St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri · Page 1

ON TODAY'S EDITORIAL PAGE Queries on the Tax Plan: Editorial. Seizure of the Coal Mines: Editorial and Cartoon. False Religious Issue in India: From the Louisville Courier-Journal. PATCH FINAL (Closing New York Stock Prk) Vot 98. No. 259. (63th Year). ST. LOUIS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 194532 PAGES PRICE 5 CENTS STL POST mam. i raf.em C. OF C. REPORT PREDICTS WOK FOR 784,000 II ST. LOUIS AREA Survey Indicates Expendi- ture of $587,000,000 for Postwar Building and Improvements Outlay Classified. Expenditures for postwar con struction and other improvements in the St. Louis metropolitan area will reach $387,000,000, and em ployment 'will rise from 622,300 as of last February to 784,000, accord ing to estimates prepared by the Chamber of Commerce Committee for Economic Development. The findings were published in the chamber's current publication, Commerce, made publio today. The entire bulletin was devoted to the committee's report, which is captioned "Metropolitan St. Louis Blueprints Its Future." In an opening: statement the magazine says: "Many of those who have all along; considered themselves purveyors of optimism for St. Louis and her future unquestionably due for surprise when they see the true enormity of the plans for St. Louis's post war expansion, new construction and employment programs. "Having been forced, hertofore. to digest information on our post war plans piecemeal, no one, to our knowledge, had a full realiza- tion of the truly staggering proportions of our reconversion pro gram The statement emphasized that all estimates were made only after thorough study and reliable survey, but pointed out that their early realization would hinge in large part on removal of "existing barriers to the free flow" .of materials and labor. Construction Projects. Anticipated expenditures for construction and improvements, for which definite plans have been announced, were listed as follows: Existing industries, $$99,415,000; new industries, $62,955,200; retail business, $45,000,000; public improvements, $192,894,000; public utilities and transportation, $107,-833.8Q0; schools, $27,723,550; highways, $17,060,000; hospitals, $11,-166.940; housing (nominal), $11,-000,000; miscellaneous improvements, $12,771,510. The $11,000,000 figure covers only publicly announced housing projects and does not include plans for many residential and apartment developments known to be in process, the report said. Miscellaneous projects include church construction plans totaling $4,360,-900; theaters. $2,240,000, and the St. Louis Cardinals' baseball park, $1,500,000. Of the large amount estimated for public improvements, the bulk $142.035,000 will be spent by the city of St. Louis, the report said. Included were projects provided under bond issue funds and other Continued on Page 6, Column 4. Cloudy, Warmer THE TEMPERATURES. 1 a m. 62 9 a.m. 6S 2 a.m. 61 10 a.m. 68 3 a-m. 60 11 l in. i 4 a.su 59 12 noon 72 5 a.m. 57 ' 1 p.m. 72 6 a.m. 58 2 p.m. 72 7 a.m. 59 3 p.m. 74 8 a.m. 62 4 p.m. 74 ?iarmal maximum thli flate, 78; normal aummum. 60. Trttrrda?' tush, 73 at 5:30 p.m. : low. 50 at 6 a.m. J-oUmi -rount 24 houra to 9 a.m.; Grass, 11 aaisut. 4. dork. 2. Wtatiier in usher citiea on Past 10-A. Official forecast for St. Louis and vicinity: Partly cloudy to cloudy tonight and tomorrow, with likelihood of occasional showers beginning - t -morrow afternoon or night; wanner tonight; lowest temperature tomorrow morning about S 0; continued mild tomorrow; highest temperatures near 80. MIouri: Partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunder-' storms in west Nobody loves bread SHORTENING. OSt-DliPATCH WEATHER BIRO M it a . o portion; warmer in east and south portions tonight; tomorrow, scat tered showers and thunderstorms; cooler in west portion; lowest temperature tonight in 60s. Illinois: Mostly fair and warm' er tonight except scattered thun-dershowers in extreme west portion by morning; tomorrow, con siderable cloudiness with scattered showers and thunderstorms and continued warm. Sunset, 8:12; sunrise (tomorrow), 5:43. Stage of the Mississippi at St Louis. 12.2 feet, a fall of 0.8; the Missouri at St. Charles, 17.2 feet, a fall of 0.8. I AH rnn'.brr data, including fnrcat and temperatures. auDplird bj L. S. Weather llurrau. I AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE To grl looking lor a job: Telephone op-eraoi is Greater St. Louis start at J27 for 4j-ho'jr week. A?ter twelve months, many ara J35 weekly. Further details available t Teeohce Employment Office, Room 1434. 