The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-01-29
PLAN
PLEA TO PEOPLE
Association of Executives Will
Ask for Cut in Wages
and Rates.
COSTS CHECK BUSINESS
Radical Proposals Said to BE
Effort to Shake Off War
Time Standards.
COSTS CHECK BUSINESS


Special Despatch to THE New YonK HERALD.
CHICAGO, Jan. 2S.-The American
Association of Railway Executives at
its meeting to-day at the Blackstone
Hotel decided to issue an appeal di-
rectly to the people for a radical re-
duction in wages and rates az the
share of transporta ton in the general
lowering Of prices and the cost Of liv-
ing. The appeal will be issued on Mon
day by the five members of the labor
committee OF the association.
Every line in the United States was
represented at the meeting. which was
called to decide whether sweeping
wage reductions should be ordered at
this time. 1t was pointed out that the
railroads are faced by a 25 per cent.
shrinkage in freight, the refusal Of
rail workers to accept wage reduc-
tons and mounting operating costs.
The recent action Of the Atlanta,
Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad in
ordering a wage reduction brought
forth the warning to all member roads
that they must observe all the rates
of pay and working conditions as now
established by the United States Rail-
road Labor Board until changes are
brought about by an orderly process.
The meeting was held behind locked
doors. W. w. Atterbury. vice-president
of the Pennsylvania and chairman. re-
ferred newspaper men to Robert S.
Brinker, secretary of tho committee,
who said. nothing would be given out
until Monday. but at that time there
would be whale of a story He in
dicated it would be in the line of rec
concentrations to the labor board and
something for the public.
II was learned that at the meeting
some members wanted to confine their
efforts to the present case before the
| labor board-the abolition of the ma
tional agreement and substitution of
local adjustment boards to handle work.
| ing conditions. asserting that II busi-
| ness picks up even at present high
prices there will be no necessity of re-
| ducing wages or rates.
Others asserted that conditions had
reached a crisis and that high rates and
| high wages were a wartime combina-
tion. disgusting the public helping 20
keep up prices and making travel prac-
tically prohlbitory.
| The latter clement OF the committee
IS said to have prevailed. and public
appeal was framed that will advocate
revolutionary cuts in rail remuneration
and wages. In addition the public will
be apprised Of $500, 900. 600 due 70 the
carriers under tho guarantee OF the
Government and being withheld. they
state, on technical decision of the
Comptroller. a bill to pay the roads on
account is now before Congress.
The railroads are expected on Mond av
to present an argument that operating
forces have been reduced to a minimum
| In the interests of economy. that the
roads are not earning and cannot earn
the per cent. guaranteed by the trans
portation act unless relief Is granted.
| that wages have been increased 100 per
cent since the President signed the
Adamson act and that these increases
the expansion OF operating costs from
| s3,i00. 900. 900 10 ss,000,000.000 year.
II is acknowledged by the railroad
executives that traffic will not stand
higher rates" and that Operating econ
omy cannot be accomplished great
enough 70 cqualizc things" These
economies include. fer instance. laying
! off IN the next thirty days 10000 men
| on the trunk lines entering Chicago. in
addition TO the 10000 men already laid
off And the programme Is said not TO
end there.
| The Pennsylvania Railroad has or
dered 20 per cent. reduction in operat-
ing forces and 30 per cent. reduction
In office forces on top of previous
10 per cent. cut. Estimates available
on the number OF men dropped from
| the payrolls OF the various roads In
Chicago are 400 to 5000 on the Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy; 5000 to 5000 on
the Chicago, Milwaukee and ST. Paul;
s.ooo to 1000 on the Chicago and North
western: $500 on the Illinois Central
Continued on Fourth PAGE.