New-York tribune., 1921-02-12
Railroads Act
To Force Wage
Gut ON Labor
Officials to Call Confer.
ences With Employees
Preliminary to am Attack
ON Present Schedules
Receiverships Threatened
BY Accepting Reduced Pay
Workers See Chance to
Obtain Action i'm Court
Special Dispatch to The Tr,bun,


CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-THE Association
of Railway Executives, whose request
for the abrogation of wartime wage
contracts was refused by the United
, States Railroad Labor Board yesterday.
took steps to-day to bring about cut
in wages of common labor on all rail-
roads in the United States. In tele
grams sent to officials of all the roads
the association proposed that they seek
conferences with their employees look
ing to general readjustment of
wages. Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, chair
man of the association, announced that
representatives Of the roads would
meet here next Friday to discuss the
proposed reductions.
R. S. Binkert, assistant to Mr.. Guy
Ter, s~& to-day that the conferences
amounted SS : move for the cutting of
wages.
Labor officials representing fifteen
railway organizations replied that they
would demand the receivership of
roads which put wage scales into ef-
feet that were lower than those pre-
scrlbed by the Labor Board.
Procedure Explained
Mr.. Cuyler in q statement tonight
explained that at the Chicago meeting
plans would be discussed for bringing
the question of reduction of wages
before the Labor Board.
Explaining the call for the meeting
Re Nv ;p1.
According to our view of the de-
cision rendered by the railway labor
board, that body has suggested that
the management of each road ask for
conferences with employees for a wage
readJustment, so that the board would
be empowered to act in event of con-
troversl2s. For that reason it was de-
c!ded at our conference that telegrams
should be sent to various railroads
suggesting conferences.
Only the desire of the executives
Tor maintaining an orderly method of
procedure for the settlement Of con-
troVersles by board which contains q
representation of the public has kept
and working conditions since Septem-
Der l, 1920. Even now the decision Of
the board is not binding except for the
agreement of the executives to abide
by the decision Of the board, though
the representatives of labor have re-
served the right to strike"
Will the arrangements of the vari-
GUS roads deal with the national labor
organizations ?" Mr.. Binkert was asked.
Won't Deal With Leaders
"Emphatically no." he declared. eve
will not be placed in that position. The
individual roads will ask for confer
eaces with their own employees. If.
however, the employees refuse to dis
cuss the matter and attempt to refer
US to national officers, we shall deem
that we have done our duty and order
wage cuts where conditions demand it."
Mr.. Cuyler's statement said in part:
The subject of a general reduction
of railway wages has not been consid-
cred by the association or it's labor
committee, and will not be the subject
OF consideration at the meeting Feb
ruary IS. 1t is expected that consider
alton will be given at the meeting in
Chicago February 18 as to what steps
should be taken by individual roads to
get the question of a revision Of the
wages of unskilled labor properly be-
fore the board.
Inc labor committee also will re-
port to the association regarding the
present status Of the proceedings be-
fore the Labor Board concerning the
national agreements,
R; w. Mclaughlin, general chairman
OF the Maintenance of Way Employees,
said that brotherhood officials were do
ing their utmost to keep men at work.
accepting the reduced wage under pro-
test, in cases where roads have al
ready put cuts into effect.
If 1t is found that the railroad has
been holding out on wages lawfully due
u.s." said Mr.. Mclaughlin, "the en-
ployees, as creditors of the railroad,
can force receivership. We won't
stand by and let them reduce wages
without good fight"