The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-22
RAILROAD NEWS.
Engineers HeadTalks on Wage
Reduction.
Would Cause Unjust Hardship
on Lab0rers.
DOESN'T BLAME MEN.
Farmers in No Way Responsible
for Panic.
Other Items Of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Cleveland. O., Feb. 22-Warren s..
stone, grand chief of the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive engineers, today made
the following statement in connection
with the reported purpose of some rail-
way companies to order a general re-
duotion in the wages of employees:
The threatened reduction OF the
wages of employees in train service Is
absolutely unjustified from any point
OF view. their pay is based on mileage
basis. practically piece work, and they
are only paid when these services are
performed. Wages of employees in train
service fall parallel with the shrinkage
In business, plus increased living ex-
penses away from home. When their
earnings are $3.50 per month their ex-
pense Of living away from home Is
about 10 per cent, while at the present
reduced rate of $70-whioh has to be
met by hundreds under present condi-
lions that expense will increase to at
least 20 per cent of earnings because
they are held away from the home
terminal until there Is a full tonnage
train to be handled. making total
automatic reduction already in wages
from 60 to 20 per cent.
1.-THE roads are getting the same re-
turn in freight receipts for the service
rendered as they did when the bust
ness was good and there is no consist
ency in asking men to accept further
reductions than result from the pres
ent shrinkage and the full power Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
will be used if necessary in an effort
to prevent any. further reduction be
cause it would be absolutely unjust
William G. Lee, assistant grand
master of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, speaking for his organiza-
ton on the same subject dictated the
following:
thing to do with this panic and loss of
business except to suffer from the mis-
management of some employers and
spectators who Numbered in the game
of dollars on Wall street. If he works
he produces just as much per hour as
he ever did. His living expenses are
just as high as before.
''All classes Of trainmen are paid by
the mile or trip; and reduction OF
miles. run or trips made means re-
ductfon of the amount paid for by the
employer.
There can be no good argument pre-
scented when trainn1en should receive
trip or mileage rates for miles run
Freight trains are not run unless bust
ness requires it. Corporations never
carry an overload of labor, but labor
is usually compelled to carry an over
load Of capitalization.
''It is no fault of labor that fnanciers
play with their money and lose, nor Is
it the business of labor to suffer the
losses sustained when it's employers
reach too far into the fire and get their
fingers burned.
Our principal business now is to
maintain the present standard of Hv-
ing which means to hold to the pres
ent standard Of wages and unless all
signs fail, railroad employees will OPP
pose to the bitter end any attempt to
reduce wages"
New York, Feb. "a committee of
rs railway men, representing the Broth
erhoods Of Locomotive Engineers, Loco
motive Firemen, Railway Trainmen,
Railway Conductors and Railway Tel
egraphers met here today to take ac
ton relative to the reported reduction
of wages by railroads in the country.
President Newman, of the New York
Central. sent a communication to the
meeting to the effect that no reduction
of wages on the Central or allied lines
Is contemplated.