New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
NO GENERAL WAGE CUT
THE RAILROADS. POLICY.
Hope to Agree 5cith Employees
Presidents Letter as Deterrent.
[From TIE T-ibeae Bureau ]


nerce Commission. directing thar data be COM
piled which viii throw abundant light the
merits of any controversies which may arise be-
tween Interstate carriers and their employees
will. in the opinion Of experts here. prove
ample deterrent 20 any disposition which certain
railway managers might entertain materially TO
curtan wages The Presidents letter. 1t is as
serted. viii serve as a gentle reminder to rail-
road managers that the light Of publicity may
easily be applied to their balance sheets thar il
viii be the part Of wisdom TO consider carefully
before making sweeping reductions Of wages
with the expectation tlat any considerable part
OF the public viii be misled regarding the cause
SOME READJUsTMENTs PLANNED.
! Information which has reached the Interstate
Commerce Commission and other Officials of the
government who have.a direct or indirect inter-
est in industrial and railroad matters indicates
| that there is no concerted action on the part OF
\ the American roads 10 make general changes
in their wage scales at this time or in the near
| future. Instances OF proposed readj1stment
of wage scales are cited in the cases OF three
or four Southern systems. the Southern Rail-
way. the Louisville & Nashville. the Seaboard
Air Line and the Atlantic Coast Line being
named practically the only roads in the
( country which may ne affected II IS the inten-
tfon of the officials Of the lines named 70 con
slider with their employees the question Of
readjustment OF some. at least. OF the wage
scales in force vvf+h view to reducing their
/ operating expenses. which they regard neces-
4 sary. The plans OF the officials have not been
worked out yer. even in tentat . way. be-
/ cause it is their desire first % present the sit
uation which cOnfronts them fairly and impair
TALLY their employees II vas thought that
the employees may meet them half way. and no
serious difficulty is expected. The prQpost-
tion. in a general way. will BE- 10 return 70 The
wage scales which in force about a year
4 ago. at which time general advances in the pay
7 of men in the operating departments of the rail-
roads throughout the country were made.
What decisions may be reached it is not possible
now definitely foreteIL Assurances have been
given by the railroad officials that they have
disposition to impose any hardship on their
employees.
one other line. the Chicago Great Western
has been named as likely 10 reduce the wages
Of its employees II can be said BY authority
that The receivers OF that road have no inten-
/ tion TO reduce or readjust the wages now in
J force II is explained that certain rules and reg
ulations in the operating department. Of the Chi
J cago Great Western are ambiguous and subject.
/ PERHAPS to three constructions owing
TO the difference Of construction placed on these
regulations by the men and the officials good
deal OF overtime pay is charged against the
operating expenses Of the line Conferences be-
tween the receivers OF their representatives and
the employees are 70 bA held for the purpose Ot
reaching a definite understanding TO the ef
feet OF the regulations in order that, 80 FAR as
possible the excessive overtime charges shall
be eliminated No proposition has been made
by the receivers. it is stated positively. looking
a reduction OF wages
COMMISSION To PREPARE REPORTS
It is of interest to note that the railroads have
for several months been submitting monthly
statements OF their receipts and Disbursements
their gross and net earnings. and that for per
haps twenty years annual reports OF this char
aCter have been filed with the Interstate Com
nerce Commission As soon as the machinery
can he put into operation it ia The purpose OF
the commission 10 prepare the monthly reports
of the railroads in such form that they vii oe
available for the use of the press. 81 that not
only the commission. but the newspapers. and
through them the general public viii be able
10 make their own deductions regarding the
necessity of decreasing wages or the equity OF
increasing them.
II is said by those who discussed this subject
to-day that railroad operators are like the man
ayers of other industries. and that when reports
that their competitors are reducing wages begin
to appear they are likely to become alarmed.
despite the fact thar such reports may ultimately
rr.,ve to be ulfoluded. At least greatly sNas-
ce-s1ed r Is further SAID that when the rail-
roads were enjoying the greatest prosperity they
have known in years they proceeded with eau
ton before granting 20 their employees a-y ma
teriaI increases Of pay. and doubtless satisfied
themselves that the era of great prosperity had
come % stay before they ventuTed somewhat 70
increase their expenses r is remarked that
every class Of business has suffered from the
financial stringency Of last autumn the rail-
roads which carry the finished product perhaps
being the last 70 feel The effects OF the lack OF
currency Now. however. the industries which
we're temporarily depressed are recovering. and
that affords. in the opinion Of the experts ii
washington. ample ground for believing that
anv reduction in railroad earnings which may
have occurred viii be temporary Arguing from
this belief it is asserted that II the railroad
managers exercise tire same caution and delib-
Grafton they employed before advancing wages
they will soon discover that there Is no neces-
Sirv for attempting any material curtailrenr o-
their operating expenses. and that when after a
comparatively short period. they realize that in
dustriaI conditions are not such as 70 warrant
decrease in the compensation Of their employees.
which OF itselt would have had a tendency 70
check returning prosperity. they Viii be grateful
for :he letter OF the President
Members Of the administration are convinced
that they reason on these points even more
clearly than some railroad managers. who MAIN
tain that the rate law has not served 70 reduce
rates or benefit the shipper. and also express the
conviction that that law has curtaied their
profits that they are compelled 70 practise the
most rigid economy
Chairman Knapp Of the Interstate COTnuierce
Commission who by the operation ~ the Erd-