The new South-news., 1908-02-29
NO WAGE CUTS
BY RAILROADS
GROUNDLESs FEARS or GEN.
ERAL REDUCTION.
ADJUSTMENTS TO B8 MADE
only Lines Contemplating Action
Are Three or -Four. Which are Sim.
ply Instances Of Postponed Inten.
uonE. Dating Back a Year Ago.

tons Dating Back a Year AGO.
-
Washington. Industrial and H.
nancial circles have been more or lea.
concerned over what IS regarded as
a prospect that the railroads Of ,he
country have iu contemplation a gcu-
eral reduction in she wages of their
cmploycs. Such apprehension is prac.
ucally grouuiless. Information which
has reached the interstate commerce.
commission. particularly. and other
officials Of the government who have
a direct or indirect interest in indus
trial and railway matters. Indicate
clearly that ihcrV is no concerted ac.
tion on the part of the American
railways TO make general changes ia
ihoir wage scale at this time or In ihc
near future. Instances of postponed
readlusimcni of wagc scales are citcd
in the eases of three or four Southern
systems, the Southern Railway. the
Louisville 4 Nashville. the Scaboard
Air Line and the Atlantic Coast line.
being named as practically the oul,
roads 10 the country which may be
affected. II is the intention of the
officials Of the limos named 10 conside,
with their employees the question ~
a roadiusimcnt of az least some ~ the
wage scales now in force with a view
40 reducing their operating expenses,
which they regard as necessary. Tho
plans of the officials have not been
worked ont yet. because IL is their
desire first 10 present the situation
a. confronis them fairly and Impair
TALLY TO their employees. II is cx-
pccicj that the employers may mcrt
them half way and no serious dilh.
Guilty is expected. The proposition in
q general way will be q return to ihc
wage scales which were ia force abou,
a year ago. AZ which Time general adj
eances iu the pay Of men IN the ono
rating departments Of the railroads
throughout the country were adyanc-
csl What conclusions may he reach.
/ cd, u IA not possible now definitely
TO fore,ell Assurances have been
/ given by the railway officials that
they have no disposition TO impose
amy hardships upon their employees
aud they will not do so. On other
lines, the Chicago Great Western, bas
been named as likely 10 reduce tho
wages Of It's employees. II can be said
I by authority that the receivers Of
that road have no intention TO reduce
on readiust the wages now in force In
Is explained that certain rules aud
regulations obtain in the operating
department Of the Chicago Great
Western, which are ambiguous aal
subjected perhaps 10 two or three con-
siruciions. No proposition has been
made by The receivers, 1t ia stated.
positively looking 70 q reduction Of
wages. Chairman Knapp, Of the in
tersiatc commerce commission, who,
by lhe provisions Of the so-called Erd.
m an law,is made one Of ',e tso mem
bers Of board OF mcdiation--Prof.
Charles =. NELL, commissioner Of Ia.
Dor, being the other-in aocordanss
with the suggestion contained in Pres
ilent Roosevclt's letter 10 The inter-
state commerce commission respect.
ing the railroad wage question, is hold
ing himself in readiness 10 act under
the law, whenever be may tr called
upon by one or the other Of the par
tics to any wage controversy. Pend
ing direct application Dy one party
or the other of any question in dis
puts, Chairman knapp explained that
practically nothing can he done. Char
man Knapp and Commissioner Nsill
have adjusted successfully In the
past fifteen months several contrs-
y-rsiss that have arisen between ia
ters'ads carriers and their employees.
So FAR as the interstate commerce
commission is concerned and 2, far az
important railroad intersAs here are
aware there is no cause for apprehen-
sion respecting the wage question on
American railroads. While some rail.
roads have suffered during ,he past
few months from falling on Of busi-
ncss, the sscords shown ia the reports
OF operation received By the inter-
state commerce commission Indicate
no large or very general vluetion -