10.0 Pine. (Adv.) SECRET SOVIET-NAZI PACTS ON EASTERN Publicly Hanged KARL HERMANN FRANK (From photo rade at Wiesbaden, Germany. May 13. 1945. by Paul Berg of the Post -Dispatch PICTURES staff, then on leave as a combat photographer.) FRANK IS HANGED Nazi Overlord Publiclv Executed Given Extra Hour of Life to Write Farewell Letters. PRAGUE, May 22 (AP) Karl Hermann Frank, former Reich's 'protector" of Bohemia and Mo ravia, was hanged today in a courtyard outside the People's Court chamber while the widows of Lidice milled in the throng about Pankra prison. ' Frank was convicted by a Czech people's court yesterday on charges of responsibility for the massacre of the men of Lidice a village of about 500 population IS miles from Prague which was obliterated by the Nazis in June, 1942, in revenge for the slaying of Relnhard Heydrich, deputy chief of the Gestapo. The people's court denied Frank's appeal for mercy before setting the time and place of execution. Frank was given an extra hour of life beyond the scheduled time for execution to write six farewell letters to his wife and children. TWO U.S. DESERTERS FOUND IN BRITAIN, HID TWO YEARS Pair Jumped Unit and Lived in Barns in Sparsely Settled North Devon. BARNSTAPLE, England, May 22 (AP) Two United States Army soldiers were arrested in a sparsely-settled area of North Devon, where they had been hiding for two years, and were hand-ec oyer to United States Military authorities today, p o 1 i c announced. The men, booked as Pvt. Johnny Caudille, 23 years old, of Melvin, Ky and Pvt. Carl Luther Sumerly of Lenoir City, Tenn., said they "jumped" their unit at Braunton two years ago and had been living "under barn roofs" ever since. Dogs Graded by 'Social Standing.' LONDON, May 22 (UP) The brochure of the Torbay Rise hotel at Chelston says "Guests' dogs are charged for at a rate of either one shilling (20c) or one shilling sixpence (30c) each day, according to size and social standing of the dog." ; ft . Af. ' U f LICE'S WIDOWS AMONG CROWD AS Baby Not 'Sweet and Pretty Mother Abandons It, Repents (Pictures in Everyday Magazine.) BURLINGTON, la., May 22 she "couldn't bear (AP) A young Chicago mother who yesterday left her nine-day- old son in a hospital and boarded a train for California after leaving a note to her husband indi cating disappointment because her baby was not "a sweet and pretty little boy," has changed her mind. The mother, Mrs. Marjorie Ashe, 20 years old, was reunited with her husband James, 27, at the police station last night after he flew here following: her tele phone call. She's been sick," Ashe said as he embraced his wife. "But she's all right now. And we both think we've got the most beautiful baby in the world." Ashe said his son was a "per fect baby" without a birthmark or a blemish. Mrs. Ashe. In the note left at the hospital for her husband, said EUROPE AIRED Purported 1 e x t s on Agreed Spheres of In fluence Produced a Nuernberg but Not Ad mitted at Trial. By RICHARD L. STOKES Of the Post-Dispatch Staff. NUERNBERG. May 22 (By Radio) The Post-Dispatch presents herewith what purports to be the authentic text of the famous "Secret Protocol" for partitioning Po land and disposing of the Baltic states which was signed by For eign Commissar V. M. Molotov and oreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop at Moscow on the nieht of Aue. 23. 1939. It is fol lowed by an amendment transfer ring Lithuania to Russia with recompense for Germany in Poland which the same statesmen exe cuted at Moscow on Sept. 28. 1939 The existence of the "Secret Pro tocol" was first mentioned during the defense of Rudolf Hess. It was brought into notice Dy vr Alfred Seidl, attorney for Hans Frank, Nazi Governor General of Poland. At the insistence of the Russian prosecution, which has always shown itself actutely sensi tive in this matter, Seidl was stopped in his tracks. Some weeks later he returned to the attack and after a vehement struggle was per mitted to place in evidence the so- called "Gauss affidavit." This was an account of the contents of the documents which was drafted from memory by Dr. Wllhelm Gauss, legal adviser of the Nazi foreign orrice, who drew up the non-ag gression treaty between the Reich and the Soviet Union. Diplomat Who Knew. On the witness stand of the in ternational military