Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-15

the requests be reconsidered, the rail
heads simply presented their statement
announcing their decision to seek new
reductions and not to reduce rates until
further reductions were granted.
The labor leaders left the conference
Immediately and few of them would dis
cuss its proceedings or predict the re-
suits.
Stone, president of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. "What will
happen is more than l can say"
+ w. G. Lee. president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, refused to
discuss the situation after. the meet
ing, but previously he had said that
new reduction when the men have just
authorized a strike over an old wage
cut
r. s. Binker of the Association of
Railway Executives said that the trans
portation system was facing one of it's
greatest crises but also refused to
make predictions.
Harmony Lacking.
Union leaders freely admitted. how
ever, that there had been little har-
mony between the committees in the
conference.
The labor committee was composed
Of Mr.. Lee, Warren S. Stone. president
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers: l.. E.. Sheppard, president of
the Order of Railway Conductors: W.
5. Carter. president of the Brotherhood
men, and p. c. Cashen. president of
the Switchmen's Union of North Amer
lea.
wish the wages of train service men
returned to the same basis as previous
to the increase granted in the labor
board decision of July. 1920 This will
necessltate 10 per cent reduction, it
was said.
The railroad executive committee was
as follows:
G. II. Markham, president of the Illi-
nois Central; w. w. Atterbury. vice
president of the PENNSYLVANIA; J. f..
German. president of the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific; Carl r. Gray, presi-
dent of the Union Pacific, and Ralph
Bndd. president of the Great Northern
Planned Short Test
The decision of the executives.
ton of railway executives, followed
consideration of numerous plans and
proposals regarding wages and rates
on agricultural commodities. the re-
duction to be effective for 60 or 90
days as a test. This plan met with
opposition from a majority of the
roads, most of them maintaining that
they could not exist with lower rates
The announcement. which was en-
bodied IN statement of some 1900
words of reviewing the financial con-
ditlon of the roads, made the trans
portatIon situation even more tense
than it had been throughout day in
which one rumor after another on
strikes. wage cuts and such things.
had been prevalent.
An announcement from the labor
board that the piece rate system of
pay had been restored also added to-
the excitement and brought reports of
dissatisfaction from the union Union
chiefs were dubious as to how their
men, so per cent of whom have author
lied strike rather than accept the
recent 1212 per cent wage reduction.
would take the various announcements
of the day.
The roads. in making their announce
ment. declared that their action was
being taken with the view of lowering
freight and passenger rates in the
future.
Would Cut Rates
ut was determined by the railroads
of the United States to seek to bring
about reduction in rates." said
statement telling of the percentages of
the meeting of the executives, '.and as
a means to that end to seek a reduction
in present railway wages which COM
PEELED maintenance of present rates.
AN application will be made imme-
diately to the United States Railroad
Labor board for reduction in wages
of train service employees sufficient to
remove the remainder Of the increase
made by the Labor Board decision of
July 20. 1920. (Which would involve
further reduction of approximately 10
per cent? and for a reduction in the
wages of all other classes Of railroad
labor to the going rate for such labor
IN the several territories where the
carriers operate
'.The foregoing action is upon the
that coneurrently with
such reduction in wages. the benefit of
the reduction thus obtained shall with
the concurrence of the Interstate Com
merce commission be passed on TO the
public in the reduction Of existing
railroad rates except insofar as such
reduction shall have been made in the
meantime.
"The railroads have decided upon
this course in view of their realization
of the fact that the wheels of indus
trial activity and distress to the entire
public and that something must be