The Penn's Grove record., 1908-02-21
SOUTHERN RY. CUTS WAGES
Forty-tWo thousand Workers in
Its Employ Affected.
Policy of Retrenchment Made Neccs-
sary by the Present Condition
of Trade Depression.

Washington, D. C.-Vlce-Presldent
and General Manager G. H. Ackert
disclosed the purpose of the Southern
Railway to reduce the wages of every
person in it's employ. He said that
practically $4,000 people will be
made to feel the effect of the wage
chopping ak as it continues to fall
with precise regularity.
The wage adjustment o under
way in Washington, which effects
only machinists, boilermakers, black
smiths, timers and car men, will be
followed by other conferences next
week or ten days, applying to engf-
neers, firemen, conductors, brakemen,
fagmen and all other classes of
skilled or unskilled labor in the SER
vice of the company.
Before it is oyer about $4,000
employees of the Southern Railway
will have been affected" said Mr..
Ackert.
The preliminary step looking to the
wholesale reductions occurred some
weeks ago when President Finley N
nounced a reduction in the salaries
of all executive and general officers
and their Office forces, from the pres
ident down, of ten per cent. This re-
duction was. effective February 1, and
was largely local to Washington,
where most of the executive and gen.
eral officers are located. Its effect
was felt when the officers and en-
ployes received their salary checks
for the first two weeks of February.
Although there is no question as
to a general reduction all along the
lines, it is impossible to ascertain
positively or even get an approximate
estimate of how much money the
Southern Railway will save by it's
policy of retrenchment. None of the
officials will discuss this feature, and
the employees profess to have no idea.
Representatives of the machinists,
car men, blacksmiths, boilermakers
and timers, headed by James O'Con-
Association of Machinists, held a pre-
liminary conference with Finley, Gen.
eral Manager Ackert and Superin-
tendent of Power Stewart.
Their officials suggested restoration
of the scale of wages in effect prior
to the general increase about a year
ago, and this is the question under
consideration. The proposed reduc-
ton averages about ten per cent.
President Finley gave out the fol-
lowing statement with reference to
the conference: an accordance with
the policy previously outlined of TAX
ing up with representatives of en-
ployes with a view to securing their
support in the present condition of
trade depression, the officers Of the
company met representatives of the
shop forces. The situation was dis
cussed in a general way"
From an unofficial source it was
learned that the railroad company is
confident that its proposal for a re-
duction will be accepted, and it is
said that it is laying much store by
the fact that over 10000 machinists
are out of employment, looking for
work. They believe that this fact
itself will force the machinists to &C
eept the terms offered.
The following tale of depression is
recited in the letter which the en-
ployes of the railroads in North Caro-
lima have been circulating over the
great political triumphs won against
the Southern railroads:
I'VE are told that the reduction of
passenger fares half a cent a mile is a
great victory for the people-and the
reform administration.
But is it a victory for the 100000
idle wage farmers in the South who
want work and can't get it?
rs it a victory which is appre-
ciated by 100000 wage rne in the
South whose wages or hours have
been reduced? Are the owners or
employees of the idle sawmills, fur
naces, mines and factories shouting
hallelujahs owe this glorious vH-
tory?
Another victory like this one over
the railroads, and the South will be
in almost as pitiable a condition as it
was at the close of the war"