Milford chronicle., 1920-07-23
PENNSYLVANIA LINES
TO DROP $4,000 MEN
SPOKESMAN FOR THE ROAD CHARGES
STACKING TIME FOR MEN TO
GET DOWN TO WORK."
MAKES $l5,OOO,OOO SAVING
'PENNSY' ORDER HITS ALL DEPART
MENTS EXCEPT TRAIN SERVICE.
LAYS OFF TENTH OF MEN.

With the statement that "it is time
the men got down to work" the
Pennsylvania Railroad made known
on Tuesday that within the next few
days it will dismiss approximately
10000 employees. All are in tho cas-
tern region, which is bounded on the
west by Altoona, the north by axe
Ontario, the south by Washington
and the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
Virtually every class of workers is
affected except engineers, fremen,
conductors, brakamen and switch
men.
1t is estimated that between COO
and 1900 men will be layed of in
Philadelphia and suburbs and on Eel
aware Division.
The notices of dismissal will be ef-
fective five days after their receipt,
which, in many cases. mean today
Clerks, shOpmen and maintenance of
way men are the one most affected
by the order, which came after a con-
ference of Elisha Lee and general Of
ficials OF the Eastern region of which
as Vice President, he has charge.
The company gave out this official
statement:
In order to bring about improved
efficiency in the operating forces and
to curtail expenses as far as practi-
cal it has been found necessary to
effect a reduction of approximately 10
per cent in the number of employees
in the eastern region of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad system. Many of these
men will be needed at other points in
the system, particularly in the central
region, in and about Pittsburgh, and
every endeavor will be made to find
places for as many as possible.
THE Eastern region, in which the
present surplus exists, embraces the
territory served by the Pennsylvania |
system lines lying east of Altoona, /
Pa, south of New York and north of
Washington and Norfolk, and includes (
four grand divisions of the system.
"Care will be exercised in makins I
the contemplated changes not to inter-
fere in any way with the ability to
handle traffic or to make prompt re-
pairs to cars and locomotives.
Although the Pennsylvania has be-
tween 275,000 and 100000 employees,
Is per cent above the number en-
ployed at the time the government as
sumed control of the roads it does
not have now and never did have too
many good men,"
Asserts Workers Are Sinking
"The time has come for men to go
to work. Some merely have held jobs
since the government took over the
operating of the roads. Despite our
increased number of men. it was
enrvorsn1 rr1nnfhg
to have 200 of our locomotives sent
to the Baldwin Works for repairs.
"That is an unprecedented state of
affairs on the Pennsylvania. Hereto
fore we have not only made our own
repairs but we have built our own To-
That illustrates the rea-
son for the house cleaning.
"A big traffic slump is noticeable.
That is another reason. The woolen
leather and textile trades are at low
ebb.
"In the Eastern region the COM
pany has $4,000 employees. The num-
Der to go will be between 1000 and I
t2 900. Although the details have not
been worked out. I do not think the |
men will be held in accord with the
seniority plan.
"There are many efficient men
among the late comers and it is prac- )
ically certain that the best men will 1
,e retained despite their length of SER
Yice.
Under Government control the
seniority rule was absolute.
my understanding is that the men l
will not all be laid off the same day. y
"The order affects all classes ex-
ept train service men. which includes )
Engineers, fremen, conductors, brake |
nen and yard switchmen. The road /
rews are paid on a mileage time bas- /
! and traffic conditions will govern /
heir remuneration. In other words, J
hey will draw what they earn, or for =
he time they put in service. If busl-
ess slumps badly, Of course crews
ilI be dropped by the wholesale So
he remaining train service men can s.
lake living wages"
officials here maintain that the or q
er was due to a decrease in revenue. n