U.S. RAILWAY DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18180, 28 August 1922, Page 7

U.S. RAILWAY DEADLOCK.

NEGOTIATIONS COLLAPSE, SEIZURE OF LINES MOOTED. PRESIDENT STILL HESITATES By Telear&Dh—Prees Association— Copyrisht.' (Received 4.6 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORE, Aug. 25. The negotiations to end the American railway strike have collapsed. The executives of the companies and the'leaders of the four railway brotherhoods who have been endeavouring to mediate on behalf of the shopworkers have been in con/erence for several days, but the discussion ended abruptly on the railway companies refusing flatly to restore the seniority of the strikers. 0 ■ . i It is'learned that the President intends waiting a few days to see what steps the railways take to meet the situation, caused by the collapse of the peace negotiations, after which, if nothing is done to improve the service, he will ask Congress to seize the lines. *" . Mr. Edge has introduced a resolution in th« Senate empowering the President to seize tho lines immediately. Strong opposition has developed in the Senate to legislation giving the Government extraordinary powers to deal with the industrial situation. Both Mr. J. A. Beed and Mr. A. O* Stanley, Democrats, opposed the Coal Commission Bill on the ground that sufficient law exists for the purpose and the proposed investigation means useless delay. Mr. Reed suggested that the Congress adjourn sine die, adding that this would be the best service it could render to the country. Mr. Stanley said that nationalisation of the coalmines would be a grave mistake and would work injury fo the nation-; Mr. Cummins announced that he; proposed to introduce legislation next week to empower the Administration to-- take over some railways and the anthracite mines according to Mr. Harding's wishes. Intensification of the railway strike is threatened by the announcement of .Mr. Grable, president of tho Maintenance Way Employees, that ' the Railway Labour Board will ask fop an increase ojj rthejr pay from 23 to 48 cents an hour.'