Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-19

salary.
Washington, Feb. 1S,-Guaran-
! tee against any reduction in wages
before next September l, is given
railroad workers in the revised
draft of the railroad re-organiza-
tion bill reported today to the sem
ate and house.
Railroad corporations which are
to regain control and operation of
their properties March / are safe
guarded likewise by the compro-
mise measure against reductions IN
rates and fares at the hands of
state commissions prior to Septem-
Der /, the bill providing specifical-
Iy against any rate or fare reduc-
tion not approved by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The re-drafted ret organization
measure. while not prohibiting ad-
vances either in wages or in rates,
in the opinion of the members of
the conference committee, sub
scribing to the majority report,
will tend to stabilize conditions in
Nll' dlll Ofttl ltAluHNl
Before presentation of the con-
ferees' report and the re-drafted
measure to the house, where it
first was received, the section of
the bill relative to wages was in
tepreted as establishing the pay of
railroad employees at the level cf-
fective when the properties are re-
turned. This Interpretation, which
later was found to be erroneous,
led to hurried conferences among
railroad labor leaders in Washing
ton, despatching of labor represen-
tatives to the capitol to ascertain
the exact provision of the measure,
and to the calling of a conference
for tonight of officials of the four
teen railroad unions together with
Samuel Gompers and Frank Nor
rison, president and secretary, re-
spectively, of tho American Fed
Grafton of Labor. The labor lead
ers on learning that an advance in
wages was not precluded between
March l and September ] under
the bill, generally expressed salts
faction with the provision against
any reduction of pay during the
next six months.
The house fixed Saturday for
consideration of the conference re-
port agreeing to meet an hour
earlier than customary so a final
vote might be reached before ad-
iournment.
Representative Barkley demo-
crat, of Kentucky, minority con-
foree, was given permission to file |
a disagreeing report.
supporters of the majority re-
port however, were confident that |
it would be approved.
Chairman Cummins, of the sem
ate commerce committee an
nOunced that the report would be |
taken up in the senate as soon as it |
was sent over from the house.
The section prohibiting reduc
ton in wages under penalty be-
fore September 1, reads:
Prior to September /, 1920, each |
carrier shall pay to each employe
or subordinate official thereof
wages or salary at rate not less
than that fixed by the decision of
any agency, or railway board of |
in connection there
with, established for executing the
powers granted the president under
the federal control act, in effect
in respect to such employe or sub
ordinate official Immediately pre-
,eding 1901 a. M. March /, 1920"
Although making public of the
'Xact text of the wage section re-
moved the necessity for tonights
Conference of all union officials,
he entire draft of the revised /
measure was considered at an in
formal conference. The union
1eads in advance of thorough di-
gest of the measures provisions
ieclined to comment.
Creation of permanent federal
lrbitration board, composed of nine
members divided equally among
amployes, employers and the pub
ic and appointed by the president,
which the revised bill proposes, was
,onsidered by many railroad ex-
lerts as simplifying solution Of
wage problems to be dealt with
lfter return Of the roads,