Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-29
RAIL OPERATING
COST MUST BE CUT
AGAIN. EXPERT Says
Pennsy Representative insists
National Agreements Must
be Abrogsted.
WOULD DEAL WITH THE MEN

BY Associated Press % Every Evsninr
Phlladeiphis. June 70 compie's
abrogs ton Of the national agreements
and reduction Of operating costs. in@
largest part of which ls ln the pay
rolls. nust be effected before rail-
road rates generally can b. reduc~c. 7
y. T. Whittier, chief spokesman Tor no
roads before the United states Eali+
road Labor Board. today tod ne
Trades Council u me Manufactures
Club here.
Wage reductions recently ordered ~
the Federal board, be said repreaent
but very meagre part ~ the actual
pay Increases granted railroad I'm.
Dloyes since 1914.
That however. is not me most i'm
portant factor now" tne speaker de-
clared. The real problem In that "a
relief whatsoever can be- secured from
IN intended sbrogation ~ the national
agreements until the railroad manas-
ers and the men agree upon mutually
satisfactory substitutes Tor them The
relief Is entirely Drobiemnticai. Fef,
Whatever prospect there is ~ rsfurinx
rates generally must deperd aita-
gether upon a reduction ~ operating
costs-snc the largest part ~ his
cost Is in the payroils"
/ The public has been misied into ~.
/ lieving, Mr. Whittier asserted tnaf -
labor board canceied fne awr~~snenta
/ b. redoeins employees ~area ans
ordering changes IN working CON.
ditions. Union leaders. ~ aa.d da
not recognize such % b. too case ard
arc preparing FOR campaigns upon 10
basis of the agreements wul ln force
I Prior 70 Federa. control ~ cons
I tinued. the Pennsylvania railroad hsa
4 no schedules Of agreements win any
of IT, employees exc~pf those ln ne
train service and e portion ~ NJ
4 teiegra piers. and even wifh hose
orgs nlzation with Which 10 dld nav.
scheduies the msnsgemerf dsaif di.
rectly with their ovr employees Thar
- what We want again tn ne-.sfahIlan
our old mutual r@iationsnfp
i Aside from The oonaxloua ans
wa stefui character % the ratlor.I
! agreements our PRINCIPAL aim In
seeking their abroxstion ~as to vasr
ar opportunity 70 d~ai win nur n.r~
! men, 10 meet them around the fani~
: and end~avor 70 settle an problems
!, amscsblv~
; Mr.. Whittier pointed 10 the ioiur -
> viewing commitfae 0r the F'~rrws~.
8 "a ma sysf~n ~ thu deal fo~s~v wn,rn
= al. roads are striving TSla ..omr,-, /.
: tee IS compo~~d 0f nine -~p~~~~p,. !.
; tives OF the ernploves ana eisnt go.
: ireserratives OF the company. aa~n aas
having equal voting power An n,.t.
ters are taken up BY this COMMITTEES
: and settled BY a two-thiros vote.
{ There are about 1856 0oo pe-~orv
D now employed on the pennavlv.nl.
: system Of whom between fsS 0oo sna
: 10000 have been Involved IN rs
E present controversy. Mr. White~ ron.
] tinued- or these. about 40 coo are !.
the train service and they hav~ r,o-
tnaiiy agreed with the company n
working conditions. he said. adainx
A majority Of the shop crnDsov.,
at Altoona have also agreed On fnn.ln.
menta4s including piece work. ana
negotiations between those nen ans.
, tne company are continuing with
! every prospect of a mutually sati.-
I factory arrangement being consrrn-
mated.
The maintenance-of-F way ar,pl.1 A.
have cast their primary ballots Ind
are now voting again 10 Derre-t ~.
confnittee organization, as was done
at Altoona.
The signal men. me clark. -.
telegraPhers ana ths freirbt b.,..-
: Iers nave also taken their vote. ma.
S ing IN al total Of about 100 900 tn,t
r nave either completed their nexotia.
i nave CHOSEN their representa-
ana are negotiating, or are nos
choosing their representatives for th.i
: purpose.
: Outside OF Altoona. a naforit,, =,
r the shop crafts have declined 20 vote
: and the management feels thai (.
sah ass an'e no other course than q
deal with the committee chosen =.
those who did vote"