Evening star., 1936-03-16
[SAND LABOR
HUNT WORKERA|D
President Willing to Be
Called if ParIeys Fail to
Produce Program.

Confronted with the earnest admoni-
tion Of President Roosevelt to settle
their problems by negotiation rather
than legislation. representatives Of
railroad management and labor got
together in the Transportation Build
ing today and resumed conferences
seeking some program to protect work
ers displaced by economy moves.
The parley was launched in New
York several weeks ago after Joseph
B. Eastman, Federal railroad co-ordi-
nator, announced plans for II termi-
nal unifcation projects designed to
save the roads thousands of dollars,
and said this would be followed by a
larger scale proposal that would cut
expenses about s50,000,000 annually.
The New York gathering came to no
conclusions. however, and in the mean
time the President, announcing that
the Eastman project Is to be held in
abeyance, has intervened in what OBJ
servers generally believe is an effort
to head off the Wheeler -CroSser bill.
This would set up safeguards, includ-
ing dismissal wage, for employees dis
placed by economy measures and at
the same time would throw rigid re-
strictions around unification and CO.
ordination plans, to the extent of re-
uuiring Interstate Commerce CommiS-
sion approval of steps taken by in
dividual roads acting independently of
others.
May Farley With President.
In his letter addressed to opera
tors and employees, President Roosevelt
pointed out that savings in the way OF
eliminating waste and duplication OF
effort are vital to the well-being OF
the carriers, and that the rate-pay-
ing public also has its stake in the
game. He urged that II negotiation
fails, operators and labor confer joint
ly with him in an effort to chart an
acceptable course.
Unless the emergency transportation
act-expiring June 16-is extended, or
other legislation is enacted to take its
place, the railroad employees lose the
protection afforded by that section
which proscribes economies that would
cut employment below the level Of
May. 1888.
Legislation" President Roosevelt
told the two groups, 'is remedy to
be taken with great caution or 1t may
prove worse than the disease"
j. A. Phillips. president of the Order
of Railway Conductors, and acting
chairman of the. Railway Labor Ex-
ecutives' Association, and representa-
tives of score of other rail unions are
representing labor in the conference.
High officials Attend.
The management conferees are
headed by H. A. Enochs, chief of per-
sonnel of the Pennsylvania, and in
cludes John G. Walber, vice president
Of the New York Central; William
White, assistant vice president of the
Erie for the Eastern region; e. J. Con-
nors, assistant to the executive vice
president of the Union Pacific; C. M.
Duke, assistant to the vice president
of the G. M. & st. p; c. A. Clements,
assistant general manager of the Mis-
souri, Pacific for the Western region;
C. D. Mackay, assistant vice president
of the Southern; w. j. Jencks, vice
president of the Norfolk & Western,
and P. R. Albright, vice president and
chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Atlantic Coast Line for the
Southern region.
The sessions are behind closed doors
and there was no guess hazarded today
as to their length.