The New York herald., 1921-10-29
RAIL MANAGERS TO
VOTE ON PAY CUTS
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
the Executives Club at Chicago at neon
to-day declared that the public ray
well consider the question Of what really
prevented the railroad strike"
Undoubtedly If the public does con-
slider this it must conclude" said Mr.
Dunn. that the main thing that caused
the strike to be called was the state
ment made by Ben w. Hooper. The
statement was that the board would hear
and dispose of all pending cases invoiv'
ing rules and working conditions before
1t would hear and decide upon applica-
tons for further reduction of wages
Undoubtedly the union leaders VII
interpret IL as virtual promise that nc
reduction in wages will be made for
months 20 come. The determination OF
whether that is what the statement
means will come in short time. The
railways will proceed at once to serve
notice on their employees OF a further
reduction Of wages. and this will cause
a controversy which will speedily come
before the board.
THE railways are being subjected te
tremendous pressure by the public and
Government for an early general reduc-
tion of rates. The Interstate Commerce
Commission. which regulator rates. al
ready has ordered reduction In rates
on all grain and grain products in ar
opinion In which 1t specifically indi-
Gates that this reduction Of rates Is
made in anticipation of reduction ir
wages. The railways will unquestion-
ably strongly resist reductions in rates
Unless they are accompanied by reduc'
tons in wages.
Two Bodies Pull Apart.
TT the Government through the In
tersta.e Commerce Commission Is going
forward on a policy of reducing rates
and the Government through the Rail.
road Labor Board is going forward with
the policy Of indefinitely postponing re-
ductions In wages. We shall see spec
tacle of deadlock between two Govern
ment bodies, one of which regulates
what the railroads can afford to pay te
their employees and the other Of which
regulates what the railways must pay
to their employees.
THE withdrawal of the strike order
settles only one thing-that Is, that the
strike will not occur. 1t does not In
any way settle the question of further
reductions Of wages or that OF reduc-
tion of rates.
The harm which would be done the
public interest by a policy which would
render the railroads unable to handle the
country's business would be greater
than the harm which would have beer
done by a strike or the harm which
would be done by a continuance OF the
present freight and passenger rates"
Marvin Hughitt, chairman of the
board OF directors Of the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad, said that the
Northwestern had "ccepted the decision
of the labor board and would rigidlJ
observe it. The question of further pay
reductions must come up again very
quickly I am glad the strike has beer
avoided"
Howard Elliott, chairman Northern
Pacific Railroad, said: Cant discuss
our plans in regard to further wage re-
ductions. They must come down; that
is certain 1 am happy to know thai
the strike will not occur"
James z. German, president OF the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, said
The question of wage cuts has beer
postponed. Calling OF the strike a,
this time was wise act. l do not
care to discuss the matter In detail"
VIII Not Drop Fight.
Hale Holden, president Chicago. Bur.
lingtou and Quincy: Il am more thar
sratined that peace has settled dowr
on the railroad front All I can say
at this time on further pay cuts Is
that we must by no means drop oui
fight for them"
A. G. Wells, vice-president Of the
Atchison road, said: THE labor board
announces that no cuts in wages will bt
considered for Some time to come, unit
a thorough examination OF the workins
conditions has been made. This mean.
that freight rates cannot come down
II transportation costs stay high th'
road to normalcy remains closed.
venture to predict that some roads VII
60 into bankruptcy II their operating
costs are not reduced coon and by 9
considerable margin"
Executives breathed easier and can
celled all preparations for the strike
while the men. satisfied that their rep
rcsentatives had guarded their interests
tackled their tasks with renewed vigor
Perhaps the outstanding feature o.
the entire situation was the fact tha
the railroad labor board. through III
work in averting the threatened walk
out, has attained an inestimable new
prestige both with the men and with tn,
rail executives.
The outstanding individual of th'
situation is Judge Ben w. Hooper. pub
lie member OF the board and former Gov
ernor of Tennessee. The union men arr
outspoken in their statements that 4
was Judge Hooper alone who stepped II
at the crucial moment and brought peac'
when this appeared an impossibility.
Hundreds of congratulatory .telegrams
poured into the boards offices from
railway men In every part OF the coun-
try John Higgins, chairman OF tht
Western Association of Railway Execu-
ttvaa vas among the first of number
Of visitors who cana TO congratulate the
boa rd members.
One message regarded as signifyint
that the Loard had won prestige among
The railroad arrangements cams to Bef
Hooper, a public member OF the
board from b. A. Worthington, presi
dent of the Cincinnati. Indianapolis an,
Western road. saying II would pay time
and a half overtime. dating bnck from
August I, when time and half foi
overtima was eliminated. until the ques.
ion is definitely settled by the board.
Members OF the Labor Board were
busy tonight rafting the ruling or
which the rail strihs scheduled for Sun
day was called off The ruling will bt
completed tomorrow, when II viii be
laid before o special meeting of the
1oard for approval. and will then be
| riven 20 the Tublic.
According 10 q. w w. Hanger. q
member OF the public group Of the
board, the decision will be In two parts
| The first will be that governing future
| relationships between the roads and
their men and the second that concern.
| ing the status of the now averted strike
READY FOR FUTURE STRIKES
rosTt,N Oct 2g--rIoUnrfi roonIo., 4,