tribunal yesterday and this morning was a diplomat of the old school, Ernst von Weizsaecker, who served at the Foreign Office during the min istries of Constantin von Neurath and Ribbentrop and who then be came the last German ambassador at the Vatican. Weizsaecker is a man with abundant white hair and a thoughtful, scholarly face. After his direct examination was concluded, the court president. Lord Justice Sir Geoffrey Law rence, asked as usual whether other defense counsellors had ques tions they wished to put. Among the first to reach the microphone was tbe indomitable Dr. Seidl. He flourished several typewritten sheets. Like a hand grenade he tossed the following interrogation into the arena: "On Aug. 23, 1939, were there other agreements between the Ger man and Soviet governments which are not contained In the non-aggression pact?" The chief Russian prosecutor, Gen. Roman Rudenko, was instantly on his feet. He asked that the question be ruled out on the ground that it had nothing to do with the defense of Grand Adm. Erich Raeder. Lawrence instructed Seidl to go ahead. The witness replied that there was a secret protocol containing agreements which he himself saw and read in his capacity as State secretary in the Foreign Office. Text Is Produced. T have before me," Seidl continued, waving his papers, 'a text in which there can be no doubt that these agreements are faithfully and authentically reproduced. I shall have this text submitted to you." The attorney explained to the court that he wished to read the documents into the record and then ask the witness whether to the best of his recollection the original text of the agreements was accurately given. Rudenko protested that the tribunal is hearing the cases of German war criminals and not examining the treaties of Allied countries. Seidl was asked the source of the documents. He answered: "I got it a few weeks ago from a man on the Allied side who seems entirely reliable to me, but I received it only on condition that I would not divulge the exact source." Documents Rejected. Rudenko objected that the papers were of unknown and anonymous origin. He was supported by the American deputy prosecutor, Thomas J. Dodd. who suggested, however, that Weizsaecker should be permitted to relate the Continued on Page 6, Column 2. to think of taking him home and showing mm to everyone. I think it would have eaten my heart completely away. O, if God had just made him cute, how happy we would have been." Meanwhile, the baby was at their home, being cared for ,by Mrs. Ashe's mother, Mrs. Ruth Dyke. Mrs. Ashe, who had bought a ticket for San Francisco, said she remembered getting on a train but everything was "hazy" and she went to sleep. She said when she awoke she asked the conductor where she could get off and left the train at Burlington. After she called her husband he called police and asked them to care for her until his arrival. YOU'LL IE HEARING STARS when you tuna in tha sparkling FRED , oi nr r i ... i - I "nuino j r i u . , j. o c n i rr'j every nigininLj, i :foooe;r.o5nc?; .dv.) 1 Monday through rnday to: KSD. 550 on your dial. (Ad CONNALLY SAYS RIGHT TO DRAFT PEACE BELONGS TO ALL OF JE ALLIES Criticizes Soviet Stand on G e ri e r a I Conference, Asserts He's Opposed to Any of Big 4 Using 'Veto' on Pacts. WASHINGTON, May 22 (AP) Senator Connally (Dem.), Texas, told the Senate today it is his "fundamental view" that all the nations which fought on the Allied side should write the peace treaty, not the foreign ministers of the four big powers. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made the statement in a report on the Paris foreign ministers' conference which he and Senator Vandenberg (Rep.), Michigan, attended as advisers to Secretary of State Byrnes. Explaining the hitches which developed over a peace confer ence, Connally said the three- power Moscow conference in De cember 1945 agreed that the for eien ministers should draft a set tlement and then call a peace conference. Who Gave Them That Power?" The Soviets now contend, he went on, that treaties cannot be signed or submitted until the Big Four Russia, Britain, France and the United States reach an agreement. Calling that contrary to fundamental rights, Connally asked, "who gave them that pow er?" "In my view, the primary power of makinsr a peace treaty rests with all the nations which bore arms against the enemy states," he said. Byrnes, In his radio report on the conference Monday night said