U.S. RAILWAY DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 7

U.S. RAILWAY DEADLOCK.

CONGRESS TO BE CALLED. STRIKERS SEEK CONFERENCE. COMPROMISE SUGGESTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 5-5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. . NEW YOKE. Aug. IS. A committee of nine leaders of the railway shopworkers on strike, together with the chiefs of the four railway brotherhoods, will meet in Washington to-day to endeavour to reopen direct negotiations with the railway executives. The committee endeavoured to persuade the President to intercede, but Mr. Harding is understood to have refused to take further action. It is stated that the railway executives will accept the men's proposals for a further conference if the former have any new, definite proposals for a settlement. It is understood that the railway brotherhoods will propose that the strikers be taken back with seniority rights second to those employees who remained at work. Tho Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that the railway executives have been asked to consider a suggestion by the Administration that they consent to a voluntary Government receivership of those railways which are unable to operate, the Government to j give other railways protection where j needed. Mr. Harding conferred to-day with the Inter-State Commerce Commission and Mr. H. C. Hoover regarding the condition of railway equipment. Members of the House of Representatives hone that Mr. Harding will not ask for legislation to deal with the railway situation. They claim that the Administration already has sufficient powers, to cope with the situation. Republican leaders fear that the strike will have an injurious effect upon their chances at the November election. Mr. Harding has not determined whether he will ask for legislation. The Department for Justice seea the band of the I.W.W. in the Santa Fe disturbances. The Attorney-General may appoint an Assistant Attorney-General at Los Angeles to direct the Government's legal forces in dealing with the troubles in California, Arizona and New Mexico. The dislocation of railway services; in Kentucky has become serious. Shooting was in progress throughout tho nieht between guards and strikers on the Chicago-Milwaukee, St. Paul railway, at Green May, Wisconsin, but there were no casualties. The leader of the shopworkers has revealed that they unanimously rejected the President's second compromise proposal, on the ground that failure to determine the seniority status of the strikers would create chaos. The Union Pacific Railway has announced a settlement with the strikers. The Southern Pacific also reporta that the members on the railway brotherhoods are returning.