Evening star., 1947-04-08
U. 5. Is Hopeful
InLong-Distance
Phone parIeys
Settlement Possible
Today; Talks Held
With Other Unions

SNeN~s~~ >SAASAAAeVoA GpO4 NJ
Manno declared this afternoon
that the Government Is hope
full" Of a settlement today in the
telephone walkout of long-dis-
tance system employees. He made
this report as concerted national
and local meetings were under
way here to end the country
wide strike.
Mr.. Names comment came while
representatives of the American
Telephone q Telegraph Co. and the
American Union OF Telephone
Workers, consisting Of long-lines
employees, were conferring at the
Labor Department
At the same time, Chesapeake 6
Potomac Co. officials and repre-
sentatives OF the District Federation
of Telephone Workers and the
Washington Telephone Traffic Union
resumed conferences for the first
time since the strike started at s
am. yesterday.
Other Sessions Held.
The session between the company
and the District federation, made
up of maintenance, accounting and
either. employees, began at IL am
at the hamilton Hotel. Federal
Conciliator Elmer r. Bell, who ar
ranged the meeting, also brought
together officials of the company
and the operators union, the WITH.
at the hotel at pm.
Still another important meeting
began this afternoon when the 40
members of the policy committee of
the National Federation OF Tele-
phone Workers gathered again at
the Statler Hotel.
At the White House Presidential
Secretary Charles G. Ross replied,
mo comment" when asked If the
Government plans action against
the telephone strikers or John l..
Lewis.
Asked If President Truman had
conferred with Labor Secretary
Schwellenbach on the telephone and
n1ineworkers situations. Mr.. Ross
said Nothing you would call a con-
ference" He added, of course, the
President knew what was going on.
Earlier Mr.. Ross said the Cabinet
would meet tomorrow but would not
discuss the strike.
IS Basis for Settlement Seen.
Any settlement terms proposed at
the Labor Department conciliation
conference on the long lines situa-
tion would have to be submitted to
! the Policy COMMITTEES for approval,
John j. Moran, president of the
AUTW, said. Mr.. Moran also is
chairman Of the NFTW Policy Com
nittee.
Mr.. Manno explained that settle
i1ent Of the long distance phase
would not automatically end the en-
tire strike Of more than 294, 700 tele-
phone workers.
It was recalled, however, that a
last-minute settlement in the long
lines division year ago provided
the base for an agreement for the
whole industry. Federal conciliators
therefore have been concentrating
on this aspect of the national pic
ture.
I'VE are hopeful that a settlement
will be effectuated in the long lines
today" MFR. Manr,o announced.
Mr.. Moran remarked that the
question of a settlement was "up to
the company"
Federal Cancellation Director Ed
gar L. Warren, meanwhile, was con-
ferring this afternoon with repre-
sentatives Of the Southwestern Bell
Telephone Co. and the Southwest
ern Telephone Workers Union.
900 Still Working.
Washington still had greatly cur
tailed long-distance service but
normal operation Of the dial system.
About 81 per cent of all telephones
here are on the dial system. The
company handled 2,455 emergency
long distance calls from the start
Of the strike at s am. yesterday to
O. am. today. It normally put
through $4,000 during 24-hour Pc
Rod.
Reporting a total of more than
900 managerial, supervisory and
other employees still working. the
company said 584 were on duty this
morning. This compares with
normal total of 3,257 at that period
Of the day.
The company said it had rs in the
trafic control department, 1853 in the
plant maintenance division, 1872 in
the cable splicing department. 15s in
the commercial business office and
40 In the accounting department. In
each category the totals were far
below normal. The company de-
clared 1t not only Is handling ener-
gency long distance calls but is con-
tinuing to operate the three manual
telephone exchanges In the District
and nearby Maryland.
The walkout Of maintenance men
(See TELEPHONE. Page A-3J