Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-06-01
DECISION OF BOARD
TO AFFECT NEARLY
TWO MILLION MEN
Reduction in Pay Will Become
Effective First of Next
Month.
" .-.,t
RAILROAD EXECUTIVES
EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT
Had Hopes of Wipe Out" Of
20 Per Cent Increase Granted
Last Year.
UNION HEADS SAY NOTHING
approximately S4OO, 100000 Annual
iy Will BE Dropped From Pay
Rolls of Companies.
RAILROAD EXECUTIVES
EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT
UNION HEADS SAY NOTHING
approximately S4n0,OO,OOO Annual
ly VIII BE Dropped From Pay
Rolls of Companies.
IRy United NeMs.1

CHICAGO. May 3l.-A IL per cent
reduction in the wages Of all classes
"t railroad labor. which will lo7 ap-
proNimately i4o0, ,0Oo.0 900 annually
from the pay rolls OF practically
every railroad In the country, was
announced tonight by the United
states Railroad Board
The reduction will become effective
On July I, It will affect nearly 2,0oo.-
400 railroad employees
Tao reduction hits every class of
railroad employees from engineers to
common lator. While the decision
declares that it. affects only those
reads which made applications for
wage reduction prior to April is. il
adds that it will also include such
carriers as may be included hereafter
by addenda. and to the specific
classes OF employees ramcd or re-
terrcd 10 under each particular car
r!or." Eshty.six railroads are In
Guided in the decision. and ali other
class carriers Will be included by
July l. as they are given until that
date to file petitions for wage retiuc-
lions.
owmrrs Disappointed.
Railroad executives expressed dis
appointment in the decision. They
said that they had hoped that /,
would completely wipe out the 20
per cent increase given last year.
providing for s6co, 100000 annual
increase. By this decision the en-
ployes are still the gamers by $780,
100000 over wages prior to July /.
1920
Union leaders declined TO comment.
pending study OF the provisions OF
the decision.
In view OF our needs the decision
falls short OF our expectations" said
President h. l.. Byram, of the Chi
eaSo. Milwaukee and st. Paul rail-
road. We had hoped that II would
abr"eate the $500, 100000 increase of
last year We will have to rnd out
how much this cut will reduce our
operating expenses before making
any predictions about the possibility
OF rate decrease. II is a step in the
right direction, however. and should
hc'r business. and, ultimately. the
employment problem on railroads"
The cut is based on hourly, daily,
ana monthly rates OF pay. according
to the class OF employees.
Lower Living Costs.
The decision provides for reduc-
tions OF about IL per cent in present
wages. the board announced Be
cause OF tho fact that all employees in
service of carriers involved are not
included. it is difficult 10 estimate
the actual amount of decrease. but
II applied 10 all employees Of all
class ! carriers Included in the 1920
Increases. the aggregate reduction
would De approximately s4o0. 900. 900.
General reductions in wages as out
lined would mean an average monthly
wage of about sl25 for all emploves
but such an average means. of course,
that while some workers would earn
sum considerably in excess of the
monthly amount stated. many thou.
sands would fan far short of that
figure.
conductors, ticket collectors. brake
CONTINUED on Page 1. Col 6.)