The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-18
Final Opinion on All r. r.
Wage Disputes July 1.
Everyone Concerned Surprised
at Suddenness of Decision.
NEARLY ALL R. R. AFFECTED
Railway Rates Expected To Be
Slashed Immediately.
Common Labor Affected VIII
Mean Cut of S4OO,0OO,OOO.

Chicago. May 1S.-The United
States labor board has announced that
prevailing conditions justify to some
extent, yet to be determined, a read
justment downward of the wages Of
the employees of the carriers which
are parties to the disputes already
heard by the board"
The announcement which affects
common labor on pra actically every
railroad in the country was entirely
unexpected as the board only began
formal consideration OF the case Ves-
terday following the filing by 3. NJ.
Jewell. president of the railway ems
ployes department of the American
1edt- alton of labor of the final afgu-
ments of the employee against any
reductions Phe railroads had closed
their case on May T.
The announcement today further
declared that the board would hand
down its final decision in all wage dis
Putes docketed prior to April 1s to
June to be effective July !. Disc
putes filed since April Is. will be
heard on June 6, 'it being the purpose
or the boa d to make its decision OF
on July l." q
Rate Cuts to Follow.
ReductioL of freight and passenger
rates on railroads was expected r..
follow the cut in wages of laborers. n,
uation TODAY e
reduction in wages of common la,
porers on all railroads amounting 10
approximately 100000, 900 will he an
nounced by the federal railroad labor
poaro mere on June l and will be-
come effective July l.
The board stated its position that
wages. should be reduced in order to
! allow all lines to file petitions askin1
| LOT a. readJustment of wages before
me Ilnai decision-%as announced. At
| present, only eleven roads asked wa re
| cuts, but all others are expecfed 10
1iie their petitions before the ware
| cut or common labor is annuonced
on June l. Normally, there are about
2oo.ooo unskilled laborers employed
! by the railroads of the country.
Railroad executives here toda v
would not make any statement regard
ing the wage cuts. However. they ex-
pressed general disappointment that
the cut would not be effective before
July l, when practically all of the
| completed. Estimates today placed
/ the reduction of wages in unskilled
labor from IL to Is per cent ef
Altho the decision on June I will
| affect only unskilled labor the atti-
! tude of the board was understood 70
H'''-N - WIN ituhte tHt MdEeS Oh ait
classes of employees of all railroads.
The June / decision will be merely the
first of a group of decisions affectin.
all employees.
May Ask Further Slash.
OF two scores of railroads whose
applications for wage cuts are pend
ing before the board. only the Chica go
GreaA Western. the Chicago e. Alton
and a few others asked that the re-
ductions be extended to all classes of
employees.
Provision was made by the board
for the filing of other wage reduction
appeals no to June and these will
be decided. the announcement said. TO
take effect also on July ]. II is be-
lieved others of the Glass roads will
amend their applications to include
shop. train service and other classes
OF employees.