Evening star., 1943-11-09
Congress Urged
TO Enter Picture
In WageCases
Harrison Emphasizes
Thut Rail Strike
Still Impends

George M. Harrison, president
Of the Brotherhood of Railway
Clerks, told Senate subcommit-
tee today that the rail unions are
prepared to 60 ahead with a
Nation wide strike if their wage
increase demands are not settled
soon, and urged that Congress
step into the picture "to solve
the problem.
Mr.. Harrison's warning came amid
widening labor assaults on the ad-
ministration's wage ceilings and as
a presidential committee began TO
study the ratio between living costs
and workers income.
With the miners wage dispute re-
duced to a secondary isSue-if not
finally resolved-the main attack on
the wage front came from the rail
brotherhoods and the CIO, whose
president, Philip Murray announced
in Philadelphia his United. Steel
workers Union would lead the CIO
campaign for wage increases regard
less of the Little Steel formula.
Supports Truman Resolution.
Mr.. Harrison appeared for the
second day before the Interstate
Commerce Committee in behalf OF
a resolution by Senator Truman.
Democrat, of Missouri, which would
have the effect of congressional ad-
vice to Economic Sterilization Direc-
tor Fred M. VinSon to rtScind his
veto of general 8-cent-an-hour
ing railroad workers.
The carriers agreed to the increase,
and Mr. Harrison told the committee
| the unions had also accepted it lin
lieu of the 20 cents they asked after
they had been urged" to do so by
President Roosevelt.
! After Mr.. Wilson's S veto, a second
presidential emergency board recon-
mended sliding scale of increases
ranging from 4 to 10 cents an hour,
which the unions promptly rejected
yesterday.
1--WE are going ahead with our
strike vote-and when the day
comes we shall fix the day TO inter-
rupt the transportation system of
this Nation" Mr.. Harrison testi-
fed today.
Reed Asks Delay.
! Senator Reed, Republican, OF
Kansas, asked if Mr.. Harrison did
not believe the unions could hold
OH a strike, or fix a strike date
far enough ahead, so that Con-
gress would have an opportunity to
act on the pending resolution.
When we are convinced it s hope
less and that we are being stalled
and given a runaround, we'll put
the mandate into effect" Mr.. Harri-
son replied. But if we felt We
could get solution We would hold
of-we want you Congress- to
solve the problem"
After relating that Mr.. Roose-
welt urged union acceptance of
the 8-cent award, and that Mr.. Vim
son subsequently set it aside, Mr..
Harrison testified:
so I went back to the White
House and inquired How Gomez
was told that everyone was as dumb
founded as I was about what had
happened.
Calls Plan Impractical"
so it has now boiled down to
question of one theoretical idea of
the best way to distribute the in
creases, as opposed to a practical
method. We say the presidential
boards plan is impractical"
The union leader said the sliding
scale was opposed by brotherhood
omclals because the smallest in
Grease would go to workers who
now are paid less than corresponding
workers in other industries
In my opinion" said Senator
Truman, "the railroad employees
have a better case for a wage in
crease than the coal miners. Not
only are their wages we'll below those
OF most other industries, but thev
have presented their demands in an
tSee LABOR page A.SI