Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-19

enough to support their families. The
government board had said that q
man must have at least IS on which
to live and none of his men did. No
man in the organization can accept
a dollars reduction and pay his hon.
est bills.
]. d. Sweeney, representing the Ia
borers on maintenance and way and
the shop men, said the national agree
1nent did not differ with the working
agreement his men had with the
railroad before government control.
He quoted the prices the various
classes Of his men received and said
that man with q family could not
stand any reduction in wages and
live as he should.
None OF my men want to accept
reduction in wages and we Lived on
promises for Is months" said Mr..
Sweeney. My laborers during the
war worked for 40 cents an hour and
the cost Of living kept going up"
William ]. Thompson of South Chi
ia, the master of the Maine State
Grange. said that the railroad men
ought to meet the railroads half way.
, should be reduced somewhat beginning
ut the top.
I'VE are in the shadow Of govern
ment, ownership and that would be a
calamity to the State of Maine" said
i Mr. Thompson. I'VE have all got to
get together to solve this transporta-
ton problem. and all parties concern
ed must contribute something
| Lyman H. Nelson of Portland. for
mer chairman Of the Maine Highway
Commission, said that he hoped that
the committee would consider the
bearing of the highways in comps
tition with the railroads, as vast
amount Of revenue is taken from the
railroads and placed upon the high
ways.
IF you grant 10 per cent. increase
: in freight rates you are going to
crowd more on the highways and
heavy trucking will of course hurt the
roads," said Mr.. Nelson.
! Rufus F. Webb Of Yarmouth said
that agriculture was the great indus
try Of the State and it would be better
to build some better roads to the rail-
road stations for the farmers than so
many roads for pleasure riding. He
asked If the Maine Central had given
the committee any figures regarding
expenses except wages, cost of ma
terials and taxes, such as fixed
charges and things that do not appear
in the reports. If the exact amount
of the labor payrolls for the year 1920
were shown?
Pres. Mcdonald said the annual re-
port was just out and he would be
glad to give any details or analysis
that was wanted.
Vice Pres. Hobbs said the wages
were scattered through the report in
different departments.
Webb-What percentage of the OPP
Grating expense is the wage?
Cleaves-Sixty-one per cent, and
prior to 1917 it was 40 per cent.
Mr.. Webb said that the railroads
had had their hearing and the public
now was having few hours. Any fig
ures furnished later would not avail
in this discussion. He had found in
a Boston paper figures furnished for
January and it seemed strange that
the road could not furnish last years
figures when it could do that.
Does the Maine Central Railroad
Company anticipate any increase in
wages for 1922" asked Mr.. Webb
through the chair of President Nc
Donald.
1--WE hope not" replied President
Mcdonald.
Does the Maine Central Railroad
Company anticipate a reduction of SAL
aries and wages for 1912 asked Mr..
Webb.
Yes, very substantial reduction"
replied President Mcdonald.
:. THAT is the first particle Of en-
trenchment that I have heard for a
good many years and am glad to hear
it," said Mr.. Webb.