Evening journal., 1921-04-19
wage CUT DRIVE
IS UNDER WAY
Cause For Reduction of Pay
is Given as Decreased
Cost of Living
p. r. r. SUBMITS
PLEA TO BOARD

CHICAGO. April 1s.-Bastern
railroads, appearing before the
United States Railroad Board. open
ed their drive yesterday for sweep
ing wage reductions for all unskilled
labor and. in some instances. for
shop and train service employees.
over tho protest OF the labor or
CARNATIONS, the board decided TO
proceed with the consolidated wage
hearing of disputes certified by
ninety-three railroads from all sec
uons OF the country. The board de-
cided TO proceed Immediately.
despite vacancies due 60 the fact
Congress has not confirmed Presi-
dent Harding's appointees and one
member is absent Five members, a
quorum, remain. however. and the
board ruled there was no reason for
postponing the case.
Elisha Lee, OF the Pennsylvania
Eastern lines. asked reductions af-
fecting $4,000 employees, following
conferences with virtually all EN-
ployes except the train service men,
The Pennsylvania asked rates OF pay
varying territorially be established,
Mr.. Lee said. adding that the
spread" OF rates for shop employees
prior TO 1918 was very much
greater" than at present He sub
mitted an exhibit compiled from a
study Of 1885 plants with 155. 900
employees, which showed. he said,
that the rates paid in outside indus
tries were generally below those
proposed for Pennsylvania employees.
Mr.. Lee also presented an exhibit
showing the comparative cost Of hv-
ing at points on the Pennsylvania
Special representatives Of the New
York Central. Erie and the New
England roads presented their own
cases. other Eastern roads were
represented by J. O.. Walber. Of the
Bureau OF Information Of Eastern
Railroads, who stated the conten-
tions Of each road separately.
In opening the plea for wage re-
ductions the carriers declared there
had been widespread reduction of
wages Of from 10 TO 80 per cent and
the cost OF living had receded stead.
ily for several months
The New England roads presented
exhibits through o. L. Bardo. gen.
eral manager OF the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad, pre-
senting a report from the Massachu
setts Commission on the Necessities
Of Life which showed 35.3 pei
cent reduction in the cost Of livnl
there since July. 1920.
Hourly wages on New Engian,
lines. as quoted my Mr.. Bardo hal
increased from fifteen to forty -eigh
hurF ran~ afwr. fnFH ..rsrI
therefore. be seem he concluded
'the increase in basic hourly rate
and weekly compensation varies be
tween 40 and 24O per cent. where
az the increased cost OF living at il
peak was 1926 over 1914. and is nov
sc per cent. higher than in 1914"
Although no general wage wa
fixed in asking reductions. r. l.. Par
sons. OF the Erie. requested for hi
road the scale OF April 30. 1920. b
placed in effect and the board sus
pend its wage decision Of July. 1926
pending re-establishment OF reason
able wages. The rates named wer
those in effect just prior TO the 192
wage decision. which became effec
tive May /, 1920. The Erie woul
make tho boards new decisio
retroactive II the old scale did n,
meet the new decision. Mr.. Parsor
said.
More than a score Of other road
including the Delaware. Lackawann
and Western. Central of New Jerse
Hooking Valley. Baltimore and OH
and other Eastern roads. submitte
exhibits
Several other Eastern roads wi
appear tomorrow. after which Wes
ern roads will have their inning.