The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-26
WAGE DISPUTE IS
 WON BY RAILWAYS
Labor Board Quickly Decides Lower Pay Is Justified Unexpected Deci- sion Comes Suddenly After
 Investigation.

Chicago, May 1S.--A reduction ot the wages of common labor on prac- t,rallv every railroad of importance in the country was forecast yesterday in an announcement issued by the United States Labor Board after only one days consideration of the case. The board announced that decision on the wage question, effective July l. will be handed down on June l, for all railroads whose wage disputes were presented to the board prior Co April IS. These cover approximately loo roads, including the larger trunk lines in the country.
 ks forerunner to this decision the board announced a new and complete occupational classification of all rail- road labor to be used as basis for fhe settlement of future disputes. The new classification has been filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission to become effective from April IS. Hearings on disputes filed since that date or ones that may be filed be- tween now and June l, will begin on June G.
 The boards announcement of it's at titnde toward a wage reduction was unexpected.
 Tnie railroads closed their case on May 2, but it was not until Monday, after B. M. Jewell, president of the railway employees in the employment of the American Federal Railroad Board had presented final arguments for the employees, that the board be- gan formal consideration of the case.
 Text of Decision
 The text of the boards announce ment in part follows:
 aWhereas, the Railroad Labor Board has this day, by formal resolu- ton declared that, in it's judgment, based upon the evidence before 1t in the disputes already heard, present conditions justify to some extent, yet to be determined, readjustment of the wages of the employees of the car riers which are parties to the dis- putes already heard by the Labor Board. Therefore, be it resolved:
 ~f. That this board will on June I, 1921, announce it's decision, cover ing the disputes as to wages between carriers and their employees, which have been heretofore heard by the board, to become effective July l, 1921.
 a. That Monday, June 6, 1921, be set as the date when this board will hear the representatives of the parties to disputes filed since April IS, 1921, or which may yet be filed and docket ed prior to June 6, it being the pur- pose of the Railroad Labor Board to make it's decision of the disputes heard June 6, 1921, effective July l, 192f."
 History of Dispute.
 On July 20, 1920, the board rendered a decision increasing the pay of all classes of railway employees approx imately 21 per cent, or about $600,- O00,000 year.
 Several months ago several roads announced that they could not longer operate under this wage award, and announced reductions averaging about 20 per cent for unskilled em- ployes. The workers appealed to the board, which decided that the roads could not make summary reductions, but must first hold conferences with their men and then, if no agreement could be reached, submit the case to the board for decision.
 Practically every large road in the country then held conferences with it's unskilled employees regarding reduc- tions and when the employees refused to accept the cuts, carried the case to Inc hoard