Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-02-04
Chairman Barton Refuses to
Abolish National Rail Wage
Agreements.
LINES ASK BIG REDUCTION
Managers Are Told to Agree With the
Men on Plan to Cut Wages AT.
ter Ninety Days--National
control advocated.

Chicago, Feb. 2.---Refusai 20 abolish
the national agreements and to re
duce the wages OF. railroad employees
by the United States labor board was
forecast when Chairman II. NJ. Barton
declined 70 receive a request 10 that
effect, made by w. w. Atterbury for
the Railroad Executives association.
The plan of the railroads WIS 20
reduce wages of common labor az
once and cut wages OF other employees
after 30 days.
Chairman Barton asked Mr.. Alter
bury Ii 1t were not possible for the
railroad executives and the employees
to get together in a ,pirit of helpful
ness and not In anteeonism and work
ont basis for the bo,ru to act upon.
Mr.. Atterbury declared that the sit
uation is so acute and there is such
a radical difference of opinion be-
tween the two sides that such con.
ference would not bring any relief.
Chairman Barton said that when the
board made its wage award the NJ
tional agreements were the basis upon
which the award was made.
lie again declared that the two par
ties should first get together and work
earnestly for a mutual solution. Final
~ he declined to receive the request
Ut the railroads and saiG that for
NAL decision whether or not To receive
Il would be made after an executive
session Of the board
Mr.. Atterhury was given a hearing
az the opening Of the days session OF
the board. and he made . formal plea
that the present hearing on working
conditions be discontinued. that The
national agreements be abolished AT
once. and that basis be given for
an ultimate reduction in wages
Henry Hunt, representing the pub
lie ON the railway labor board. dc.
clared when Mr. Atterbury finished
The transportation act requires a
conference should be held on any sub
ject likely to interrupt service. |
think You should take up IN confer
ence with the employees the condI-
lions YOU have presented here" he
said.
A. o. Wharton, labor member of the
labor board. demanded that Mr.. After
bury put on record the names OF the
railrouds that were behind him and
state upon what authority he acted in
asking for the nnnulment OF the ma
tional agreements.
Nfplortt ysr,.,.teftsx. H..
tions on the part OF railroad workers.
who are expected 10 take d Arm stand
against giving up any privileges gained
during federal control, was voiced by
]. &. LuhrseiI. president of the Amer
ican Train Dispatchers assc scciation.
He advocates national control of all
railroads in statement issued after
Mr. Atterbury's presentation.
"A single ownership in some form
and unified operation of all United
States carriers" he declared. SIS the
only logical outcome of the transpor-
tation problems of America.
"The employees of the railroads Of
America will not submit 10 bearing the
burden which the carriers seek 20 lni-
pose on them.
'"The great effort now being made
to reduce operating expenses is all di-
rected against the workers. The whole
American railway system is ext ava
gantly operated and the public tx
asked to pay the bill
b. NJ. Jewell, president of the rail-
road employees department OF the
American Federation OF Labor. sent
n telegram to President Wilson, eharg-
ing that General Atterbury "had not
only violated all decent propriety by
his ultlmatum to the labor board, but
had dlsregarded the transportation
laws and fiouted existing agencies.
such as The Interstate commerce COM
mission, which have beep created ex-
pressly by congress to deal with the
financial requirements and proper op-
GRAFTON of the railroads"
He called upon the President to have
the railroad executives place their evil
dence Of inability to operate the rail-
roads before the interstate commerce
commission II It Is found 70 be true.
he asked the President to refer the
matter 10 congress.