Executive shoulder
the responsibility for such a radical
sten.
It. would be a very bold President
of the United States who would only
two months before a congressional
election, direct the placing of sJl-
diers on all trains and about all
points of danger along rights of way
and terminals to guarantee safety of
travel and safety OF life and limb of
these who wished to work. 1t is
generally believed that President
Harding has had too much political
experience to thus tempt party 5ui-
eide, so that plan No. might as
wei! be forgotten.
Plan No. 3 might have some ben
eficial effect. but it appears rather
doubtful. 1t is claimed that the
railroads strikers are now out in
defiance of the order of the federal
labor board that they return 10 work
1t is doubtful If putting teeth in
the transportation act to peualize or
ganizations and individnal, who
defy the Railroad Labor Board
would bring about resumption OF
work. 1t will be recalled that in
former strikes injunctions have
been issued against the strike lead
ers and frequently they have been
arrested and threatened with inn
prisonment and heavy fines; but in
not single instance has the invok-
ing of the law forced the workers
back to work. Attorney General A.