The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-12-21
Non Operating Emploes
Expected To Act To-
day Or Wednesday
SETTLEMENT SOUGHT
Eastman Says Dispute
Might Even Cost Some
Lives In u. S.

WASHINGTON, Lee. w. -
leaders of million incorporating
rsi1road employees may set a strike
ATE Tuesday or Wednesday, COM
uonding the danger of a nation
vide rail tieup ordered by five
onerating brotnerhoocs, beginning
december 80, to enforce wage de-
mands.
While President Roosevelt quiet
w continued to seek a settlement
and a House committee delayed
sction on the issue, Transporta-
finn Director Joseph B. Eastman
uttered the warning that a rail
srike could do more harm to the
war effort than anything the enc
my might do.
Sorely Disappointed
sorely disappointed by failure to
get prompt House action on the
Senate-approvei resolution which
would validate an increase of 8
cents an hour. a subcommittee of
the incorporating unions decided to
summon all Is chiefs Of those I'M
inns to a meeting tom orroW to con-
sder the setting a strike date.
The $50 900 operating railway
workers have calico a strike for
Dec. 80, while the LOO, 900 non
werating clerks, machinists and
SIMILAR workers have taken a
strike vote without announcing re-
suits.
Eastman said the workers, after
ehausting all appeal remedies,
had the legal tight to strike but
rh my opinion they could no t
srke and remain good citizens"
May Cost Lives
a strike" he said at a press
adherence might even cost some
lives"
Eastman's warning came as the
House interstate committee moved
today to take all Jurisdiction over
railway wage controversies from
Economic Sterilization Director
Vinson key figure in both disputes.
Postponing action until Jan. 10
on Senate-app1 owed resolution to
force an eight-cents-an-hour pay in
crease for the incorporating en-
ployeS over Wilson'S protests, the
committee au:norizeG a subcom-
mittee to draft an amendment to
the railway labor act exempting
railway controversies from the sta
hiIzation act.
Second Conference
simultaneously, it was learned
that chiefs of me operating broth
erhoods had visited the w h i t e
House for another conference with
President Roosevelt and War Mo-
bilization Director James Byrnes
concerning issues involved in the
threatened strike. 4 five-hour con-
ference at the White House of the
labor chiefs and management rep
rSentatives with the President and
other government leaders yester-
day failed to achieve a settlement
OF the controversy.
The nature Of today's discussions
al the White House was not dis
closed. The labor and manage
ment groups, at TIE Presidents
Oehest, will get together tomor-
row for further talks.
Eastman declared that even II
the railroad workers grievances
are genuine, .ney would not war
rant such abandonment of duty,
as strike, in time of war;"
Vlnson has refused to approve
an eight cents an hour wage IN
crease awarded the incorporating
Workers by an emergency board
appointed under the railway labor
act While he approved a four
cent an hour boost for the oper-
atlns workers, the board making
me award declared that the work
efS We're entitled to more but that
was all it could grant under Vim
sons Interpretation of the stablll-
zauon program.
Elimination of Vinson from jur-
Sdlction over rail disputes pre-
sumably would permit the eight
cent award for the incorporating
workers to stand. At the same
tlme, it would preclude any OBJ
lection from him in tn e event
some agreement is reached giving
further increase to the operating
workers who have called the four
vent award an insult.