Evening star., 1946-09-30
Two More ConciIiators
On Power WaIkout
Arrive in PITTSBURGH
BY fi,e Assoeioted Press

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 30.-Hopes
for settlement of Pittsburghs power
strike turned today to Federal con-
ciliators assigned to help find solu-
ton in the dispute which has pre-
cipitated a crisis in the Nation s
tenth largest city.
The Cancellation Service in WASH
ington asked that the principals in
the controversy-repreSentatives of
the Duqesne Light Co., and an in
dependent union of 5000 employees
enter into aSl immediate and con-
tinous negotiating session until the
issues are settled.
William Margolis of New York and
Lucian Rye of Baltimore, named by
the Labor Department as the con-
ciliators, arrived this morning and
Immediately were closeted with Con-
ciliator Charles Kutz, who has been
working on the case since it de-
veloped.
Mr.. Kutz said I'VE hope" to resume
negotiations between the company
and the union later in the day.
Meanwhile, power continued to
flow in limited quantity to the steel
areas 100000 residents, but Mayor
David L. Lawrence, speaking over
the city's five radio stations last
night, told the citizens, We are a
stricken city.
Closer to Paralysis.
''We are continuing, for the time
to get enough power for our abso-
lutte needs. We still have limited
supply of water. We have lighted
streets and we are able to operate
our hospitals and institutions. But
each day since this strike was called
has brought us closer to paralysis, I"
the Mayor said.
ITO this hour the city has STAYED
off an absolute 'blackout' of power
But no one can truthfully say that
we can do so in the future"
He said power comes from "far
points in the country" and that it is
kept coming by the supervisory
workers of the company who have
lived in the plants since the inde-
pendent union pulled its men off
the jobs"
The most far-reaching effect of
the power strike has been the tight
shutdown of transit service by 1900
streetcars and 125 buses. Trolley
men and bus operators of the AFL-
Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway and Motorcoach Employees
voted Saturday to respect picket
lines thrown up at car barns and
garages by the independent union
At the same time, the AFL unionists
declared themselves not in sympathy
with the power unions strike.
Thousands Kept From Jobs.
Lack of transportation has kept
thousands from their jobs, while
thousands more are out of work be-
cause of industry ShutdoWns to con-
serve electricity.
Possibilities of water shortage in
several neighboring communities
were eased with an announcement
by Works Director James S. Devlin
that the city had sufficient reserves
to provide water badly needed at
some suburban places.
Ono top of the power strike and
transit shutdown Pittsburgh faced
a possible strike tonight by 1900
employees of eight major hotels.
President John Kenny of Local 237,
AFL Hotel and Restaurant Employees
Alliance, said the workers have re-
jected wage proposals from the man
agement. Their contract expires at
midnight. The workers are voting
today on whether to strike or con-
tinue negotiations.
The assignment of the two new
conciliators to the power strike came
after a deadlock was reached be-
tween management and union. The
workers voted Saturday night to
reject per cent pay increase
and other concessions. The COM
pany then withdrew the offer and
urged that the problem be arbi-
trated, course it recommended pre-
The union demands 20
per cent pay hike, which President
George L. Mueller of the union said
would raise the average rate of pay
from S118 to 81 Al an hour.