Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-15

FloOaF aILer announcing that they cannot | reduce freight rates at present without i iEoing into bankruptcy. and that they 1 would immediately seek further reduc- bion in erOloyes' wages, from the United | lStates railroad labor board, went into futile conference with union leaders in an leffort 10 reSch an amicable settlement of iNvaEe difficulties which at time have threatened to tie up the transportation system of the country.
 At the conference union leaders asked reconsideration of their request of last July that a 12 1-2 per cent. wage reduc- Mon granted by the labor board be not put into effect immediately that no fur liner wage reduction be sought at present and that no change be made in the over time pay rate. This request was refused land the rail heads presented their state ment announcing the proposal to seek new reductions and not 10 reduce rates until further reductions are granted.
 The labor leaders left the conference immediately and few of them would dis russ its proceedings or predict the results
 T am 10 prophet" said Warren s. Stone. pr"'ident of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. What will hap pen is more than I can say"
 R. s. Binher, of the Association of Railway Executives. said that the trans portation system was facing one of it's greatest crises bur also refused to make predictions
 Union leaders freely admitted, however, zhat there had been little harmony be- tween the committees in the conference
 The executive announced, however, that the proposal to pass future wage reduc- tions on to the public by applying to the interstate commerce commission for re- duction in freight and passenger rates had been accepted and that all future wage reductions would be met by corre- spending rate reduction.
 The conference vas begun at the sug- Sestion of the union lea ders, their in Vitation for meeting being accepted Toy the rail heads. At the meeting started, the committee appointed by the Associa- tion of Railway Executives declared that they believed it would settle most of the immediate difficulties between the car riers and their employees.
 The union leaders were backward about discussing the meeting, although some indicated that it's purpose might be almost nulliied by the announcement after that wage reduction would be sought.
 W. c. Lee, president of the Brother hood of Railroad Trainmen, said that since union men already had authorized the'r leaders 10 call striRo rather than accept the recent F 1-2 per cent. wage cut. do not see how the roads can have ihs Lerye to suggest another cut" The labor committee was composed of MT. Lee, Warren S. Stone, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; L. F. Sheppard, president of the Order of Railway Conductors w S. Carter. pres ldent of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen; and P. c. Oasnen president of the Switchmen's s Union of America.
 The railroad executives committee in- ciuded c. II. Markham, president of the Illinois Centrali W. W. Atterbury, vice president of the Pennsylvania; J. E. Cor man. president of the Chicago Rock Is land and Pacific; Carl R. Gray, president or the Union Pacific, and Ralph Budd, president of the Great Northern.
 The executives, it was announced wish the wages of train service men re- turned to the same basis as previous to Nhe Increase granted in the labor board decision of July, 1920. This will necessi- tate ten per cent. reduction it was said
 The decision of the ex- ecuuves, reached in a meeting of the as- sociation of railway executives, followed consideration of numerous plans and proposals regarding wages and rates one proposal was for an immediate re- due In freight rates on agricultural com modities, the reduction to be effective for sixty or ninety days as a test.-This plan met With opposition from a majority of me roads, most of them maintaining thai they could not exist with lower rates
 The announcement, which was embod- ied in statement of some 1,5OO words reviewing the financial condition of the roads, made the transportation situa tfon even more tense than it had been through a day in which one rumor after another or strikes, wage and rate cuts had been prevalent
 An announcement from the labor board mat the piece rate system of pay haC Deem restored also added to the excite. ment and brought reports of dissatisfac. lion from the unions. Union chiefs were dubious as to how their men, 80 per cent Of whom have authorized a strike rather man a,ceput the recent 12 1-2 wage re duction, would take the various announce ments of the day.
 The roads declared that their actior w2s being taken with the view of lower ing freight and passenger rates in tn, future
 II was estimated by the railroads O the United tates to seek to bring about ; reduction in rates" the statement said ana as means to that end to seek reduction in present railway wages whicl compelled maintenance of present rates.
 "An application will be made immedi Stely to the United States railroad labo board for a reduction in wages of trail service employees sufficient to remove tn remainder of The increase made by tn labor board decision of July 20, 192 (which would involve a further reduc lion of approximately 10 per cent) an for a reduction in the wages of ali othe glasses of railroad labor to the going rat for such labor in the several territorie where the carriers operate.
 The foregoing action is upon the UT nerstanding that concUrrently with sue reduction in wages. the benefit of the re duction thus obtained shall, with the con currence of the interstate commerce con mission, be passed on to the public in tn eeduction of existing railroad rates ex rept insofar as such reduction shall hay bean made in the meantime.
 The railroads have decided upon tii lourse in view of their realization of tn sfact that the wells industrial activit have been slowed down 10 a point whic brings depression and distress to the CT Dire public and that something must b Bone to start them again in operation. Y