The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-21
NO GENERAL WAGE REDUCTION SCHEME Railroads and Commerce Con- mission Declare That La
 bor's Apprehension is
 Groundless.
SOUTHERN LINES TO CUT
President of Louisville and Nashville Answering Rooseyelts Letter, Explains the Situ-
 atiOn.

Washington. Feb. 20.-Industrial and financial circles have been more or less concerned to-day over what they re- gard as a prospect that the railroads of the country have in contemplation a general reduction in the wage of theii employees,
 Such apprehension is practically groundless. Information which has reached the interstate commerce com mission particularly and other officials of the government who have a direct or indirect interest in industrial and railway matters, indicates clearly that there Is no concerted action on the part of the American railways to make gen. eral changes Tn their wage scales now or in the near future Instances of proposed readjustment of wage scales are cited in the cases of several south ern systems. the Southern Railway, the Louisville X Nashville, the Seaboard Air Line and the Atlantic Coast line leing named as practically the only roads in the country which may be af- fected. It is the intention of the of flcials of the lines named to consider with their employees the question of a readjustment of some, at least, of the wage scales now in force with view to reducing their operating expenses which they regard as necessary.
 The plans of the officials have not been worked out yet, even In a tenta- tive way, because it is their desire first to present the situation which con fronts them fairly and impartially to their employees. It is expected that the employees will meet them half way and no serious difficulty Is anticipated. The proposal in a general way, will be tc return to the wage scales which was in force about year ago, when gen eral advances in the pay of men in the operating departments Of the railroads throughout the country were advanced
 What conclusions will be reached it is not possible now definitely to fore tell. Assurances have been given by the railway officials that they have nc disposition to impose any hardship up- on their employees and they will not dc so.
 One other line. the Chicago and Grea, Western, has been mentioned as like. ly to reduce the wages of its employees IL can be said on authority that the re- ceivers of that road have no intention Of reducing or readjusting the wages now In force.
 Conference between the receivers or their representatives and the employees are to be held for the purpose of reaching a definite understanding as 10 the effect of the regulations so that as far as possible, the excessive over time charges shall be eliminated No step has been taken by the receivers, 1t is positively stated looking to re- duction of wages
 New York, Feb. 20.-President Mil ton Smith of the Louisville and Nash vllle road in statement given to the press to-day comments on the letter which President Roosevelt addressed to the interstate commerce commis- sion on Tuesday.
 President Smith first says that the Louisville & Nashville road in compi. ance with the order of the interstate commerce commission, furnishes tht commission with monthly statements Such data will show that during the past six years there has been ma terial increase in the pay of nearly al classes of labor, the last important in crease of many classes becoming ef. fective March 1, 1907; that during tn, five years ending June 19o6, there was a material increase In the gross and ne' revenues of the company; that for the year ending June, l901, there was q large increase in gross revenues, with slight nominal increase In net rev. enues; and for the six months ending December 1907, there was small in. crease in gross revenues, large in crease in operating expenses, and a cor responding decrease in net revenues"