that if a general peace conference could not be arranged this sum mer, he would take the matter to the United Nations General As sembly. Russia has opposed a peace conference until the Big Four powers agree among them selves concerning the peace treaties. Connally Opposes "Veto." Connally told his colleagues: "I'm protesting against the four ministers writing the peace treaty and submitting it to a peace con ference and when it comes back to them permitting one of the ministers to veto It if he doesn't like its terms. I don't subscribe to that sort of doctrine at all." As Connally spoke, he grasped a pointer and turned the Senate into a classroom to explain the diplomatic problems of Europe with the aid of a large wall map. Connally's review followed yes terday's report by Vandenberg that the "success" of the confer ence lay in developing a bi-partisan United States foreign poli cy program, including proposals for a unified Germany and de militarization against a resurg ence of axis aggression. Senators Join Vandenberr In Backing Bi-Partisan Policy. By t'alted Press. Both Republican and Demo cratic Senators joined Vandenberg in praising the bi-partisan ap proach to international issues. Senator LaFollette (Prog.), Wis consin, told reporters that it is extremely desirable" that the United States present a united front. Senator Wheeler (Dem.), Mon tana, an opponent of the administration's foreign policy, said he agreed "entirely" with the recom mendations for immediate draft ing of peace treaties and unifying Germany. Republican leader White, Maine, told reporters that Vandenberg's leadership paved the way for a bi-partisan foreign policy. Senator Taft, Ohio, chairman of the Republican steering commit tee, likewise agreed there was a "strong" possibility of removing foreign policy from party lines. Senator H. Alexander Smith (Rep.), New Jersey, termed Van denberg's report "the best news I've heard." Sen. Edwin C. Johnson (Dem.), Colorado, declared himself "in full accord" with Vandenberg's speech. In Moscow the Soviet Govern ment newspaper Izvestla devoted 150 words of indirect quotations to Byrnes's Monday night address. Izvestia made no editorial comment. PHILIPPINE ARMY OFFICE HELD UP AGAIN, $100,000 IS TAKEN Bandits Rob Finance Chief at Iloilo City Second Time In Two Weeks. MANILA, May 22 (AP) Col Amado Dumlao, Philippine Army intelligence chief, reported today that the Army finance officer at Iloilo City in central Luzon had been held up for the second time in two weeks and robbed of 200,-000 pesos ($100,000). There were no details. Two weeks ago the Iloilo Army office was held up by 16 bandits who obtained 25,000 pesos ($12,500). The largest recorded Philippines robbeil occured several months air O Allien ff a Chinese bank mes- zzgizr robbed ot 430'000 pesos ($215,000). 'FINAL' PEACE PROPOSITION PRESENTED BY RAIL UNIONS; U.S. TAKES OVER THE MINES U. KEEPS E, BUT PUTS OF IT OFF NDEFINI ELY Council Acts After Envoy Ala Voices Doubt All Red Troops Have Left Despite Tehran Note Indicating They Have. By FRANCIS W. CARPENTER NEW YORK, May 22 (AP) The United Nations Security Council decided today to continue the Iranian case indefinitely after hearing Iranian Ambassador Hussein Ala express doubt that all Soviet troops had left his troubled country. The vote by the 10 of the 11 members present was unanimous. Russia continued its boycott, Soviet Delegate Andrei A. Gromyko remaining away because the discussion concerned the Iranian question. Ala told the Council in a two and one-half hour session that he believed Iran's case should stay on the agenda. He thus gave support to a demand made earlier in the session by United States Delegate Edward R. Stettinlus and British Delegate Sir Alexander Cadogan. After hearing Ala, .Stet- tinius said he believed "more than ever that action should be deferred." Case Left Subject to CalL Although the Council voted to keep the case on its books, it adjourned discussion of the matter indefinitely to meet demands of some delegates for clarification of the situation.' This would permit the case to be brought up anytime a member desires. The Council rejected by an S to 2 vote a Polish proposal to send a telegram to Premier Ahmed Qavam of Iran asking a straight "yes or no" answer to whether he was satisfied with the . Soviet evacuation. France and Poland were the only delegations voting for that motion. No date for the next meeting was set, the 'Council adjourning subject to the call of