The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-03
union CHIEFS
SAY RAIL CRISIS
ONLY IMAGINARY
Representatives of Two Million
Workers Answer Demands.
Declare r.. r.. Heads Would
COerce Federal Board.
Be MONTHS BEFORE DECISION
Government Will Have Its
Hearing Saturday.
Open Shop War Now Being
Brought Into Fight.
Declare r.. R. Heads Would
COerce Federal Board.
Be MONTHS BEFORE DECISION
Government Will Have Its
Hearing Saturday.

Chicago Feb. 3.-Railroads of the
country in their efforts to drive down
wages are trying to coerce the fed
eral railroad labor board to disregard
the Esch Cummins law. union leaders
representing two million workers
charged today in their answer to the
demand of the railroad owners that
national working agreements be abol-
ishcd and that certain classes of en-
pIoyes take cut in salary.
Tho answer flom the rail unions
was delivered to the labor board by
T. f. Cradle. chief of the unskilled
maintenance OF way laborers and shop
workers. l.. NJ. Jewell, president of
the shop mems union, assisted in de-
livering the reply and declared that
the statements laid before the board
have the backing of all the railway
brotheThoods. The reply was drawn
up aft-r conferences with heads of all
the other unions connected with the
nations transportation systems, he
declared.
Crisis Only Imaginary.
Cradle charged that the roads are
attempting to "trample under feet and
disregard the rights of laborers who
have submitted their interests to the
board"
He said that if the railroads faced
financial crisis as claimed. it was
due to the careless and inefficient
management, the maintenance of
large unnecessary and expensive Off
cial staffs," and contracting at "fabu-
lous figures for cost-plus work"
The question before the board, Gra-
BILE said, was whether the relation
ship of the employer and empIoye
shall be settled by just and legal
methods or by economic force"
mands of the railroads for immediate
action by the board, demanding that
the question be given fair hearing
The hearing by the board today was
to determine whether or not "emer-
gency action" should be taken or a
discussion of the proposals permitted
Cradle cited figures in an effort to
substantiate his claims that the men
were not overpaid. He said 286,3OO
maintenance of way employees received
an annual wage in 1919 of S933.6O.
while $1,000 others received only
$69S.SS
Interest Is Nationwide.
Interest in developments here is ma
ton wide. Both labor and capital
have practically recognized that the
issue in the case between the railroad
employees and owners has come. to be
the big showdown between employers
and workers and that on the result of
this will depend action to be taken by
other employers.
The open shop movement is expected
10 take added impetus should the rail-
road owners gain their point. while on
the other hand, unions believe a re-
fusal CT the railroad owners request
Will mean strengthening of their
forces and stiffen opposition to any
planned cut in wages. Just how far
the railroad unions are prepared to go
in opposing the owners demands is
hc raf I,
no threat of strike, but one official
high in the councils of railroad labor
leaders. predicted that before any of
the owners obtained their demands a
strike vote would be taken by the
unions.
No Immediate Decision.
Indications were that no immediate
decisions would be rendered by the
board. 1t is believed they will meet
in executive session tomorrow to con-
slider statements of both sides and
the government will be heard Satur-
day.
Hearings of railroad owners argu-
ments on the national agreements was
expected to be concluded next week
when months adjournment may be
taken to allow the employees to pre-
pare their arguments. 1t is expected
to take several months to conclude the
hearing.
Too Many Employees.
At the same time, Mr. Atterbury
supplemented his statement before the
labor board Monday by a message to
President Wilson showing the increase
in number of employees and in paw
rolls during the period of government
control
I'm the year 1917" Mr.. Atterburv's
message said, before government op-
ration was adopted. the railways
employed 302,S2S machinists, boiler
makers. blacksmiths. electricians air
brake men, car inspectors, car repair
erS, other shop employees
I'm 1920 when the number of loco
motives and cars to be maintained was
only slightly larger. they had 443.774.
an increase of 140,946, or per cent.
The total wages paid to these en-
ployes in 1917 was $S17,S79.549, while
in 1920, after the advance in wages
granted by the railroad labor board
last July, their wages were running at
the rate of approximately $S9O.OOo.-
600 a year. an increase over 1917 of
$50 per cent.
Another class of employees included
IN one of the national agreements is
the clerks In 1917 the railways en-
ployed 1S4, ,063 clerks while in 1920.
when the business was normal, they
crease of 29 per cent. The total wages
paid to clerks in 1917 was $1S9,0O9,
SOC. After the wage award made by
the railroad labor board the wages
of the clerks were running as near as
can be estimated at the rate of $685.
800, 900 a year. an increase of 112 per
cent"
10000 Arc Idle in Barcelona