The Cordova daily times., 1921-08-20
BROTHERHOODS' WAGE DEMAND
 TURNED DOWN
Gy Associated Pressp

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 CHICAGO. Aug. 2O-The demands of the big five railroad brotherhoods to wipe out the recent wage cut withdrawal of all future requests for wage decreases and the cancel Ing of all demands for elimination of time and half for overtime in yard service. were refused yesterday by the western railroads on the ground | that these demands disregarded the l public interest. which demands eco l nomical operation and resultant lower freight and passenger rates.
 The wage reductions ordered by the railroad labor board resulted from a combined hearing involvong 104 railroads which filed petitions to cut the wages of one or more classes of employees.
 Reduction in the wages of labor. CTS in other industries and the deCln- ing cost of living were set forth by the railroads as the basis of their plea for lower wage scales. The winter slump in business materially hastened action in the endeavor to cut down the country's railroad pay roll and many railroad officials declared be- fore the board that their roads would be in the hands of receivers unless immediate relief was provided.
 The campaign for lower wages was begun in February when the Penn sylvania line demanded the right to hire unskiiled labor at the rate pre- vailng in each roads territory.
 The board, however, took no action on the demands at that time and 1t was not until the following month that distinct wage cases came to the boards attention. The Erie railroad and the New York Central lines then senting the matter to their employees. No agreement was reached however, and the disputes finally reached the Ia bor board
 Provisions of the transportation act of 1920 require that before any dis pute is referred to the labor board, both employees and employer shall have made a sincere effort to effect q settlement In case no agreement can be reached, the case may be re- ferred to the board by one or both parties. The board then summons the disputants and holds a hearing at which both sides are given opportun- ity to present their arguments.
 Following their hearings, the Erie, which had already put a reduction h force was ordered by the board to re- store the former rates and the New York Central was denied permission to make an immediate reduction. pending a hearing of the merits of the dispute Defeat of the egorts Of both roads to cut wages was then the signal for a deluge of cases which be- 
 gan to pour into the boards offices. Realizing the futility of attempting a separate hearing on each dispute, the | board combined all the cases for the one hearing.
 After only one days dellberation the board made public a resolution on May r stating that prevailing con ditions justified readjustment 1 downward and that new wage order would be issued on or about June l to be effective July l. The decision however, is not as comprehensive a' that which granted the s6oO,000,oot wage increase to railway workers or July 20. 1920.
 A new hearing was begun June to include all disputes filed with thu board between April IS and June
 and 6 speedy decision was made Il the new case. members Of the boar
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