the chairman. Can't Give Definite Report. Ala told the Council he believed "it was long after May 6 when all rf 4Ka slnvtot t rnrm wor with- drawn from Iran if they are actually out now." He made this statement only a few hours after sending the Council a telegram from Premier Qavam stating a commission had found no trace of Soviet troops and that local people in the re gions of Azerbaijan province vis ited by the commission tola it me Russians left Azerbaijan on May 6. Iran's propaganda minister. Prince Firouz. said yesterday all soviet troops were out of Iran and that Ala's statement Monday that Kus- sian interference had not ceased did not represent the views of the Iranian Government. Ala told the Council today that the Russians had created and trained Azerbaijan's army, that Iran had no control in that prov ince and that he could not say that interference had ceased. He said that Qavam had asked that the question of Soviet withdrawal of troops from Iran be dropped. but had said nothing about with drawing Iran's other complaint. that of Soviet Interference In Iranian affairs. Dr. Oscar Lange, Polish delegate, charged that the Council's attitude on the whole affair has served to make "Iran a perpetual football of big power politics." Answering pointed questions by Dr. Lange concerning the evacuation of troops and interference in Iran's affairs, Ala said that Qa-vam's telegram was "not a cate gorical statement" that all troops were out of Iran. Ala asserted that Qavam's telegram indicated Ira . believed that on the basis of available information the evacuation was completed. After saying that the Azerbaijan army had Deen "created Dy tne Soviet Army" and trained by it, he asked, "Does that not consti tute interference?" He asserted, "I cannot tell you that interference has ceased. . . . Now we are faced with a hostile army in Azerbaijan." U.S.-liritlsh Stand. Ala was invited to a seat at the Council table on the request of the Netherlands delegate. Dr. Eel-co Van Kleffens, following the American-British demand to keep the Iranian case on the agenda until a complete report has been made. Stettinius and Cadogan said the Iranian report to the Council that Soviet troops were out of the coun try by Ma 6 was "not the conclusive evidence that we felt was to be submitted to the Council." Cadogan said he would like answers to these questions: What proportion of Iranian ter- Continued on Page 6, Column 2. RAN A DISCUSSION THOUSANDS OF MEN STAY AWAY FROM THE COAL PITS Krug Seeks .Work Order by Lewis Talks to Him and Calls In Social Security Chief Alt-meyer. WASHINGTON, May 22 The nation's soft coal mines flew the American flag today, under Government operation, but thousands of John L. Lewis's United Mine Workers stayed away from the pits. Meantime the country waited to see whether Lewis would "support" the federal seizure by ordering his men to work for Uncle Sam, Under their "no contract, no work' slogan thousands of miners have stayed home during the two-week mine truce that expires at midnight Saturday. Additional thousands were idle today. Nearly 90,000 of the 100,000 Pennsylvania miners were idle yesterday before the seizure order. Today 90,550 Pennsylvania miners were off the job and only 411 commercial and captive mines, out of 1894, were working. In Kentucky 3000 miners were idle, 1000 presumably because of the seizure, which became effective at 12:01 a.m. today. In Illinois a majority of the United Mine Workers failed to go to the pits. Estimates were that at least 12,500 of the state's CHEVROLET, FISHER PLANTS HERE TO CLOSE TWO DAYS i i Shortage of Materials, Particularly Seat Springs, Forces. Closing. . The Chevrolet and Fisher Body plants, Union and Natural Bridge, will be shut down tomorow and Friday; due to a shortage of mate rials. About 4000 workers will be affected by the layoff. A company spokesman said It was expected that production would be resumed next Monday, provided shipments from Detroit are not interrupted by a railroad strike. The shortages include steel springs for seat cushions, assembled in the Fisher Body divi sion here. The plants resumed operations March 29, following settlement of the General Motors strike, and had attained a production of 800 passenger cars and trucks daily. jFORMER COLONEL ENLISTS J I " NOW IS MASTER SERGEANT TbJnlw He Can Do Better as In Army Than Civilian. NEW YORK, May 22 (AP) David Kirk, who was adjutant general of the Second Service Command with the rank of colonel