Evening star., 1936-07-18

|D|SEASE EPIDEMIC
THREATENS MEXICO.
Capital Also Fears Floods
and Food Shortage as
Strike Is Ruled Legal.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, July IA triple
fear Of disease, flood and food shortage
hung over the capital today after the
Federal Copciliation Board held legal"
an Electric Power Co. strike which
has darkened Central Mexico for two
days.
The boards ruling destroyed any
prospects that the strike might be
ended Immediately.
Three thousand employees of the
foreign-controlled Mexican Light and
Power Co., and its subsidiaries who
quit work at noon Thursday cheered
the decision upholding their right to
strike.
Four million persons live in the
federal district and five adjacent
states affected by the walkout.
Health Endangered.
Public health was endangered, the
sanitation department said in warn
ing to consumers, by these strike re-
suits:
There was no ice or electrical re-
frigeration to keep meat, fruits, vege-
tables and other perishable foodstuffs
from spelling. Milk could not be pas
teurized. Water was lacking COM
pletely in 20 city suburbs. and much
| of the time in IA other suburbs. with
consequent non-disposal Of sewage.
Non-refrigerated serums and medi-
cines were rapidly spelling, adding to
the danger of an epidemic.
The potential danger OF food, CoSme
Hinojosa, chief of the federal dis
trict, pointed out lay in the fact that
pumps which help rid the poorly
drained city of heavy rainfall had no
current to operate them.
Food shortage was noticeable on
every side. Corn mills could grind no
meal for Tortillas. Wholesalers esti-
mated the -four supply on hand at
three days, and lack of refrigeration
curtailed other foodstuffs. Merchants,
headed by j. Flores Garduno, in
formed Congress the food shortage
would be serious" within "a hours.
Appeal Made to Cardenas.
With 1900 factories and shops par
alyzed, 10000 men thrown out of
work, and daily loss TO business In
the millions of pesos, the National
Chamber of Commerce wired President
Cardenas at Saltillo. Coahuila, that
the situation was desperate" and
urged his intervention.
Housewives were worried over sky
rocketing prices Of foodstuffs and
other staples.
The department of national economy
ordered policemen to arrest merchants
unreasonably raising prices.
Although Francisco Brena Alvipez,
chairman OF the Strike Committee,
said after the labor boards decision
the syndicate would do everything
possible to reach an agreement with
the company" W. r. Fraser, broad
faced, slow spoken general manager.
declared the company had gone as
far as it could.
Fraser said the conciliation board S
decision will not change in any way
the company's contention that work
ers' demands for wage increases ag-
gregating 100000 pesos (s27S ,0o0)
annually and labor contract conces-
sions are equivalent to giving the
workers control Of the company" and
out Of the question.
I'VE will meet the strikers represen-
tatives again at II am. &c. S. T) to-
day." the general manager said, but
we can't change our stand"
While the confederation of workers
of Mexico, 100000 strong, arranged
manifestations throughout the coun-
try Sunday in support of the strikers
the recently organized confederation
of the middle class" was reported or
ganizing a consumers demonstration
against them.