The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-11
KOIIS.
MUST CUT RATES
IS EXPLANATION
OF R. R. CHIEFS
Traffic Will Not Stand Present
High Schedules.
Biggest Reduction 20 Per Cent
by Great Western.
The SANTA FE IS INCLUDED
Union Pacific Decides on IS
Cents Per Hour Cut.
Most of Roads Limit Reduction
to Common Labor.
THE UNIONS EXPECTED ACTION
Rail Chiefs Declare They'll Not
Violate Esch Law.
Many Conferences With EN-
pIOyeS Are Called.
Union Pacific Decides on IS
Cents Per Hour Cut.
Most of Roads Limit Reduction
to Common Labor.
THE UNIONS EXPECTED ACTION
Rail Chiefs Declare They'll Not
Violate Esch Law.
Many Conferences With EN-
pIOyes Are Called.

Chicago, March II. - Virtually all
the larger western railroads today had
swung into line with the eastern rail-
roads and were taking steps to bring
about reductions in the war time wage
scale of unskilled employees.
The reductions would be urged, rail-
road officials said, to keep the roads
out of bankruptcy. and enable them
eventually to reduce traffic rates
which now were said to be higher
than the public can bear
AT the same time came statements
from officials of the Association of
Railr DAD Executives that lower rates
of pay for skilled workers probably
would be sought soon.
One r. r. Cut General.
One road, the Chicago Great West
crn. took the lead among the western
lines in the matter of reductions by
announcing that it proposed a 20 per
cent decrease in the pay of every en-
pioye from the president down, with
the exception of train service men, tele-
graph operators and unskilled men.
The pay of unskilled workers would be
brought down to conform with the rate
paid in other industries, if possible.
Conferences will be held with the en-
ployes a Oelwein, Ia, March 3 About
nine thousand men would be affected.
In every case the roads specified
tha- in seeking lower wages they
would act in accordance with the
transportation law, before the railroad
labor board only when an agree
mcnt could be reached in these con-
ferences.
Statements issued by the president
of various roads declared that the
proposed cuts were imperative to en-
abe the railroads to operate. 1t was
said that if the roads were forced to
pay their bills at once they would not
be able to meet weekly pay rolls.
Labor Makes Little Comment.
From the labor side there was little
comment, b. NJ. Jewell chairman of
the railway labor department of the
American Federation of Labor, said he
had known the proposition was com
questioned The right of the roads to
confer with their employees by indi-
vidual crafts, as the Pennsylvania
railroad proposes to do.
The Chicago, Burlington G. Quincy
and the Chicago & Alton were two
roads to announce today that they
would seek wage reductions for un-
skilled employees. The Burlington con-
ferred with representatives of it's ten
thousand unskilled employees yesterday
and announced that a further confer
ence would be held March %.
Santa Fe On List.
The Santa Fe, the Chicago. Mil
Island & Pacific and the Chicago &
Northwestern announced proposed re-
ductions last night. The Northern Pa
cific and the Great Northern previous
ly had announced. conferences with
their employees. The Illinois Central
had no official statement.
The only road besides the Great
Western to specify the amount of the
proposed reduction was the Burling-
ton. Hale Holden said that the road
planned to cut unskilled men approxi-
mately S1e cents an hour, bringing
them down to 40 cents.
Move Is General.
New York, March 11.-A general
move by the nations railroads to cut
war time wages. long forecast by rail
officials. appeared to be in full swing
today Following the lead of several
lines which earlier had announced
cuts. the New York Central and New
York, New Haven & Hartford, rail-
roads in the east, and every railroad
in the west announced proposed wage
reductions yesterday. Further an
nouncements were predicted today.
Officials of various lines today were
arranging conferences with employees
in an effort to reach agreements on
the proposed reduction. The plans as
announced affect only unskilled and
senli-skilled labor. Men engaged in
the actual operation of trains. telegra-
phers and stations agents are not in
cluded.
The New York Central and the New