The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-15
CUT WAGES TO LOWER RATES, RAIL WAY PLAN,
 STATE ROADS REDUCE
Request for Further Wage Cut NerVy Says Lee--May Bring About Strike
 Men Voted For
RN AraocIntcd Prrss

By Associated Press
 Chicago, October l4.-Representa- lives of the nations railroads after announcing that they cannot reduce freight rates at present without go- ing Into bankruptcy and that they would immediately seek a further re- duction in employees wages from the United States railroad labor board. went into secret conference with union leaders in an effort to reach an amiciable settlement of wage diff ficulties which at times have threat ened to tie up the Transportation sys- tenn of the country.
 At the conference union leaders asked reconsideration Of their request of last July that a 12 i5 per cent wage reduction granted by the labor board be not put into effect immediately, that no further wage reductions be sought at present and that no change be made in the overtime pay rates. This request was refused and the rail heads presented their statement an- nouncing the proposal to seek new reductions and not to reduce rates until further reductions were granted
 
 ence immediately and few of them would discuss it's proceedings or pre- dict the results.
 '1 am no prophet" said Warren s Stone, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. What will happen is more than I can say"
 w. c. Lee. president of the Brother hood of Railroad Trainmen, refused to discuss the situation after the meeting, but previous to 1t had said that "the roads must be crazy to seek new reuction when the men have just authorized strike over the old wage cut"
 The executives announced, how erer. that the proposal to pass fu- ture wage reductions on to the pub lie by applying to the interstate com merce commission for n reduction in freight and passenger rates had been accepted and that Ril future wage reductions would be met by cores bonding rate reduction.
 The conference was begun at the suggestion of the union leaders. their invitation for a meeting being &C., cepted by the rail heads following the announcement concerning freight rates. As the meeting started. the committee appointed by the Associa- ton of Railway Executives declared hey believed 1t would settle most of the immediate difficulties betweon the carriers and their employees.
 The union leaders were, backward about discussing the meeting. al though some indicated that it's pur- pose might be almost nuliified by the announcement that further wage reduction would be sought,
 Considers Cut Nervy
 " c. Lee. president of the Broth erhood of Railroad Trainman, said that since the union men already had authorized their leaders to call a strike rather than accept the re- cont 12is per cent wage cut, do not sec how the roads can have the nerve to suggest another cut" The labor committee was composed of Mir. Leey Warren $. Stone, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers; l.. F. Sheppard. president of the Order of Railway Conductors; w. S. Varter, president of the Brother hood of Locomotive Bremen and En- ginemen, and P c. Cashen, president of the Switchmen's Union of America.
 Later tonight Mir. Lee said that the district chairmen of the unions would receive their final instructions tomor- row as to whether there would be . strike. Asked point blank If a strike would be ordered. he said.
 T will not say definitely, but were I a betting man, I would place my money that there will be a strike.
 "Regardiess of what action is talk en, the final decision is only matter of the rising and setting of a few hours. The district chairmen will re- ceive their final orders tomorrow and then will go home. My chairmen ai- ready have been sent home and will ! l. al 4,-ln I.xx r,1n Asked concerning the reports that strife effective October 3 had been decided upon, MT. Lee replied: q won't answer that definitely, but if some one has told you that they have hit a lot of nails on the head perhaps they are not exactly right, but they are driving close"
 The railroad executive committee is as follows:
 c. H. Markham. president of the Illinois Central; W W Atterbury, vice president of the Pennsylvaniai J. F.. German. president of the Chl ca eo, Burlington and Quincy
 The executives, it was announced. wish the wages of train service men returned to the same basis as pre- vious to the increase granted in the labor board decision of July. 1920. This will necesstate 10 per cent reduction. it was said.
 The railroad crisis was rendered more acute this morning when the labor board handed down decision providing for the restoration CT ple's work. The railroad presidents were tubilant, while union leaders feared the effect on their men. more than 80 per cent of whom have already voted to strike rather than accept further wage reductions or rules which they oppose.