Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-17

i
will strike without even waiting a
| decision of the Labor Board as to
whether another wage reduction is
Just and reasonable.
| This is the stage which the con-
troversy has now reached.
| There liz at least one feasible plan
| by which IL can be settled and n
strike avcrtcd.' That plan is pre-
dlcatcd upon an excellent suggestion
| made by General Atterbury. OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. in his speech
before the convention of Vehicle and
Implement manufacturers at Chicago
last Friday. His suggestion is
quoted as follows:
Nevertheless. 1t is fact that
the carriers. though they are not
earning what they should earn to
cntitlc them To be called prosperous
nor what the law intends they shall
earn. cannot rest under such protec-
ton While other business struggles for
its life. Ii would be a wise policy
for the carriers publicly to nvow that
view. and voluntarily reduce rates
where they now work hardship. even
| though such rates may be reasonable
In transportation sense. and even
| though to reduce them means Il loss
of revenue to the carriers.
The carriers can do this of their
| own volition. where II would be Inn
proper for the Interstate Commerce
Commission To do SO. The result
would be temporary check in the
rising fortunes of the carriers. and
| that they can i'll afford. hut IL would
be step in the restoration of sound
business conditions, and the public
should give to the carriers a real APP
t'rreciation OF their act
IF the railroads Will Immediately,
in good faith. adopt this suggestion
Of General Attcrtury. the situation
can be cleared UP, freight rates re-
duccd TO shippers. the cost of living
reduced To the consumers, and n
stimulating effect cNcrtcd upon all
business.
I'VE would suggest that the wage
GU; Of July / be translated ut once
into a reduction OF freight rates. This
would be much more tangible and sat
isractory to the public than TO prom
Use that future wage reductions will
be PASSED on TO the people in the
form OF reduced freight rates. The
public undoubtedly expected this re-
suit when the July wage reduction
was made and it's consummatIon
now. though somewhat delayed,
would lie highly gratifying. That
direct benefits woud promptly follow
and that the psychological effect
would be instantly beneficial. cannot
be doubted.
inurc To- Hcnrnt OF Employees.
Such reduction in the cost OF liv-
ing as might result from this and
other causes would inurc to the bonc-
fit of the railway employees and would
constitute one OF the statutory
grounds for further reduction in
wages. At the same time. II would
have tendency 10 reduce the cost of
material supplies to the carriers. and
IL would not then he necessary for
| the carriers to rely solely upon age
| cuts for a reduction of their operat-
| ing expenses.
"Dcilntion should he general and,
rs far as possible uniform. Up TO
this time, the farmer Is the only man
| that has debated, and he came TO the
earth with thud. This was tccause
he did not possess the parachute Of
organization 10 break his fall.
Another catastrophe Of that sort
should be avoided, IL possible. Wages
and freight rates should come to 4
just and reasonable level uniformly,
| or by alternating stages.
| "Of course. nothing in these OBJ
| scrvations should be construed to in
| dictate what the action OF the Labor
| Board will hc on any wage dispute
that may he brought before II. Such
disputes will continue To be adjusted
| by the board in accordance with the
evidence submitted and the require
| mcnts Of the transportation act
| When reductions arc justfable they
viii We given
| 1T must he understood that there
is no intention 10 indicate. in an,
sense. the duty OF the Interstate
| Commerce Commission In the prem
Uses"
! Federal action in connection with
| the threatened national railroad
strike was still confined today to tho
conference brought about by Pres
idcrt Harding between the Interstate
| Commerce Commission and the pub
| lie representatives, on the Railway
| Labor BOARD.
iseSumr Consideration Today mt .
Consi dcration OF the major prob
| lem presented by a prospective
| paralysis az the country's carrier
system practically At the opening Of
winter will be resumed at O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon by the two gov.
crnmcnt agencies who have in charge
| practically "nmolctc regulation OF
railroad affairs.
| Members OF the conference main
| tanned silence today as to tho basis
| upon which the problem would h,
discussed, leaving ms the only him
in that respect the White Uous'
statement that President Harding
deemed IL necessary to bring together
the commission ana public member:
| OF the board
The impression given at the Whit,
House today was that, having turned
| the matter over TO the agencies es.
tablished by law To handle II. Pres
!dcnt Harding had taken no further
initiative, and would await the out.
come OF the conferences.
Utilize Legal Branch. Belief.
In labor circles. however. the OK
pcctation was expressed that the
legal branch OF the government woul,
be utilized before many hours ha,
passed
II presume that the next Trims
viii bc the injunction" Prcsiden
William H. Johnston. of the Inter
- q 81 .x.,,