New Britain herald., 1921-01-31
WANT HONEST WORK
 FOR GOOD DAYS PAY
Plea of Railway Executive,
 Urging Abrogation of Agreements
31.-Immed


 Chicago, Jan. s1.-1mmediat abrogation of the national agree ments between railroads and eA ployes was proposed to the railroa labor board today by ". ". Alter bury, chairman of the labor commit tee of the association of railway exc cutives and vice-president of tn Pennsylvania railroad.
 The solvency of the railroads c the country must be assured by a ;zs duction in operating expenses. M Atterbury declared. Unlose promE action affords relief to the roads, h said. many of the lines of the coun try may be forced into .insolvency. ''The labor board can prevent. thl catastrophe" Mr. Attsrbury sd b declaring that the national SS ments. rules and working condittc, coming over from the war period Al terminated at once; that the urs ton of reasonable and economcj rules and working conditions shs be remanded to negotiation betwe each carrier and Its own. employ1 and that as the basis for such |, gotiations. the Agreements, rules . working conditions in effect on eA railroad as of December 31, 1Al shall be resstAblished." Reduction of Wages. Touching upon the question of VI reductions in connection with the quested action by the board MT. terbuFy aaid:
 If the board will do this the lal committee of the association of n way executives will urge upon ev railroad company a party to, decis No. 3. that no proposal for thes duction of basic wages shall be n within the next succeeding 90 d This will afford an opportunity gauge the economies which can accomplished through more effic rules and working conditionss~It also afford additional time 5Ewl to realize the benefits of a hri decline in the cost of fiving'A
 Int national agreements, and working conditions forced on railroads as war measureS'' the s ment says. cause gross waste ineniciency." $500, ,0OO. 600 Saving II estimate that the ellminatio this waste would reduce ral
 
 annum. 1t would he far betho save this sum by restoring condi of efficient and conomicAl oper than to reduce wages. % We believe that as the w1g railroad employees were tho last up. they should be the last to ample wage. an ho9est das's 0hQIl given '"The public has a right to that this must be obtained The has also the right to expect th railway executives, with =, tIlo operation of the regulatory budie ! the employees, will as rapidly aI sible to reduce the cost of r, operation so as to eventu a reduction in rates. U1tim Giy adjustment of basic wages will Quired. Meantime 1t is to the in of all concerned, including labU the rules and working con shall be made conductive to tho est efficiency in output per man
 ''The railroad committee pre- evidence for the abrUgatioa national agreements have fAr exhausted their evidence on th ject. But it would be 6AA9O0 continue consideration of tAAeo ments, rule by rule. IT the boa lows it's present procedure, will elapse before 1t can rem decision. !
 '"The urgent financial nee of the roads will not permit t wait any such length of time lief. It will be impossible for tn to hear and dispose of these s eases upon their merits in avoid numerous receiverShips possibility of a national panic.
 Cannot Write Rules.
 Your board cannot possibl the rules and working condit every railroad in this country just them eQuitably to varyi graphical. operating and ditions. ,ez
 "It rests entirely with you to determine within the n days whether this whole shall drift into chaos and procedure become impossible at the price of railroad ban ployment. ~,s.......
 '"The course which we are mending is not only impera equitable. t
 Perpetuation of the extra provisions of the war perfe normal rules and working would be a distinct viol0tto prosniSes of President Wiits vestorS of railway securities carriers were taken over by