Arizona republican., 1921-02-02
RATE REDUCTION RAILROAD REASON
 FOR RELOCATION
 OF AGREEMENTS
Republican A. p. Leased Wlrel

CHICAGO, Feb. 1-The railroads asked the railway labor board to abro- gate the national agreements so that an ultimate reduction in rates without an immediate reduction in wages could be brought about, Thomas Dewitt Guy Ter, chairman of the Association of Railway Executives, said tonight in a telegram to President Wilson, replying to one sent him last night by repre- sentauves of seven labor unions. MT Cuyler denied charges made against the railroads by the labor leaders, de- claring that they were deliberate and gross misrepresentation and propagan- da intended to diScredit the private management of the railroads in the interests of the Plumb plan and to de- feat efforts being made in good faith to abolish rules and working condi- tionS which were war measures.
 MT. Cuyler said the railroads had re- fused conference with labor leaders because such conference could not adjust conditions for all roads. The roads, however, were willing. individ- ually, to adjust conditions with their employees. and were, in fact, urging this on the labor board.
 The action requested by Brig. Gen. W. w. Atterbury (abrogation of the national agreements) Is the only action which, with government sanction, can free the hands of the railway execu llNtS anu cilootG LlitHl py oioCIiH Pic- cedure with their men to develop ap- propriate rules and working condi- tions." the telegram said.
 "The only rules that stand the tests of practical operation and do not in volve endless controversy are rules which are negotiated between each management and it's own men, and the opportunity of securing this is request ed by the roads, not only to enable the railroads to achieve the earning i power contemplated in the transporta- ton act, but in the interests of an ul i timate reduction in transportation l rates to the public.
 Last, but not least, the roads re- l quest is in the interest of the men l who work upon these railroads. We l recognize that as the wages of rail-
 road employees were the last to go up. 1 they should also be the last to come down, and if by restoring conditions
 necessary to efficient and economical operation. the railroads can postopne | for a reasonable period the reduction l of basic wages which will ultimately 1 be required they will be only too glad l to do so in the interests of their em-
 pioyes.
 The pressing financial necessities 1 of the railroads are such that, if denied
 the opportunity of initial economy
 through proper rules and working con- 1 ditions, their only other recourse must
 be in a reduction of basic wages. ''1he railway executives are proceed 1 ing with the keenest sense of obliga ton to the public. They feel they are trustees of a great public interest and that they are representing not only their own interest, but the interests of the farmer the consumer labor l and manufacturers and the railway employees. They have every confidence that. when the various industries and ] workers are making their respective ! contributions to a decline in the cosi
 of living. railway employees will cer-
 tainly not refuse to make their similar
 contribution"
 R. F. Grable. president of the United
 Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way , Employes and Railway Shop Laborers the largest of the railway unions, to-
 night sent a telegram to President , Wilson protesting against the state ment made before the labor board yes
 terday by General Atterbury, declaring
 that it was in violation of the trans
 portation act. and did not contain
 facts"