The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-11
SKILLED RAIL
men TO GET
CUT IN WAGE
Reduction Probably Will Be
Taken Up as Soon as Pay
Of Unskilled Workers Is
Adjusted.
HANDLED INDIVIDUALLY
tBy Associated Press,

CHICAGO. March 11-Steps to bring
about reductions in the wages of skill
ed employees probably will be taken
by many railroads throughout the
country. as soon as adjustments can
be made in the pay of unskilled work
ers, according to officials of the as
sosciation of Railyay executives.
Such reductions, If made, will be
handled individually by the various
roads in the same manner that pres
ent announcement of proposed cut in
pay for unskilled workers now are
being made, it was said, with no at
| tempt at concerted or simultaneous
| action by the railroadh
In line with this policy, however, it
became known that the association.
| at meeting at New Haven, Conn, on
March 4, adopted a resolution that II
was the sense of the meeting that re
duction in the pay of skilled employ
es were not considered Objectionable
by the executives.
Referred to Roads.
The matter was then referred to the
individual roads. Officials of the as
| sociation today predicted that an an
nouncement of readjustment of the
wage scale of skilled men, similar to
the one made few days ago by the
| Pennsy line, soon would be forth
| coming.
The Chicago and Great Western rail.
road, which yesterday announced that
| it would hold conferences concerning
wage reductions for its unskilled en-
ployes today announced that it would
propose a 90 per cent reduction for
everyone employed by the road, from
| the president down.
The Great Western is the first of
the western roads to announce a pro-
/! posed wage reduction for all its en-
ployes.
! From the labor side little comment
came on the announcements of pro-
posed reductions in unskilled en-
ploye's wages. 1t was said that the
4 matter would have to come before
the railway labor board and that the
unions chief concern now was TO see
that the roads acted in accordance
with the transportation act.
The Chicago, burlington and Quincy
railroad yesterday had conference
with representatives of its 10000 un
skilled employees with the view of
bringing about wage reductions. Hale
Holden, president, announced today
The conference adjourned until March
% to allow the roads proposition to
be placed directly before the en-
ployes themselves.
The road proposed reductions of ap
proximately eight and one-half cents
an hour, varying in certain districts
oil
the pay of unskilled men approximate
ly 40 cents an hour, the present rate
being on the average of 4S12 cents
an hour.
NEW YORK March 11.--A general
move by the nations railroads to cut
wartime wage scales, long forecast by
rail officials, appeared to be in full
swing today. Following the lead of
several lines which earlier had an
nounced proposed wage reductions, the
New York Central and New York, New
Haven and Hartford railroads in the
east, and every railroad in the west,
announced wage reductions yesterday
Further statements from lines that
have not yet announced reductions
were preicted today.
! Officials of various lines today were
in an effort to reach agreements on the
proposed reduction. The plans as an
nounced affect only unskilled and semi
skilled labor Men engaged in the
actual operation of trains, telegraphers
and station agents are not included.
To Negotiate.
The New York Central and the New
York, New Haven and Hartford whose
| reduction announcements included
men in IS classes of labor were ex.
pected to open negotiations with their
. men next week Arrangements for
, | early conferences also were reported
being mode by the Santa Fe. Chicago
Milwaukee and st. Paul, Chicago and
Great Western, Chicago, Rock Island
, and Pacific, and the Chicago and
Northwestern, all with headquarters
at Chicago.
The Long Island railroad met un
skilled employees representatives here
yesterday and failing of agreement an
nounced the matter would be placed
, before the war labor board. Union
Pacific officials it was reported, also
failed yesterday to reach an agree
ment with maintenance of way EN-
ployes in a meeting at Omaha, Nebr.
and decided to submit its wage prob
lem to the labor board.
. Pennsy Considers
A plan to carry out wage reductions
r announced Wednesday by the Penn
[ sylvania railroad was reported from
: Philadelphia to be in the making by
executives of the road. The Philzdel
tphia and Reading railroad called q
0 conference with unskflled employees
4 for March Is, and the Lehigh Valley
and Ontario and Western railroad
s boards were issued to issue statement.
# in regard to wage reductions today.
r The New York Central announced
r its reduction would become effective
e April 16. and the New York, New
e Haven and Hartford cut will be effect
e i've as of April Is. Twelve subsidiar,
l. lines of the New York Central vii
e follow its lead it was reported.
l. Reduction announcements were &C
S companied in most cases throughou
T. the country with statement 'stha