The Connecticut labor news., 1923-03-09
Government Reports Show Enormous Increase In Number
 Of Useless Locomotives
SHOPMEN AGAIN EXTEND
 OLIVE BRANCH TO ROADS Machinists' President Declares the Workers Are Ready to Make Agreement and Place the "Die-Hard" Roads On Working
 Basis Once More.

An offer to renew negotiations with
 the "die-hard" railroads who have not
 yet settled with their striking shop
 men was made yesterday by William H. Johnston, president of the Interna- tional Association of Machinists. This renewed profer of peace, Johnson explained, is intended to sup
 port President Harding's "censure" of the die-hard roads, whom he held
 partially responsible for the present
 coal shortage, in a letter to a New Jersey shopman, just made public
 We want the public to know" said President Johnston, ''that there is
 nothing on our side of the argument that stands in the way of settlement
 to aid in allevation of the fuel famine. Roads Responsible.
 "These railroads rebuked by Presi- dent Harding are not only responsible for stringency in coal shipment, but their own finances, as well as their own mechanical efficiency, is suffering more severely every day." he added, in an accompanying statement.
 Two sets of figures were then pre- scented by Johnston in which the net earnings and the engine equipment of the "die-hard" roads were unfavorably compared with those of the roads who have settled their differences with their men.
 Bad order locomotives, these figures showed, are continually on the in crease on the roads still using new and unskilled non-u. ion labor, while the percentage of bad order locomo- tives on the railroads which have made peace is growing less and less. It was to be noted, however, that the latter roads were in a much more critical condition in rolling stock at the time of coming to terms than the die-hard roads are at present.
 Equipment Lessens'Earnings.
 Poor equipment and a resultant in ability to handle traffic efficiently and economically, Johnston pointed out, has resulted in lessened earnings in January, 1923, compared with 1922, for the die-hard roads. He employed the Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, New Ha- ven, Delaware & Hudson and Jersey Central as typical of this group.
 The group which has settled ,on the contrary, Johnston produced figures ings in January, 1923, over 1922.
 He selected the Baltimore & Ohio, the New York Central and the Chi cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul as typi- caF of the latter group. His figures show that these roads gained $2,o86,- oo, $oI6,ooo and $2,2oI ,ooo, respective ly, in net operating income.
 Losses suffered by the die-hards, he asserted, are being borne ultimately by the public, in cost and in dis comfort.
 "Our duty to the public,'' reads MT. l Johnston's statement" makes it neces- sary to emphasize again that nothing on our side stands in the way of a set clement with the coal-carrying roads and others whose inadequate service President Harding says is responsible ! for the coal shortage
 "Over I34 railroads, comprising half | the railroad mileage of the country, | have signed contracts with us on the l basis of the Baltimore agreement | reached last September with Mr. Dan iel Willard of the Baltimore and Ohio, and others. This agreement is satis- | factory to both sides, and the roads | which have signed 1t are today giving 1 much improved sefvice.
 "The bitter-enders, who have not l signed, are going from bad to worse l and their refusal to negotiate is based l, on nothing more respectable than a 1 1eSlre 10 destroy the IeS1t1Tndte tTaQe | unions in the shops. The responsibil- l ty for their transportation troubles rests entirely on their reactonary la Dor policy"
 Among the roads in the vicinity of New York which refuse to negotiate are the Pennsylvania, the New York, New Haven & Hartford, the Dela- ware, Lackawanna X Western, the Deleware & Hudson the Lehigh Val ey and the Jersey Central. Promin- ent roads which have made peace with he shopmen are the Baltimore & Ohio and the New York Central.
 Official figures" said Mr. John ,ton, bear out MT. Harding's state nent The Lehigh Valley, for in stance, had Y per cent of it's locomo- ives out of service for heavy repairs on July IS, and on February I this percentage had risen to 38.5. The Delaware & Hudson's percentage of pad order locomotives has risen in the ;ame period from "A to 1o. The Gen. ra1 Railroad of New Jersey went rom I5.7 per cent to PA per cent. The Delaware, Lackawanna & West ,rn rose from 17.7 per cent to 244l; ,er cent. The Pennsylvania and the New Haven, both suffering from a