Evening journal., 1921-06-01


that a statement announcing that
rate cuts would follow the wage re-
duction would soon be forthcoming
from the White House.
The visit TO Clark's Office was
Harding's first action Of the day. He
walked the two blocks from the
White House to the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Immediately after Harding went
into Clark's Office a call was sent out
for a corps OF the commissions ex-
perts who went into conference with
the President and chairman Of the
Federal rate making body.
CHICAGO. June 1 Omitted Press.
Railroad executives here today de-
clared they were disappointed in the
decision OF the Railroad Labor
Board cutting the wages of all
classes of railroad employees - per
cent and thus siashing 100000, 900
from railroad payrolls annually.
I'VE had hoped the decision would
wipe out in its entirety the $780,
600. 900 increase Of last year said
President II. r. Byram of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and ST. Paul. We
have to find out how much this de-
crease will reduce our operating
costs before attempting TO predict
anything about rate decreases 70 fol-
low this wage cut This is a step in
the right direction, however. and
will help business and unemploy-
ment on railroads"
81 fhn hnnFA Affects
approximately 1000. 900 railroad en-
ployes. It provides for cuts in every
4 class OF railroad labor from engi-
neers to common labor Approx
mately 100000 maintainence OF way
employees are given wage reductions
of Sih cents per hour.
THE decision provides for reduc-
ton OF about IL per cent. in present
wages" the board announced. Be
cause OF the fact that all employees
in service of carriers are not includ-
cd, il is difficult to estimate the ~ac-
tual amount Of decrease. but II APP
piled to all employees of all Class
carriers II would be approximately
S4OO. 100000. General reductions in
wages as outlined would mean an
average monthly wage Of S125 for all
employees, but such an average
means. of course. that while some
workers would earn a sum consid-'
erably in excess OF the monthly
amount stated, many thousands
would fall far short OF that figure
While the decision applies to only
SC railroads. all carriers not party
10 it for reductions in all classes Of
labor are given until July 1 TO file
applications for reductions so prac-
tically every railroad in the coun-
try will be included in the July ! de-
creases. The provisions OF the an
nounced reductions follow:
I Conductors, ticket collectors
brakemen. hagmen and baggage
men in passenger service are cut SIS
a month. In freight service these
classes are reduced Ga cents a day.
Engineers. fremen and helpers In
passenger service are cut from IN
TO 10 cents an hour. Approximately
600. 600 unskilled laborers are cut
S1a cents an hour.
shop employees were given an s.
cent an hour slash, signal department
employees from to cents and all
employees on railroad tugs. barges,
ferries and lighters are reduced 8
cents per hour.
In summing up It's reasons for
granting the carriers wage cuts, the
board notes a decrease In the cost Of
living and decreases In wages for
similar kinds OF work in other in
dustries.
Representatives OF railroad unions
Withheld comment pending study Of
the boards ruling.
While the decrease Is specifically
applied only 70 the roads whose
/ cases have been heard by the board,
the decision says IL may later be ap-
piled TO any other road asking a
hearing under the provisions of the
Esch-Cummins transportation act.
Percentages of reductions COM
puted by members Of the board,
gave the average OF - per cent and
the same source estimated the an
nual reduction In wages at approx
mately $500, 100000.
The decision grants reductions
varying from 5 to i3c an hour, OF
from to 10 per cent and in the
case OF section laborers. completely
wipes out the increase granted tha
, class of employees by the 100000
, 900 wage award Of July 20. 1920
, For section men the reduction wa
, approximately rs per cent. Switch
men and shop crafts were given
per cent reduction. while the trail
service men were cut approximately
p 7 per cent Car repairers were Gu
. about 10 per cent.
: Common labor pay over which tn
railroads made their hardest fight
Is to be reduced 20 sac an hour
cutting freight truckers averag
= monthly wages to f97.10 and trac
laborcrs 20 77.l1. This new schedul
gives section men an average dali
wage Of s8.02 for an eight hour dag
although considerable testimony OF
fered by the roads, particularly Il
} the South. showed common labo
wages as low as $3.50 for a ten-hou
day.
shop crafts employees and trail
and engine service men, except thos
In passenger service. are reduce,
Sc an hour. Construction and sec
tion foremen are reduced 10c al
hour.
Passenger and freight engineer
who were given Increases OF 10 4
lac an hour by the 1920 award. ar
TO be cut 6 10 Sc an hour respec
lively. Passenger and freight con
ductors. who received increases o
i2is TO lac In 1920. are cut ~ ans
Sc respectively by the new schedule
Train dlsnatchers and Nnrdnnaeferl