The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-21
NO GENERAL
CUT IN PAY
\ IA
REIMBURSEMENT OF WAGE SEIZED.
uLEs WILL BE ONLY WITH
EMPLOYEES CONSENT.
SITUATION IS CLEAR

Action viii Be Taken-lf Reductions
Are Made, They Will BE by Con
sent Of Employees.
Washington, Feb. .20-Industrial and
financial circles have been more or
Aess concerned today over what they
regard as prospect that the rail-
roads OF the country have IN contem-
plation general reduction in the
wages Of their employees.
Such apprehension is practically
j. groundless. Information which has
reached the interstate commerce com.
mission particularly and other off,
scials Of the government who have q
direct or indirect interest in Industrial
and railway matters indicates. clearly
that there Is no concerted action on
the part Of American railways to
make general changes in their wage
scales at this time or In the near fu-
ture.
Instances of proposed readjustment
Of wage scales are cited in the cases
of three or four southern systems. the
Southern Railroad, the Louisville &
Nashville, the Seaboard Air Line and
the Atlantic Coast Line being named
as practically the only roads in the
country which may be affected.
Consult Employees.
It Is the intention of the officials Of
the lines mentioned to consider with
the employees the 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 on.
cials have not been worked out yet,
even in a tentative way, because 1t is
their desire first to present the situa-
ton which confronts them fairly and
impartially to their employees.
It is expected that the employees may
meet them half way and no serious
difficulty is anticipated. The PROPOSE
tlon In general way will be to re-
turn to the wage scales which were in
force about year ago at which time
general advances in the pay Of men
IN the operating departments OF the,
railroads throughout the country were
made. What conclusions may be
reached, 1t Is not possible now def
nitely to toretell. Assurances have
been given by the railway officials
that they have no disposition to i'm
pose any harsh measures upon their
employees and they viii not do so.
No Cut Here. 55
One other line, the Chicago Great
Western. has been named az likely to
reduce the wages Of Its employees. It
can be said by good authority that
the railways have no intention to re-
duce or readjust the wages now in
force. It is explained that certain
rules and regulations obtain in the
operating department OF the Chicago
Great Western which are all big is-
sues and subject perhaps to two or
three constructions.
Owing to the difference Of construce
tion placed on these regulations, by
the men and by the officials. good
deal Of overtime pay Is charged
against the operating expenses Of the
line. Conference between the receiv-
ers or their representatives and the
employees are to be held for the pur-
pose Of reaching definite understand
ing rs to the effect OF the regulations
In order that so far as possible the ex-
cessive overtime charges shall be
eliminated. No proposition had bean
made by the receivers, 1t Is stated
positively, looking to q reduction Of
wages.
Knapp ls Ready.
Chairman Knapp. Of the interstate
commerce commission. who by the op-
Grafton OF the so-called Erdmann law,
is made one OF two members Of q
board of mediation-Profes Chas.
p. Neill, commissioner OF labor being
the other-in accordance with the
suggestion contained in President
Rooseyelt's letter to the Interstate
commerce commission respecting the
railroad wage question, Is holding HIM
self in readiness to act under the law
whenever he may be called upon by
one or the other Of the parties to any
wage. controversy. Pending direct ap-
plication by one party or the other to
any question in dispute Chairman
Knapp explained that practically
nothing could be done.
Chairman Knapp and Commissions
er Neill have adjusted successfully In
the past 15 months several controver-
sies that have arisen between inter-
state carriers and their employees In
each case their action has been purely
ia1nszal. 1Asy ampay have thrsshed
out the questions.