The New York herald., 1921-10-30
WAGES OF Rail MEN
CANNOT Be CHANGED (.
FOR YEAR AT LEAST.
Executives, in Planning 10
Per Cent. Reduction, Face
Much Red Tape.
WOULD AVOID FRICTION
Labor Board in Report Vir-
tually FOrbldS Strikes
on Railroads.
BLACKLIST is PENALTY
All Disputes Must Be Referred
to Board Before Action
Is Taken.
BLACKLIST is PENALTY

Special Despotch to THE Nsw Yosk HERALD
CHICAGO, Oct 29.-Despite the uiti-
matum delivered Tuesday by the
United States Railroad Labor Board,
that no further petitions for wage re-
ductions would be considered for a
year, railway executives here went
ahead to-day with plans for reduc-
lions.
No precipitate action is to be taken
that will interfere or cause friction
with the employees This announce
ment was made by Chairman S. NJ.
Felton of the Western Group of Rail-
way Executives.
An application for a 10 per cent. de-
crease in wages will be made. but will
be made in accordance with the policy
outlined by the Labor Board in the
resolution that ended the strike plans
I'VE need the 10 per cent. reduc-
ton. II we are to cut rates." said Mr..
FELTON,. But we will handle the mat
ter in a way that will not cause fric-
ton. Under the rules Of the rail
board we first must ask the men to
accept the cnt. They either accept
or reject. In the last cut IT took the
men six months to make their reply
OF rejection. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose it will take an equal time now.
Make Another Application.
"If the men reject then we make our
application TO the labor board. which in
dicated in it's resolution that il would
not take up such an application until
its present work was finished, months
hence. This win make an issue to be
heard.
Then will come the reply of the
unions to our appeal to the Federal
board and the hearing OF both sides.
which In the last hearing took weeks.
and then the deliberations of the board.
which took some months.
Even were We to make our proposal
to the men at once. It will be a year. In
tho natural course of proceedings. be-
fore decision from the rail board
could come.
There is nothing In our plan that
violates either the letter or the spirit of
the boards resolution on which the
strike was settled. There is TO be no
cause for friction or agitation or no
cause for breaking up the present settle
mcnt."
CHICAGO, Oct. 20 ASSOCIATED Press) -
The Railroad Labor Board to-day issued
its decision on the hearing TO determine
responsibility FOR the general strike
threatened by the big five railroad
Unions, making three findings. the third
Of which held that any union going out
on strike will forfeit its right and the
rights of its members in all existing
contracts and lose all benefits accorded
by the transportation act"
Findings Of the Board.
The other findings were:
THAT all such disputes must be re-
ferred to the board before any action Is
taken.
THAT any interruption OF traffic
would be a blow aimed at the peace.
prosperity and safety Of the entire ma
ton"
The labor board. after detailing the
decision of both sides TO abide by the
law. says "these facts render II unnec-
essary for the board to make any fur
ther orders about this matter. and move
Il to congratulate the parties directly
interested and the public. most vitality
and profoundly interested. on this re-
turn to Industrial peace. triumph OF the
reisn OF law and the escape from this
national disaster.
But at this time, and while the mat
ter Is so intensely before the minds OF
ALL the board deems Il expedient and
proper to make it's rulings and posi-
tions on some OF the points involved &c
clear that no ground for any uisunder-
standing can hereafter exist.
"-irst, when any change OF wages.
contracts or rules previously in effect
is contemplated or proposed by either
party. conference must he had az d.
rected by the transportation act and by
rules or decisions OF procedure pronul-
gated by the board. and where agree
ments are not reached the dispute must
be brought before this board. and no
action or change made until authorized
by the board.
Second. the ordering or authorizing
OF a strike against Decision No. ilT (the
July wage cut) Of this beard Is n vio-
Iation Of that decision. The board de-
sires to point out that such overt acts
by either party tending TO and threaten
ing an interruption OF the transporta-
ton line the peaceful and uninterrupted
operation Of which are so absolutely
necessary 10 the peace prosperity and
safety OF the entire people, are in them
selves. even when they do not culninate
In a stoppage Of traffic a cause and
source Of great injury and damage.
THE board further roints out for the
consideration OF employees Interested
that when such action does result in a
strike the organization 40 acting has
forfeited It's right and the rights OF IL
members In and to the provisions and
benefits OF all contracts heretofore ex-
'stiny and the employees 50 striking
have voluntarily removed themselves
from the classes entitled TO appeal to
this board for relief and protection"
White suiphur springs. The Crcenbrfcr ana