Evening star., 1950-08-25
Rolls
Continued From First Page. J

by both management and unions
that there would be no walkout.
The unions telegram to the
President this morning said:
1--WE wish to personally advise
you that at the concluding con-
ference presided over by DR..
Steelman. in the east wing of the
White House from 3 to 4 pm.
Wednesday. August %, 1850, no
mention whatsoever was made re-
garding the calling of any Ma
tion-wide strike. and therefore
any statement to the effect that
we had broken our pledge is 100
per cent false"
1t was signed respectfully" by
w. P. Kennedy, president of the
trainmen, and r. o. Hughes, presi-
dent Of the conductors.
White House Talks Collapse.
The strike call was issued after
the collapse Of White House.
sponsored peace talks directed by
John r. Steelman, assistant to
the PRESIDENT. -~- 49, >..
In advance of the cabinet
session, a prominent administra-
ton official said seizure of the
rail industry-either today or to-
morrow-probably will be the
Presidents method of dealing with
the crisis.
II don't believe the President
can do anything else but seize."
said this official, asking that his
name not be used. THE only
question is when."
He added. however, that he ex-
pected seizure before tomorrow
night. This would avoid costly
strike preparations by the rail-
roads, 1t was explained. and pos
sible advance curtailments in
service at a time when the carriers
are moving troops and supplies for
the Korean fighting.
Two Other Courses.
The official said the President
has two other courses besides
seizure, but they are unlikely,
One would be to ask a court in
junction to forbid the walkout of
100000 trainmen and conductors.
But the legal ground for such ac-
tion is not settled.
The other would be a personal
appeal from Mr.. Truman for the
unions and carriers to speed a
settlement. But the wage-hour
dispute has dragged on now since
March. 1949. and it is hardly like
ly that any such appeal could re-
suit in an agreement before 6 am.
Monday, the strike deadline.
The unions have said their
members will work in the event
OF seizure. They then would be
Government employees and could
be compelled by the courts to
continue working, anyway. Under
seizure the Government would let
the railroads operate as usual,
with the same pay and other
working conditions for employees,
until the labor dispute is settled.
Pointing up the urgency of the
situation was a tie-up of railroads
in Canada, bringing hardships to
many communities and touching
off move for emergency legisla-
ton to deal with the crisis.
To Consider Donnell Bill.
Meanwhile, the Senate Labor
Committee was due to take an
other look today at the bill by
Senator Donnell, Republican Of
Missouri to bar all rail strikes
and require arbitration of labor
disputes in the industry.
Senator Donnell said he is con-
sidering changing his bill to
make it apply only "as a war
measure" for the time being. This
was suggested also by Senator
Holland. Democrat Of Florida,
who termed the present strike
threat tragic news for America
but good news to the Kremlin
and splendid news to Commun-
lists everywhere"
Officials of the Association of
American Railroads estimated
that if the threatened rail strike
goes into effect, about 100000
rail workers in all categories,
operating and clerical, would be
made idle. r.
The dispute is over union de-
mands for a 40-hour week and
31-cent hourly pay boost to re-
place the present 48-hour week
for yard service employees, plus
pay boost approximately Is per
cent for train service employees.
The railroads accepted a White