Evening star., 1926-02-07

scale established by the Railway Labor
Board in 1920. The railway operators
say that such restoration would in
crease the total annual expenses of
the roads by $500 ,000, 900. The 1925
total net income of the roads is esti-
mated as about s1,130 ,000,0OO a little
less than that 034 per centum of the
property value of the roads tas ap-
praised by the Interstate Commerce
sanction as a reasonable return on in
vestment. The operators say that
granting of the demand would ruin
many of the weaker roads.
The renewed conference between
representatives of the anthracite mine
owners and the miners, respectively,
ended without agreement on February
2; adjournment was taken sine die on
motion Of the owners representatives.
The battle was practically confined to
the issue Of arbitration, the owners
representatives insisting on compul-
sorry arbitration. The miners say that
a pledge to give the utmost scope to
moral persuasion, without surrender
ing the right to strike, is the limit
they will go. They assert that such a
pledge, together with the machinery
proposed by them for dealing with
disputes, would reduce almost to neg
Eligibility the likelihood of strikes. The
machinery would consist of a fact
finding commission, to be appointed by
Charles E. Hughes, Gov. Pinchot and
Secretary of Labor Davis. which
would report to a conciliation board of
three miners and three operators
Cwithout an umpire, be it noted). The
Pennsylvania Legislature is not MAX
ing head with the anthracite problem.
The reply of our State Department
to the Mexican Governments reply to
the note submitted by our AMBASSADOR
to Mexico on January 9, animadvert-
ing on the new Mexican land and pc
troIeum laws, has been delivered to the
Mexican government. One could wish
that all three notes were made public.
Lieut.. Comdr. Richard E. Byrd, who
commanded the naval unit associated
with the Macmillan Arctic expedition
of last year, is to conduct an expedi-
ton in the course of this year with
objects similar to those Of the Mac
MILAN expedition. He is said to be
backed by a number of opulent gen.
tlemen and already to have 100000
in hand. 1t is to be altogether a pri-
vate undertaking, and 1t is understood
that Comdr. Byrd will be given leave
of absence from the Navy. Apparent
ly it has not been decided what type
of craft to use, whether heavier or
lighter than air.
About per cent of the farmers of
the United States are receiving elec-
trio power.
X X X X
Disarmament.-The first meeting of
the commission which, under league
auspices, is to prepare the way for an
international disarmament conference
is to be postponed. The league coun-
Gil at it's March meeting will set
new date. The chief reasons for de-
lay relate to Germany and Russia
1t is desired that Germany become a
member of the League Of Nations be-
fore participation of her representa-
tives in the work of the commission,
and it is hoped that as the result Of
negotiations likely to extend beyond
February Is Ghe date originally fixed
for the first meeting) Russia may be
induced to participate. Really, con-
sidering that Russia's standing army
is the largest in Europe, the COM
mission without Russia would be like
Hamlet without the prince.