The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-23

NOu1tAkk0G0 44V44 0~4S ~ by Trainmen President A. F. Whit ney and Engineers President Alvan- to be made before they give their final answer to MT. Truman, but officials expected the worst.
 Federal officials were ready to exercise vast emergency powers to combat effects of the walkout which might strangle the nations economic life.
 The Office Of Defense Transpor- tation, which has been operating the nations 337 major lines since their seizure last Friday, has plans ''to revamp the nations tranGpor- tation system overnight"
 Comnsutess Stranded
 Trucks, planes and water trans portation facilities will be mar sl1alled to carry foods, medical and ley Johnston. They were at Union Station last night ready to board 8 Cleveland-bound express when they received an urgent White House plea to remain In Washington. A few minutes later, the train pulled out without them.
 Government pressure to obtain tl1eir acceptance of the presidential proposal had failed up to an early hour today. Further attempts were public health supplies, fuels and a minimum supply of other necessi- ties. ....,.
 However, there appeared to be no way to prevent thousands of conn., muters from being stranded or freight from clogging terminals if the strike occurs. The delay by the unions in acting on Mir. Truman's proposal forestalled issuance of necessary orders yesterday.
 There was no longer any doubt that the engineers and trainmen would support their leaders even though the roads were under Fed eral operation. They gave the country taste of what 8 strike will mean last Saturday when the walk out was postponed only a few min- utes before the P. M. EDT dead line. The five-day delay was not announced until after many trains had been canceled and one of the worst transportation sr1arls in his- tory occurred.
 Since the postponelnent, Govern ment labor experts have been con- ferring with union and railroad representatives here. The talks reached climax last night at the White House.
 Offers 20 Cents More
 Mr. Truman asked Whitney and Johnston to abandon their demands for rules changes and accept daily wage increase of $l.48 q day, 20 cents more daily than the sum rec commended by presidential fact finding board.
 While the two men studied the proposition, Mir. Truman made the same proposal to three other oper- ating unions-flrenen, switchmen and conductors the IS non- operating brotherhoodS and the railroads. All accepted.
 Whitney and Johnston then told the President they would take the proposal under consideration. They told reporters that they had re- ceived "sort of 6 proposition" !" White House Press Secretary Charles G. Ross said they had agreed to return with their answer by noon today.
 Instead, the two checked out of their hotel and headed for Union Station to board @ train for their home offices in Cleveland. Whit ney then revealed the terms of the proposition and said 1t ''is less fav- orable than the award recommend ed by the fact-finding board"
 All Accommodation Rejected
 The board had recommended a $1.2S day wage increase and some rules changes which the railroads estimated would add another 20 cents a day to the income of train men and engineers. Most of the rules changes involved money. The two unions had rejected all of the recommendations as inadequate.
 .Trainnien and engineers now earn between $4,oOO- and $6.OO0 an- nually.
 When Whitney and Johnston ar rived at the train platform, one of their committeeman told them the White House wanted them on the telephone. The caller was Presi- den4aal Adviser John P. Steelman