Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-05
DETERIORATION OF RAIL
EQUIPMENT is GROWING
STRIKE CRISIS FACTOR

STRIKE CRISIS FACTOR
Continued From First Pase.)
"quipmen, is not perfect and the cs-
timnted number OF imperfect loco
motives today IL greater than at any
time In the history OF the American
railways. Second, they fear that II
the Shopmcn--who not only have
borne the brunt of tho strike. but by
striking. have prevented wage cuts
in other railway unions--arc forced
to break ranks. the railroads
eventually VIII crush the brother
hoods organizations
Await Conf Conference Result.
From high senatorial sources tho
word came tonight that so far as
the Whit" House Is concerned there
probably would not be any now con-
siructivc action taken until after tn.
oiiuininous and anthracite mine con
fercnccs, called by President John
L. Lewis Of the miners. for neNt Mon
day and "Wednesday, respectively
President Harding is watching
and waiting. After a three hour seq.
SION Win his Cabinet today all Of
hciais were silent as to tho mex,
step and IA" President himself would
throw no light on Tho future.
II Is known that h. feels wha,
satisfaction ~ 10 lie CLEANED from
his dual strik. troubles is to l..
round in til" qualified Willingness Of
both parties in tho rail strike 20
recognize tho rulings OF tn. Railway
Labor Board. and In the efforts OF
President Lewis. OF the mine work
ers' TO erect an arrccn"n; with coal
operators in the central compctI,Iye
field.
just Letting Matter Drift.
beyond that, there IS absolutely no
tangible evidence ,hnt The govern
ment has any definite plan. aside
from letting the two strikes Sim.
mer, One Cabinet official made This
statement TO the writer:
Given time. Tia. mines uoy re-
opening VIII produce more and more
coal. Men are drifting back steadily,
anu each day, us more men 20 into
the mines. more coal Will b. pro-
uuced. me same with the rail SIT
uaNoh. Efforts are being made ~
the Individual railroads TO get men
| pacN or send them to roads wne:c
'heS are most needed. As more mon
are supplied. the situation Will i'm
prove. Th"'. seems 10 be nothing
cisc 10 90 The roads are being given
chancc TO Sc" what they can do
rs III" mine operators are. and that
Is al IN sight now, except from what
w" hallway Labor Board may be
aD!e To d" TO help things along"
Ihat bcspcaks the attitude OF some
OF the Presidents counselors
I.nhor boards Next Movf.
IHeTe is increasing evidence that
the next official move In the rail
strike VIII come through the Rail-
road Labor Board. The railroads
nave yielded on the boards ruling
against farming out shop work. and
reopenins Of wage hearings, IL
resulting favorably to the workers.
might influence their return to
work. ms officials see IT, Once back.
there would he the opportunity Of
making ties; case before the board
on the question of seniority rules.
This may prove the course OF ac-
ton that develops within the next
few days. All this. however would
take time. Meantime. the brother
hoods are going 10 inject their voice
may prove the big influence in ter
rn!nat!nS tho present impnsse.
Would Drng In SENATE.
Senator Spencer. Missouri. today
threatened TO drag the Senate Into
the Industrial melee sooner or later.
when ne announced he would intro
duce bill to create Federal court OF
Cancellation TO adjudicate contro-
lee "a
state commerce. This bill, not un-
like the commerce court estab-
| lished under the Taft administration
and failure then, would provide
three judges. to be appointed by the
President. The court would he en-
powered to enforce It's decisions
through fines and penalties. In the
same manner as district courts.
Senator Borah. who has n bill to
provide commission to Investigate
tho mining industry, conferred with
President Harding today on the
measure. Harding, he said, generally
| approved the purposes OF the meas
ure. but asked more time in which
to study 1t. so Borah is going back
TO the White House next week to
talk 1t over some more. Meantime
legislative action in the strikes Is
being held in allegiance.
Spencer Explains His Bill.
Tho people of the United States
under existing laws. are able to
judicially determine every dispute af-
fecting life. liberty and property as
between States and individuals. but
they are absolutely powerless to set
tie labor disputes that may. and often
do. directly affect the health and
lives OF tho people and the indus
trial life or the nation" Senator
| Spencer said, explaining his proposed
bill
This impotcncy Is intolcrablc.
| Every effort should he made to
settle by conci!iation or conference
or voluntary arbitration differences
I'm the great field OF labor.
but when industrial disputes
reach point where every voluntary
effort to settle the difficulty has
proved unavailinE. and tho extent
and character OF the controversy is