until discharged last February, was back in the Army today as a master sergeant. He gave this reason for re-en listing yesterday: "Since my discharge I have been working for $6230 a year. Less in come tax deductions, this amounts to about $400 a month. As master sergeant I will draw $373 a month. Considering retirement privileges, and no worries about finding an apartment, I think I'll be doing very much becter in the Army; Kirk has had more than 27 years' service in the Army. EARL BROWDER IN MOSCOW, PAYS VISIT TO U.S. EMBASSY . MOSCOW, May 22 (UP) Earl Browder, former Communist party leader in the United States, made a courtesy call at the American Embassy today and chatted with embassy secretaries. He is staying at a hotel. Browder came from the United States by way of Sweden and Fin land. In Stockholm he said he was on the way to Russia to study the political situation. Nothing had been heard of him since he left Helsinki until his visit to the embassy here. G.I. Editor Rejects Bronze Star, Calls Award 'Farcical Routine' HONOLULU, May 22 (UP)' Former Master Sgt. Charles Ave- don, ex-managing editor of the mid-Pacific edition of the Stars and Stripes, wrote a letter "to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower today declining the Bronze Star because "the medal has been so cheapened." Avedon, 38 -year -old former writer for the movies in Hollywood, was informed in a letter from the War Department that the medal was to be awarded for his work on Stars and Stripes. He told Eisenhower: "I hereby decline the medal because to most enlisted men and former enlisted men, it has be- i U. S. HAS SEIZED MINES 3 TIMES IN LAST 3 YEARS DUE TO LABOR DISPUTES WASHINGTON, May 22 (UP) THE Government has seized most of the nation's soft coal Industry three times because of labor disputes, all within the last three years. The late President Roosevelt first ordered seizure of the bituminous mines May 1, 1943, when the United Mine Workers began the first of four walkouts that year. The following summer the mines were re turned to private ownership. Roosevelt ordered them seized again after the miners struck Nov. 1, 1943. President Truman's seizure order was the third affecting nearly all the bituminous in dustry. Scattered mines were seized in the fall of 1944 because of a strike to enforce union recognition for supervisory workers. The anthracite mines, which employ about 70,000 workers compared with 400,000 in the bituminous industry, were seized in 1943 and 1945. 23,000 UMW members stayed off the job. Company officers said the union members had given no reason, President Hugh White of the Illinois UMW said he "couldn say" whether union members Continued on Page 2, Column 2. MAYOR GETS CAA PLEDGE OF AID ON 2 Will Ask Board to Ac' Monday to Condemn Tracts for Landing Fields Within City. By JOSEPH HANLON A Washington Correspondent the Post-Dispatch. of WASHINGTON, May 22 The city of St. Louis received the go- ahead signal from the Civil Aeronautics Administration today, to proceed with construction of new airports with Federal aid from the $500,000,000 fund for airport de velopment by cities and states, Mayor Aloys P. Kaufmann, after conferring with CAA officials, said he would cll a meeting of the Municipal Airport Commission in his office next Monday at 4 p.m., and would ask the Commission to take steps to condemn land for two new airports within the city. These are at Hampton and Colum bia avenues, and between River Des Peres and Weber road, east of Morganford road. The Mayor, accompanied by President Milton M. Kinsey of the Board of Public Service, who is chairman of the Airport Commis sion, learned from the CAA offl cials that the Federal assistance would be available for acquiring: land for airport purposes, as well as for improvement and construc tion. Close-in Sites Favored. Sites must be inspected and im proved by the CAA. The visitors discussed with the CAA officials the location of the proposed ports in respect to populated districts, and were told that sites as close to population as is feasible are fa vored. The St. Louis officials were in formed that Federal Government participation will be at the rate of $1 Federal money for every $3 city money, for acquisition of land; and dollar for dollar in lm provement and construction ex Continued on Page 6, Column 1. come a symbol of the farcical rou tine wherein armchair officers have long written their own citations. The more sensitive have exchanged