Arizona republican., 1921-10-26
SUGGESTS .RQADSPOSTPONE REQUEST TS FUR WAGE CUTS AND
 AVERT WALKOUT
TRepublIcan A. p. Leased v,l,,,

| lHepubiican A. p. Leased WIreT
 IIiCACO, Oct. 25.-The railroad ,'ooSi roos Doard today turned to the rail- st,..I.s III us attempt to avert the rail sel-he s. scheduled for Oct 30. suggest | ing that the roads tenporariI11 1sc-. | pohe seeking further wage resi.,ot;r,,s,- because the boards doclxe+ T7-o'- .--, "ued wage decision copld no+ pc rendered before July 1893 The sts'l-IeIs' however, informed the hoard ,y e.sy were powerless to take an one. 'Her pgesent . In statement the board. inforr,as sid,,' 1.I-ls iIeIs lhat 1t would not con ! siuer any petitions for waee c4fts ,,.-
 LII the questions of rules and ,,-o,,-;,,-- ! coldluons, now before fl vve,a ra.7 l Ceu- The board then unoffiefaI1,- I. . .le carriers know, it was IearneS,
 eiat since Its docket was so crowded
 uilhg on wages could not be hand S5I. uo"h peIore July, 1922, is would Ike the roads to announce ,,ostno--a- ment of their plans to seek f,i,.+t,e,. pay cuts, taking the attitude fbot
 walkout -i' avert d
 The committee of the Assoeiatio, Ol haliway Executives which con ierred with the board announce9 | however, that the carriers v-o,,is I teeIiu pat on their plans to seek new
 Pay cuts on the ground that wages
 must De reduced before freight rates
 could be lowered and that sinca +t,o
 strike was called technically in pro-
 test or wage cuts already authorize1
 there was no necessity fc- tne roads
 to take other than an inactive r,rrt j,,
 t le slFlke controversy between the
 board and the unions.
 Make individual RuIina q Tonight Hflssrf -s.-,-,,-....-. l ing the statement said that the board
 hilsnt take up a new procedure in IthueTlng decisions. handing down in olVidual rulings for individual erouDs
 or employees instead of one decision covering all It was pointed out by one member ti .ltt the statement left fo the board | the right to render a ward decfSior Tor any one class of euployes as soon as the rules and working conditions 'of mat class had been settled. but that this procedure would stretch into months before all classes could be considered.
 In this connection. union leaders ueciafed there were several organiza- tlons, no1ceably the conductors which had no rules questions before the board and consequently a petition l Tor lower wages for them might be taken up by the board immediateIv without the board going back on its ] statement.
 The statement was not looked upon ! as an ultimatum to the railroads board members said. but was nresenf- ed in the hope that it might bring ac ton from the roads which would tend toward averting the threatened walk out.
 In Its communication to the roads the board declared that if both sides l would consider the delay necessary l before wages again could be reduced. they would realize that there was no cause for an immediate strike be- tween them over this point.
 Strike Order Premature The unions, not taking into consid- eration this delay. were crossing bridges before coming to them when they called a strike, the boards l statement said.
 l It pointed out that the carriers had | repeatedly urged quick decision on
 the rules and working conditions | question now before the board and | that it had determined several weeks ago to settle this matter first.
 Of the 2,000 cases submitted to the ] board, 1900 still are unsettled. the
 statement said. pointing that proper 1 cooperation between the carriers | and the unions would have prevented | many coming to the board. l The boards statement, members 1 said, was issued tonight, the eve or | the strike hearings to which both the | unions and carriers have been sum ! moned for questioning to determine l if the transportation act is being vii i olated by the uniOgs in their strike ] plans, in the hope that 1t would re- | suit in representatives of one side or ! the other voluntarily offering some { plan to clear up the crisis. The | board has no definite plan, it was said, and will try in the hearing
 merely to bring out all the facts. ] 4 statement issued by the execu- l tives committee declared that the | carriers were. powerless to take any l other position than that of seeking 1 further cuts.
 Carriers Not in Dispute | Railroad executives are not aware ! of any present dispute between them l and their employees" said the state ! mcnt. The strike vote was taken solely against a decision Of the labor ! board reducing wages by 12 per cent last July.
 The railroads have determined to ] seek to reduce rates and as a means ! to that end 10 further reduce wages. But the carriers have expressly de- cided to proceed in accordance with
 the law.
 "The railroads wish it expressly understood that they would depre-
 cate a strike but that their first obi . gation is to the public to render ade- . quate service at reasonable rates. The issue is clear 1T present 1 wages are continued rates can not be lowered If rates are to be re- . duced present wages can not be paid. ! The railroads are rowerless to take any other position
 The boards statement to the car