Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-31
REPEAL AIT ONCE OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN RAILROADS AND THEIR
employees ASKEDBY ATTERBURY

Reduction OF Operating Ex-
penses OF Road. Necessary
To Assure Solveney, Says
Chairman OF The Railroad
Labor Committee In State
ment Today.
Chicago, jan. 31.-Bankruptcy
threatens the railroads Of the Unit
ed States unless they are assured inn
mediate means Dor a reduction in OPP
Grating expenses the railroad labor
board was told today by the Aseocia-
ton of Railway Executives, General
w. w. AtterburN, chairman of the la
Dor committee of the roads organi-
cation made the prediction.
The railroad executives assured the
federal officials that if there was i'm
mediate abrogation of the war time
national agreements, involving work.
ing rules and conditions they would
not seek reduction of basic wages
for at least three naonths after the
order becomes effective, saying the in
terval would be used to test out the
efficacy of economies which might be
instituted free from the limitations of
present agreements.
Ultimately. however, it was stated,
there would be need for reduction
in basic wages If the cost of, operat-
ing the roads is to be cut to a point
where rates may be reduced.
Iv~,v s~%~
cation Of the national agreements be-
tween railroads and employees was
proposed to the railroad labor board
/ today by w. w. Atterbury. chairman
of the labor committee of the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives and
vice president of the Pennsylvania
railroad.
The solvency of the railroads of the
country must be, assured by a reduc-
tion in operating expenses, Mr.. After
bury declared. Unless prompt action
many of the lines of thN Ncountry may
be forced into insolvency.
THE labor board can prevent this
catastrophe" Mr.. Atterbury said, "by
declaring that the national agree
ments, rules and working conditions
coming over from the war period are
terminated at once; that the question
of reasonable and economical rules
and working conditions shall be re-
manded no negotiation between each
carrier and its own employees. and
that as the basis for such negotiations
the agreements. rules and working
conditions in effect on each railroad
as of December 81, 1917. shall be re-
established-'"s !" s,.
Touching upon the question Of wage
reductions in connection with the re-
! hxy fhN h~ l..
! 1Atterbury said:
1 IF the board will do this, the labor
committee Of the Association Of Rail-
way Executives will urge upon every
railroad company party to decision
number 2, that no proposal for the
reduction of basic wages shall be
made within the next succeeding 90
days. This will afford an opportunity
to gauge the economies which can be
accomplished through more efficient
rules and working conditions 1t will
also afford additional time in which
to realize the benefits of a further
decline in the cost Of living"
Cause Gross Waste.
The national agreements, rules and
working conditions forced on the
railroads as war measures cause gross
waste and ineff1ciency," the statement
says.
II estimate that the elimination of
this waste would reduce railway oper-
ating expenses at least 100000, 900
per annum. 1t would be far better to
save this sum by restoring conditions
of efficient economical operation than
to reduce wages.
1--WE believe that as the wages of
railroad employees were the last to go
up. they should be the last to come
down, but We do insist that for an
| q m MI xxyoo -
shall be given.
The Right Of the Public.
: The public has a right to insist
that this must be obtained. The pub
lie has also the right to expect that
the railway executives, with the CO.
operation of the regulatory bodies
and the employees; will as rapidly as
possible reduce the cost of railway
operation so as to eventually insure a
reduction in rates. ultimately a re-
adjustment of basic wages will be
required.
THE railroad committee presenting
evidence Of the abrogation of the ma
tional agreements have far from ex-
hausted their evidence on this sub
ject. But it will be dangerous to
continue the consideration of these
agreements rule by rule. If the hoard
follows the present procedure, months
!
decision.
THE urgent financial necessities OF
the railroads will not permit them tc
wait any such length Of time for re.
lief. Long before the present de.
: tailed hearings are concluded the
boald will be flooded by appeals from
individual railroads from all parts OF
the country for reductions in basic
wages. 1t will be impossible for the
board to hear and dispose of these
separate cases upon their merits il
: time to avoid numerous receivershir.
: and the possibility cf national panic
$ Losses of railway net operating in
!, come are irreparable. You canno
:, make retroactive tomorrow the say
ings that have been made today
I your board cannot possibly writ,
e the rules and working conditions o
r every railroad in this country ant
" adjusts them equitably to varying
geographical, operating and socia
conditions
:. Rests With BOARD.
e ut rests entirely with our board +,
s determine within the next few days
o whether the whole situation shall
o drift into chaos. and orderly proceed
: ure become impossible except at, IN
q price of railroad bankruptcy, finaa
cial shock and still wider unempioy
ment. At a,
n 1.-The course which we are recon
It mending is not only imperative bu
( suitable. Perpetuation of the extra
ordinary provisions OF the war perioj
as the normal rules and working con
8 ditions would be a distinct violation
/ / - t8HA 1vafu A0 No 1e,u