The Washington times., 1922-08-16
RAIL PEACE
ON
PARLEY
Definite Plan Expected to Be
Evolved at confab of Unions
and Operators.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,

n =
Hopes for q. settlement of the
railroad strike by mutual agree
ment between the railroad execu-
tives and the strikers themselves
were running high in Washington
today as President Harding began
the preparation Of a message to
Congress dealing with the grave
situation.
Officials OF the four powerful
brotherhoods will meet the railway
executives in New York tomorrow
about the same time the President
goes to the Capitol. to tell Congress
how serious the situation is. and
there Is good reason to believe that
something will come of the join.
conference.
Purpogt OF Message.
President Harding's message to
Congress. It was understood today,
will embrace the following:
D The President will tell Con-
gress the whole story"-beginning
with the Herrin massacres, and wind
ing up with the Arizona deserts,
where train crews abandoned trains
at desert terminal points.
~ He will recount every step taken
by the Government to try to end
the strike by, peaceful means, and
give the reasons for their failure.
(3 He will then figuratively WASH
his hands" Of the whole situation.
and inform Congress that the Gov.
ernment has reached the end Of its
rope In trying to establish peace.
az He will affirm the Govern
ment's intention Of affording protec-
ton to those railroads able to main.
tain service. by troops Il necessary,
and for those roads unable to fulfill
their public obligations, he will sug.
gest other means-probably Federal
receiverships.
Seizure Alternative.
Looming in the background Of the
Presidents message Is a final alter
native should these steps fail to main
tain transportation Government
seizure-but II was undecided today
whether this threat should be given
a place In tomorrow's communica'
ton. Whether II is there or not, Ad-
ministration officials asserted today
It is ever present as the Govern.
ment's final alternative.
The weight Of Presidential mes.
sage, coming on top OF o Presidential
order that the safety rules affecting
locomotives must be enforced, is
expected to have SOLDERING effect
upon both the "die hard" executives
and the hard boiled" leaders among
the striking railroad workers. And,
rightly or wrongly, administration
officials were confident today that
something win come Of tomorrow 8
joint conference between the execu-
tives and the union leaders.
Repairs Sorely Needed.
Despite the denials and statements
put forward by railway executives,
the fact stood forth with unmlstnk.
able prominence today that the roll
ing stock of railroads Is in a deplor,
able condition and is steadily becom.
Ing worse as a result of six weeks
suspension OF repairs.
1t was learned today that the Of.
ficial report Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission to the Senate on
the condition OF motive power on the
railroads will disclose that approx
mately 30 per cent Of the rolling
stock has deteriorated to the degree
OF retirement--in other words the
roads are now operating with only 70
per cent equipment. The report will
not be made for q week yet, II was
said today, and by that time the con
dition may be even more serious.