Evening star., 1946-05-19

notify Mr. Truman that the wage
Negotiations had broken down.
Mr.. Ross also said the heads of
the other three operating brother
Conductors, Switchmen and
Firemen and Enginemen-had been
notified of the strike postponement
that the resumption of wage nego-
tiations. There was a suggestion
that they also might be brought into
the picture, as they are seeking a
raise in a wage-arbitration award
which paralleled that rejected by the
trainmen and engineers when they
served notice Of a strike unless ad-
ditional demands were met.
The unions originally sought a
$3.50 daily wage boost. A Presiden-
tial fact-finding board handling the
trainmen and engineers case,
awarded them 16 cents an hour,
which amounted to $1.28 a day on
an eight-hour basis. The unions
countered with a demand for 13
per cent, or minimum boost of
Sl.44 daily. Negotiations collapsed
when the carriers refused to meet
this figure, which they said would
cost as much as 50 daily in the case
Of higher-paid employees.
Report of More Concessions.
There was union report in Cleve-
land after the strike truce was an
nounced that Mr.. Whitney had re-
ceived assurances from Mr.. Truman
that the brotherhoods would get
additional concessions.
There was no immediate comment
on this from the White House.
A spokesman for the Association
Of American Railroads said he knew
Of no agreement by the carriers to
go beyond previous offers. Other
persons close to the negotiations,
however, pointed to Mr.. Truman s
statement that he was confident
further progress could be made" and
said they took the language to mean
Mr.. Truman had something definite
in view.
In addition to the wage question
certain rules changes also are in dis
pute.
Coincidental with the announce
ment of the strike postponement
here, word of the same sort came
out OF union headquarters, as the
leaders of the two unions involved
flashed the code-"Convention"
and "Johnston"-to their 25O,0OO
members.
The delay in getting advice on
the truce through the country
however. disrupted train service
generally for several hours. Accord
ing to an Associated Press check up
many train crew members declined
to work until they had heard
directly from headquarters.
New York Reports Tie-up.
A New York Central official said
that 80 trains had been affected in
New York's Grand Central Station
alone, and train movements also
were upset here and in Baltimore,
Boston, Houston, Louisville, Gin
cinnati, Omaha and other cities.
Under the strike call, the walkout
was to begin at 4 o'clock local time
which meant that the break was to
come in the East and progress west
ward by one-hour stages. Daylight.
saving time complicated the plan in
some instances however. and ir
others, men due to take trains out
simply did not appear for work, &C
cording to some reports.
Service in the important Chicago
center was disrupted only slightly
and normal operations were not
long in being restored.
ODT Head Surprised.
Word of the postponement came
as surprise to Charles H. Buford
the Federal manager of the rail-
roads and ODT Director j. Monroe
Johnson, who took over the lines.
I'm glad to hear it," Mr. Buford
told reporters who brought him the
news. Il hope that employees ano
management can get together with
out penalizing the American people
Earlier in the day, Mr.. Buford
had bluntly asked the railroads I'd
hire strikebreakers if necessary to
maintain essential service. and I'd
call on the Army for help to protect
them, if such action was necessary
This telegram went to the rail-
roads AS well as to Maj. Gen. Ed
mond H. Leavey, head of the Army
Transportation Corps, and Brig. Gen
B. M. Bryan, assistant provost
marshal general.
In the event Of a strike, we ex-
pect railroad officers to take any
necessary action, including the re-
cruiting of new men, to maintain
essential rail service. and in so