The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-20
SAYS ROADS ARE IN
A TERRIBLE PLIGHT

Chicago, April 19.-Testimony OF
railroad witnesses before the Rail-
road Labor Board today that the
roads are Disseminated against and
robbed of their freedom in having
to pay higher wages for unskilled
labor than are paid in other indus
tries was coupled with a statement
by the labor side charging that
twelve New York financial institu.
tons. through the roads, had inau'
gurated a policy of nationwide
shut downs.
The railroads testimony came in
the formal presentation of their evi,
dence in the consolidated hearing
into the request Of SO roads for low
er wages while the labor contentious
were made in an extraneous state
ment filed by w. Jet Lauck, con-
sulting economist for the unions,
the regular presentation of union
testimony not being scheduled until
the railsoads have finished.
B. A. Worthington, president of
the, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and
Western, declared that the roads
"were in a terrible plight" that
they were facing a great emergen-
cy" and that unless his road received
aid within two or three months it
would go into the hands Of a re-
ceiver. This concluded the eastern
roads testimony and western road
witnesses were called.
Too Much For Unskilled
Ralph M. Shaw, counsel for the
Chicago Great Western, which re-
Gently proposed a 20 per cent reduc-
ton for skilled labor and the placing
of unskilled labor On a wage par
with similar workers in other in
dustries, declared that the. roads
no ware forced to pay their unskill-
ed employees thirty-four per cent
higher wages than were paid in 9th
er industries.
eff a. is required to pay fB' a
higher wage than he can hire &C. to
do the same work, then "a ceases to
be a free man." he said. "That is
the position the roads now are in"
He urged the board to consider
the wages paid in other work and
the cost of living in making its de-
cision. B. M. Jewell, of the labor side
then interrupted him.
"What do you want to pay un-
skilled labor?" he asked. T.
"Thirty to thirty-fve cents an
hour" answered Mr.. Shaw.
"Well, assuming a man is paid 40
cents an hour" said Mr.. Jewell,
working eight hours a day, 26 days
he would get $3.50 month.
Statistics show that food takes up
1872 per cent of the wages Of the
head of a family Of five. That would
be $1.15 a day. Can you buy Is
meals for that?"
w. c., Leo Joins In.
w. G. Lee, another union leader,
Joined in Mr.. JEWELS questioning
and asked Mr.. Shaw why the roads
did not reduce the pay of their Off
Gals where they were free to act"
A. o. Wharton, labor member of
the board, broke in to ask Mr.. Shaw
'sthe fundamental reasons for asking
for wage reductions"
Because the present wages no
longer are justifable. and because
the roads can't obey the t~ransporta-
ton act, which calls for efficient and
economical operation at present
wages answered Mr.. Shaw. II. A.
Sargent, counsel for the Chicago
and Northwestern, was the next wit
ness. He said the roads asked for re-
auctions in unskilled labor first, be-
cause the season was at hand when
this force was at its break and be-
cause thousands of laborers were
out Of work. -
0T oornnf :EnJ 4s~.o - IL.