The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-31
Federal Board Propositions
Quickly Rejected by Atterbury.
Declares Even Few Days Delay
May Precipitate Crisis.
WANT CONTRACTS ABROGATED
Complete Change i'm Rules Petit
toned by Roads.
Brotherhoods Prepared to Re-
sist All Wage Reductions.

Chicago. Jan. 81 Immediate
change in rules and working contii-
tions on roads as a means of staving
bankruptcy of the roads, was pro-
posed to the railroad labor board to-
day by Cen w. w. Atterbury. chairs
man of the labor committee of tha
Association of Railway Executives.
So urgent was the situation, he de-
clared, that he rejected from the witt
ness chair a proposal by Judge E. NJ,
Barton, chairman of the board, that
roads and employees confer on the
schedules.
Situation Is Critical
General Atterbury said that few
days might see the entire situation
brought to a focus where orderly pro-
cedure would become difficult if not
impossible.
Henry T. Hunt. former mayor OF
Cincinnati and public representative
on the board, told Atterbury that he
had assurance from union leaders
that they were willing to enter.a con-
ference but General Atterbury re-
Joined:
$50 far as the railroads are con-
cerned We can not get together
The board suggested. that the en-
ployers get together with their men
while the managers presented a peti-A
ton asking immediate abrogation of
ton of wages of 100000 unskilleds
workers. (.
Advises Direct Negotiation.
Atterbury declared that the railroad
situation was SO critical that unless
the board gives imm ediate relief by
granting the petition. the railroads
VIII be forced to ask for a general
wage reduction.
Atterbury, who appeared as spokes-
man FOR the railroads, fter a three-t
day conference with the labor commit
tee of the Association of Railway
Executives. said a reduction in the
pay of other rail employees would not
be asked for ninety days If the board
abrogated the shop agreements.
Would Save $1,000 900.
Three hundred million dollars Will
De saved the roads if the request is
granted, Atterbury said. and he
claimed that unless the board takes
prompt action on this appeal, many of
the railroads of the country will be
forced into insolvency. He said the
national agreements, rules and work.
ing agreements forced on the 'railroa d,,
as war measures cause gross waste
and inefficiency
Atterbury cited some of the follow
ing examples of the workings Of the
should be abrogated:
One provision esta blishes the right
OF an employe to double time should
he be forced to work thru lunch hour.
altho he is given an hour off later in :
| the day
Another provides If an cmplove
punches the clock fifteen minutes be-
fcre the usual starting time of .the
shop, he is entitled to a bonus of one
! hours pay.
One clause provides for straight
time and prohibits piece work
Atterbury asks that unslxilled labor
be paid according to the prevailins
wage in the locality instead of a uni-
verSal rate.
brotherhood will Fight.
The railroad brotherhoods. II IL
forecast, will wage a bitter fight. on
the Atterbury proposals. Labor will be
given a hearing later by the BOARD.
1t is estimated that about half of
/ the two million railroad employees
would be affected by the abrogationeot
the agreements. This includes 425,00o
shopmen; 100000 maintenance of way
employees: $4,000 firemen and oilers
and 800 900 clerks.
Can Cut Expense No More.
! Railroad executives declare they
| have reduced operating expenses to
! an irreducible minimum that safety
rof passengers is impaired because OF
the necessity of cuttiIfg expenses; and
! that abrogation of the agreements is
necessary to give stockholders the s
per cent guaranteed by the govern
ment.
! Chicago is the headquarters Of a
railroad propaganda bureau destined
to give the story the plight of the
roads over to the public.
/ Ivy Lee. New York publicity expert.
is here in frequent conference with
Atterbury.
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