Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-22
TRAIN MEN PROTEST
Railway BrotherhOods Object to
Cut in Wages.
FORMAL STATEMENT .ksyD
Compensation Based on Miles,
This is Already Reduced
PAY DECREASES WITH TRAFFA
Added to This is Increased Cost of
Living Away from Home.
NO REDUCTION BY CENTRAL
President Newman Tells Committee
of Trainmen and TeleEraDhers
NO REDUCTION By CENTRAL
President Newman Tells Committee
of Trainmen and TeIeErnDhers
that NO Cut IL COntem-
plated.

CLEVELAND. o., Feb. n.-warren s.
Stone, grand chief OF the Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers. today made the fol-
lowing statement in connection with the
reported purpose of some railway COM
panies 70 order a general reduction in the
wages Of employees;
THE threatened reduction OF wages Of
employees in train service is absolutely un-
justified from any point Of view Their
pay Is based on mileage basis, practically
plecework, and they are only paid when
these services are performed Wages Of
employees in train service fall parallel with
the, shrinkage in business, plus increased
living expenses away from home. When
their earnings are $50 per month their ex-
pense OF living away from home is about
Is per cent while at the present reduced
rate Of s70-whch has TO be met by hum
dreds-under present conditions that ex-
pense win increase into at least 20 per
cent OF earnings because they are held
away from the home terminal until there
is a full tonnage train to be handled, maxi
ing a total automatic reduction already in
wages OF from 80 to 70 per cent.
"The roads are getting the same return
in freight receipts for the service rendered
as they did when the business was good.
to accept further reductions than result
from the present business shrinkage. and
the full power Of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers will be used IL necessary
in an effort to prevent any further reduc-
tion. because it would be absolutely un-
just"
WagewORkers Are BIameIess.
William G. Lee, assistant grand master
OF the Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen.
speaking for his organization on the same
subject. dictated the following:
1.-THE wage workers have not had a thing
to do with this panic and loss OF business
except to suffer from the Acknowledgement
Of some employers and spectators who
blundered in tie game of dollars on Wall
street. II he works he produces just as
much per hour as he ever did. HIS living
expenses are just as high as before.
"All classes OF trninmen are paid by the
mile or trip; and seduction OF miles run
or trips made, means a reduction of the
amount paid by the employer
There can be no good argument pre-
sented why trainmen should receive lower
trip or mileage rates for miles run. Freight
trains are not run unless business requires
It. Corporations never carry an overload
of labor, but labor Is usually compelled to
carry an overload Of capitalization.
1T is no fault OF labor that financiers
play with the money and lose, nor is it
the business of labor to suffer the losses
sustained when its employers reach too far
into the fire and get their fingers burned
"Our principal business Is to maintain
the present standard Of living which means
to hold to the present standard Of wages
and unless signs fail, railroad employees
VIII oppose to the bitter end any attempt to
reduce wages"
NO Reduction by Central.
NEW YORK. Feb. 21.-A committee Of
twenty-five railroad men representing the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
Firemen, Trainmen, Conductors and Tele-
graphers met here today to take action
relative to the reported reduction of wages
by railroads in the country, President New
man Of the New York Central, sent COM
munication to the injecting to the effect
that no reduction Of employees wages on
the Central or allied lines is contemplated.