The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-02-25
SOUTHERN RY. CUTS WAGES
FOrty-tWO Thousand Workers IN
Its Employ Affected.
Policy of Retrenchment Made Neces-
sary by the Present Condition
of Trade Depression.


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 now 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 engi-
neers, firemen, conductors, brakemen.
fiagmen and all other classes of
skilled or unskilled labor in the SER
vice of the company.
Before it is over 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 an
nounced 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 /, and
was largely local to Washington,
where most of the executive and gen
eral officers are located. It's 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-
nell, president of the International
Association of Machinists, held 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-
tion averages about ten per cent.
President Finley gave out the fol-
lowing statement with reference to
the conference: SIN accordance with
the policy previously outlined of TAX
ing up with representatives of en-
ployes with 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 general way"
From an unofficial source it was
learned that the railroad company is
confident that it's 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 ac-
cept 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: -
1--WE are told that the reduction of
great victory for the people-and the
reform administration.
But is it victory for the 100, 900
idle wage earners in the South who
want work and can't get it?
rs it victory which is appre-
ciated by 100000 wage earners in the
South whose wages or hours have
been reduced? Are the owners or
employees of the idle sawmilis, fur
naces, mines and factories shouting
hallelujahs over this glorious VIC
tory?
Another victory like this one over
the railroads, and the South will be
in almost as pitiable condition as 1t
was at the close of the war;
All Railroads Centering in
Atlanta Cut Wages.
Atlanta, Ga.-Notice of reduction
of ten per cent. in the salaries of all
employees receiving more thar $50
peg month has been received III At
lanta by the officials of the Nashville,
Chattanooga and St. Louis and West
ern and Atlantic Railroads This re-
duction affects the officials, clerks and
mechanics of the roads named.
Major ]. T. McCollum, superin-
tendent of the Western and Atlantic
Railroad, which is operated and
leased by the NJ, c. and st. L., in dis
cussing the cut in salaries, said:
1.-THE reduction is only temporary.
We have simply adopted the scale OF
wages and salaries which the roads
paid in December, 1906. During 1907
these salaries and wages were in
creased ten per cent. This is a dull
season for the railroads and che re-
duction will continue in force until
business picks up"
Must Gut Pay on 40 Roads
Proposed Reduction For 20O,O
Chicago.-A cut in the wages of
more than 200, 200 employees of forty
nine railroads west of Chicago hings
upon the outcome of conference in
st. Paul between the general manager
of the Chicago Great Western Rail-
way and the officials of the five big
labor organizations in train service.
II the company carries it's point and
PUBLIC SERVICE LAW UPHELD.
ConstitutionaIity Decided by Court of
Appeals in Saratoga Gas Case.