The state herald., 1921-04-15

!
President. Pennsylvania Railway
In spite of increased rates the rail-
roads are in sorry plight, IL conf
dence can be placed in the statement
of w. w. Atterbury, vice-president
OF the Pennsylvania railroad before
the Railroad Labor Board January 81
4 In Chicago. lie said. Many rail-
roads ere not now earning, and with
present operating costs and trafiic
have no prospect of earning, even
their bar7 operating expenses, leav-
ing them without any net return and
unable to meet their fiyed charges.
The emergency presented can be met
either by an advance in freight and
passenger rates. or by a reduction In
operating expenses.
The National Agreements, rules
and working conditions forced on the
railroads as war measures cause
gross waste and inefiiciency. | es.
innate that the elimination of this
waste would reduce railway operat-
ing expenses at least $500 000.00 II
would be far better to save this sum
by restoring conditions of efficient
and economical operation than re-
duce wages. No change in rules or
agreements can be made without the
consent of the Railroad Labor Board
created by the new transportation
act.
The public has also the right to
expect that the railway executives
with the cooperation of the regula-
tory bodies and the employees will, as
soon as possible reduce the cost OF rail
way operation so as to insure eventu-
ally arednatIon In rates. Ultimately n
readjustment Of basic wages will be
required. Meantime Il is to the in
terests of all concerned. including Ia
bor, that the rules aud working con.
ditlons shall be made conclusive to
the highest efficiency In output per
man"
This board has been sitting In
Chicago since January 10th hearing
the arguments In regard TO the five
National Agreements.' and eleven
other sets OF "Rules and king
Conditions"
"They were made during the period
of federal control between the fed
eral railroad administration and rail.
road employees, through the heads of
unions acting as the representatives
OF employees. They cover all classes
Of railroad work.
Tie first OF these agreements was
not made until October 20. 1913. and
the last only six days before the
roads were returned to the operating
companies for resumption OF private
operation.
IL is hard to ugderstand-lmpossi.
BILE In fact-why the Director Gener.
al of railroads should have entered
into any agreements with railroad Ia.
bor which would embarass the roads
so soon to be returned TO their own.
ers. The date Of return was Axed
by law. There was no uncertainty
about II. But his act In so doing has
cost the people millions OF dollars
already and was the ono big reason
for demand to Increase freight rates
thirty Ave and forty per cent last
fall. These agreements have result.
ed In a loss OF efficiency that Is mp.
raih1g. On February End. W. w At.
terbury. chairman Of the labor com.
mittec OF the Association OF Railway
Executives. told the Railroad Labor
Board:
Statistics Prove Waste and neffisleney
"The most concrete and abundant
evidence OF the ineillcicncy and
waste being caused by present rules
nnd working conditions is afforded by
the statistics regarding the pay roll
Of the employees In the shops.
In 1917. before government opera
tion was adopted. the railways en-
ployed 302.S2s mnchinists, boiler.
makers. blacksmlths. electricians. air
brakeman. car inspectors. car repair
crs. other skilled shop employees. and
machinists' helpers and apprentices
In 1920. when the number OF loco
motives and ears To be maintained
was only slightly larger than In tg17
they had ii3,715 employees OF Tho
above clayihcationf, an Increase OF
1895, or forty-soyen per cent.
The total wages nald TO these cm
pioyes In 1917 was sai7.s7g,5i9. while
IN 1890. after the advance IN wages
granted by the Railroad Labor Board
last July. their wages were running nl
tho rate OF Approximately $780, 900.
900 "A year. nm incroaso from 1917 oi
fSO por cent.
Another class OF employees incIud
cd In ono Of the national agreements
IN the clerks. In 1917 the railways
employed 1Si.063 clerks, while In
1890. when business was normal. tho,
were employing 23s,Gos clerks. mn IN
crnnnc of twentyfiinc per cent.
"rhc total paid 10 clerks IN 1917
was s1so.o0p.b0G After the wage
award made by the Railroad Labor
Board the wares Of IN clerks were
running na near ms can bn estimated
at the rate OF f339.30o,O00 n year. M