Evening journal., 1921-03-15
R. R. wage CUT
AFFECTS 10000
Three Lines in Eastern Dis
trict Announce New
Proposals
ERIE WILL REDUCE
FORCE 20 PER CENT.

NEws YORK. March 15.-Addi-
tional steps toward reducing ex-
penses by proposing cut in wages OF
railroad employees in the East were
taken yesterday. about $4,000 work
ers and three lines being affected.
The Eric Railroad ordered the lay
ing of OF 20 per cent. of all its work
ing force with the exception OF train
and engine crews. as a means OF bal
ancing the payrolls to Offset the
higher wages restored to unskilled
labor last week. An intention TO
cut fits wages on April 10 TO the
figure prevailing before the United
States Railroad Labor Board award
ed an increase last July was an
nounced by officials OF the same
company. This will mean a reduc-
tion OF 20 per cent for all employees
except train and engine crews.
Officials OF the Central of New
Jersey Railroad submitted TO repre-
sentatives OF between $500 and S.7O0
workers proposals for wage reduc-
tons ranging between 10 and II
cents an hour. Union executives, who
took the proposal under advisement,
declared this the most sweeping cut
yet suggested in the Eastern district.
The new scale Affects baggage port
ers, freight handlers. pier freight
handlers. trimmers and other labor
ers, including janitors and gatemen.
More than six thousand workers
employed on ferries, tugs and barges
and other floating equipment OF rail
roads in New York Harbor win be
asked within the next few days to
accept reductions ranging from is
to 20 per cent The proposed sched
ule was approved yesterday at a
meeting of the General Managers
Association, an organization repre-
senting the railroads with terminals
In this city. The reduction is ex-
pected to go into effect April is or
May 1.
Under the new schedule the in
creases given the marine workers by
the War Labor Board, effective last
May. viii be entirely wiped out. The
captains viii be asked to take a Is
per cent reduction, the engineers
16, firemen and oilers from 10 70
2S per cent. Deckhands and other
workers will be given similar reduc-
tions.
The Bangor and Aroostool Rail-
road announced a wage reduction,
effective April 16, for all classes Of
employees who benefited by the ad-
vance given last May by decision Of
the Railroad Labor Board. The
amount will be made known after
conference, according to a dispatch
from Bangor, Maine.
CHICAGO, March Is. 49, -Four
prominent railway executives are ex-
pected TO take the stand before the
United States Railroad Labor Board
next Friday in answer TO a summons
issued by the board. r. Dewitt
Cuyier. chairman OF the Association
Of Railway Executives. and his as
sistant Robert S. Binkerd. will be
called Friday morning. W. W
Atterbury. vice-president Of the
Pennsylvania. and Carl r. Gray.
president OF the onion Pacific. will
take the stand later Friday or Sat
urday
Decision 10 request the appear
ance Of the executives was made by
Walsh. attorney for the labor unions
in the rules hearing now before the
board. had refused to proceed with
tho case until the railway men had
been called. These four with 10
others are expected by the unions
70 furnish testimony IN cross-exam-
ination that viii materially strength
en- their case. according 20 union
representatives.
CLEVELAND, March 15.-Wage
reductions by railroads without
conforming 20 the provisions OF the
Cummins- Esch law should convince
the American people OF the insin-
ccrity Of the railroads in their pro-
fessions Of respect for and obedi.
cnce to the law and railroad EN-
pioyes will not agree to any such