Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-01
FoRTY-THREE MEN DISCHARGE
ED WHEN ROAD RETURNS
TO OWN RESOURCES.
WORK DAY OF ALL SHOPS
SHORTENED TO EIGHT HOURS
Reduction in Shop Pay Roll by
SIN aller Number of Mon in Car
Shops Will Amount to Approx
nnateiy $1,000 Month";, Exclusive
of Shorter Hours Lowering Pay.

Forced to pay a wage scale fixed
by the federal wage board---the latest
Increase so fixed being paid for tho
first time last month-and placed on
Its own financial resources by the
expiration OF the federal railroad
financing act, that expired Tuesday
at midnight, the M. s. st. L. today
reduced its car shop force by dis
charging forty-three workmen. In
addition the work day Of the entire
local shop forces was reduced from
nine to eight hours.
The reduction in the car shop force
alone. exclusive Of the shorter work
day for the entire shops. will lower
the local pay roll approximately
$1,000 a month, figuring twenty-five
working days to the month.
Reductions at Other Points.
The employees discharged here
were mostly recently employed. the
seniority rights being observed, and
included thirty eight men, mostly
carpenters. OF the car shops, and five
car repairers employed in the yards
outside the shops. The carpenters
We're getting from $3.50 to ~ day.
Corresponding reductions in the
car repair forces employed at oska-
loosa. Monmouth, ILL.,, and Albert
Lea, Mimi. were made today. Divis-
ion Master Mechanic George G..
Seidel said.
Many OF the car shop employees.
who were notified of the lay-oft
Tuesday night, today were seeking
employment in factories in the city.
Back to Former Basic.
Mr.. Seidel said the reduction OF
force and hours was solely for the
purpose Of economy and to aid In
keeping the railroads expenditures
within it's estimated receipts. now
that it can no longer obtain financial
aid from thine federal government.
The car shop force. after the lay-off
he said. was still larger than 1t was a
year ago.
THE men discharged" said Mr..
Seidel." represent most Of the sur
plus labor employed in the car shops
about year ago. when the road be-
gan extraordinary efforts to rehabili-
| tate it's rolling stock. The nine-hour
day. put In effect year or more
ago IN all the shops. was kept In
| effect for the same reason. Before
| the reduction there were nifty more
men in the car department than a
year ago. so the reduction still does
not bring the force back to where
it. was at that time"
| Mr.. Seidel added that very large
] Increases had been made In rebuild
ling rolling stock and that the re-
duced force would be able to keer
UP requirements, at the rate box and
other cars were coming into the shoE
for repairs and rebuilding.
It was understood. he said. that
the Cedar lake Minneapolis, shops Of
the company, which have been work
ing nine long hours long since othe]
Twin City shops shortened thet,
hours. also returned to the eight
hour day.
/ Must Feel les Way.
''Now that federal aid in financing
has been withdrawn. the com
| pany Is compelled to reel us way
along until 1t ascertains what the
outcome is to be financially under
the present higher wages, cost o.
materials and increased freight ane
passenger rates." said Mr.. Seidel.
| 1.-THE general officers have adopted
a conservative policy, which will be
| continued until experience under the
new conditions establishes what ma.
be expected. The road has beer
spending q great deal Of money anc
| its receipts have not kept pace witf
| it's expenditures. BY curtailments
here and elsewhere It is hoped thai
the road at least may spend no more
than It earns: that is the meat OF
| the whole situation"
All the other local shops We're no'
affected other than by the reduction
Of hours, which will mean a little
1 more tan a II per cent decrease In
monthly wages, not considering any
overtime paid for.