The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-31
UNLESS Prompt Action Af-
fords Relief Many Lines
May Be Forced Into
Insolvency"
LABOR BOARD CAN
PREVENT CALAMITY
BY RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF CON-
DITIONS IN EFFECT AS OF
DECEMBER 81.
IN 1917
By The Associated Press

Chicago, Jan. 31-Bankruptcy threat
ems the railroads of the United States
unless they are assured immediate
means for Il reduction in operating ex-
penses, the railroad labor board was
told today by the association OF rail-
way executives. General w. W. At.
terbury, chairman of the labor com
mittee Of the roads organization, made
the prediction.
The railroad executives assured the
federal officials that if there was i'm.
mediate abrogaton OF the wartime
national agreements, involving work.
ing rules and conditions, they would
not seek q reduction of basic wages
for at least three months after the
order becomes effective, saying the
interval would be- used TO test out
the efficiency of economies which
might be instituted free from the lin.
itations Of present. agreements.
Ultimately, however, it was stated
there would be need for reduction
in basic wages If the cost OF operating
the roads is to be cut to point
where rates may be reduced.
AS measure Of immediate relief,
the roads asked the board TO abro-
gate at once the agreement fixing the
basic rates of unskilled labor at 80 to
4Sia cents an hour. They argued that
this was a higher rate than was be-
ing paid in other industries, and that
It operated to the disadvantage Of our
employers, particularly farmers.
The roads proposed that rules and
working conditions in effect December
81. 1917, be re-established.
Many railroads are not now earn
ing and with present operating costs
and traffic have no prospect OF earn,
ing, even their bare operating ea-
pen3ec." General Atterbury sad, "1hIs
leaves them without any net return
ard unable to meet their fixed
charges"
He said that the emergency might be
met either by advances in freight or
passenger. rates or reduction in oper.
| ating expenses. adding:
with declining prices and wages
in industry and agriculture. the coun.
try demands that the solvency OF the
railroads must be assured by q reduc.
! ton in operating expenses and not b.
a further advance in rates"
He said that as railway wages were
I the last TO come down.
| teh last 10 come down.
| General Atterbury quoted President
/ Wilson and the pronouncements q
the board itself in an endeavor 10
show that wartime agreements were
1 not intended to live beyond the war
/ Chicago, Jan. 31.--Imruediate ahro-
cation OF the national agreements be-
tween railroads and empioyea, was
proposed 70 the railroad labor board
today BY ". W. Atterbury, chair
man Of the labor committee OF the
association OF railway executives and
vice president Of she Pennsylvania
railroad.
The sclyency Of the railroads OF
q reduction In operating expenses.
MIR, Atterbury declared. Unless prompt
action afforls relief 70 the roads, he
said. many OF the lines OF the country
may be forced into insolvency.
The labor board can prevent this
catastrophe" Mr.. A,tcrbury said, "by
declaring that the national agree
mcnts, rules and working conditions
coming over from the war period are
terminated at once aud that the ques-
ton OF reasonable and economical
rules and worsing conditions shall
be remanded to negotiation between
each carrier and ts own employees;
AMI that as the basis for such ncgo-
/ tiatious. the agreements, rules and
working conditions In effect on each
railroad as of December n, 1917,
shall be rc-established"
Touching UPON the question OF wage
reductions, MIR. Atterbury said:
III the board will do this the la
Dor committee OF the association OF
railway executives will urge upon
every railroad company party to
decision number two. that no pro-
posal for the reduction OF the basic
wages shall he made within the next
succeeding 90 days. This will afford
AN opportunity to guage the ccono-
mics which can be accomplished
through more efficient rules ana work.
ing conditions it viii also aftotd
additional time in which to realize
tho benefits OF further decline IN
tho cost oc living"
The national agreements. rules.
and working conditions forced on the
railroads as war measures" the state