recommendations and written each other's citations. "In my own case, my services merit far less reward than the least action of the least man who, fought in combat . . ." "Under the medal's present significance, if I accepted I wouldn't be keeping faith with the G.I.s for whom Stars and Stripes once spoke." CARTER CARIUKETOR CORP. NEE0S Experienced all-around tool makers for "experimental work. Steady work. Excellent workinq eondirioni. Apply Employment Of-fica, 2812 N. Spring. (Adv.) NEW A PORTS TRAINMEN'S HEAD SAYS IT IS BEST YET SUBMITTED Official Discloses Government Mediators Are Concentrating on Demand for Changes in Working Rules. WASHINGTON, May 22 (AP) President Truman invited representatives of the railroad operators and of the brotherhoods to the White House late today In what Press Secretary Charles G. Ross said was another effort "to effect a settlement" of the dispute which has a strike set for 4 p.m. (local standard times) tomorrow. WASHINGTON, May 22 (AP) John R. Steelman, presidential labor adviser, said today after an hour-long conference with the railroad brotherhoods that "I don't know about the chances for a settlement" before the rail strike truce expires at 4 p. m. tomorrow. Steelman gave this reply to reporters when asked about the prospects of an agreement. He said he would talk with the carriers' negotiating committee later in the day. Steelman declined to talk about a "final proposition" which A. F. Whitney, president of the trainmen, said the brotherhoods had submitted to the Government earlier. "I'm. deaf, .dumb and blind," Whitney told reporters in response to questions as he and Alvanley Johnston, president of the Engineers' Brotherhood, left their hotel suite for lunch. , Attention Centered on Rules. Meantime, a high government official said that government mediation efforts were being concentrated on the brotherhoods' de mands for working rules changes' rather than on wage demands of the 250,000 rail workers involved. He explained that "the rules are where the money really comes in." The five-day postponement of the strike expires at 4 p.m. (local standard time) tomorrow. "We gave Mr. Steelman a final proposition," Whitney said. "It is better than any w. have submitted yet" Whitney declined to eive any details, saying, "You'll have to asjc vr. bteeiman aoout that." He said it was the second offer made since the two brotherhoods scaled down their wage demands from an original minimum of $2-50 a day and a general 25 per cent In crease, to a minimum of $1.44 & day for lower paid employes with a general 18 per cent wage boost. We now are waiting to hear from the Government whether the new offer is acceptable to the carriers," Whitney said. Two hours after Whitney made his statement, the carriers spokesman tojd reporters "no new proposal Has been made to us yet either by the brotherhoods or by the White House." Meanwhile, the carriers said they intend to hold off issuing an embargo on shipments of perishable food and livestock until it becomes apparent no possible settle ment is in sight before the strike deadline. , Trouble Over Rules. f Negotiators said solution of the dispute would be relatively simple if only wages were at issue. One of the carrier spokesmen said , brotherhood demands for changes in 45 working rules were "by far the most troublesome feature In the whole picture." Among changes proposed by the brotherhoods of locomotive engl- . neers and trainmen are that the carriers pay for all uniforms and reimburse men for time lost during depot and switching delays and stopovers. The carriers estimate the pro- 1 posed rules changes would cost them $800,000,000 a year. They have agreed to pay a 16-cent hourly in crease for all their 1,400,000 workers as recommended by fact-finding boards functioning under the railway labor law. They estimate this would cost $619,000,000. Steelman told reporters he still was trying to work out . a com promise between the brotherhoods' pay demands and the fact-finding recommendations. In this be re ported making "perhaps a little progress ' but not much. The brotherhoods contend they can go ahead legally with their strike tomorrow, though railmen are now working for the govern- ment, because their walkout was formally arranged before the government took over. They contend ! the wartime Smith-Connally Act, penalizing strikes against the government, applies only to strikes promoted after federal seizure of an industry or enterprise. BY BROTHERHOODS 1 .