The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-02-04
ALL RAILROADS
To ADJUST WAGES.
Based on Decision in Southern
Case That Road and Employees
Must Seek Direct Settlement.
CANNOT ACT TILL THEY FAIL
Executives at Chicago See Hope of
Roads Separate ParIeys With Men.
Freight Has Dropped Third
in Three Months.

Chcago.-The United States Rail
way Labor Wage Board, in deciding
the application of the Atlanta, Birming-
ham and Atlantic railroad for authori-
ty to reduce the wages of its en-
plOyees, made a ruling which railroad
executives say may expedite the wage
readjustment on all the railroads Of
the country.
The Labor Board held in substance
that the Atlanta, Birmingham and At
iantic had no status before the board
under the transportation act, inasmuch
as the act provided for. appeal to the
board only after the employees and
management have failed to reach an
agreement 1t was pointed out that
instead Of posting a notice of wage re-
duction the road should have notified
Its employees that a REIMBURSEMENT was
desired and should then have attempt
ed to reach an agreement with its en-
ployees on a new scale, appealing to
the board only after the attempt had
failed.
AT the same time the board indicated
its willingness TO expedite considera
ton of the railroads troubles by fixing
February 10 as the date of hearing the
case on its general merits, the pre-
sumption being that the road will have
complied by that time with the re-
quirements of the transportation act.
No agreement will be reached with the
employees for a reduction according
to general opinion.
In the meantime executives of the
railroads centerlng in Chicago were in
conference preparatory to a confer
ence with the Labor Committee of the
American Association of Railway ex-
.ecutives.
The ruling of the Labor Board was
interpreted as meaning that the roads
had free hand in carrying on nego-
tiations with their employees for a
wage readjustment, and that If agree
ments could be made no appeal to the
board would be necessary.
Some executives expressed the opin-
ion that adjustments could be made
directly with the employees. The ma
jority, however, were inclined to the
view that the railway unions would
fight any reduction TO the last ditch.
The railroad chiefs let it be known
that they believed that the roads were
confronting the greatest crisis in their
history and that in a choice between a
with the unions and bankrupt
,cy they would take their chance with
the former.
statement issued by Robert s.
Binkert, assistant to the chairman of
the association, was noncommittai
From other sources came word that
the conference would discuss the
amount of wage reduction necessary
and the best methods of making the
cut. The board will then make recon-
mendations to the standing committee
of the association, which I'm turn will
take il up with the railroad manage
ments- II was predicted that the re-
adjustment plan would be made public
within fortnight.
Among the members of the labor
committee were w. w. Atterbury, vice
president of the Pennsylvania w. G.
Besler. president of the Central Raj
road of New Jersey; H. f. Byram,
president of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and ST. Paul; c. II. Markham, presi-
dent of the Illinois Central; y. ID.
Maher, president of the Norfolk and
Western. and w. p. Scott, president of
the Southern Pacific lines In Texas
and Louisiana. Byram and Markham
have been i'm the east several days
considering the wage problem with
heads of eastern roads.
Failure Of increased rates TO earn
the expected revenue. decrease I'm bust
ness, the present large payroll and
high operating expenses were given as
the reasons for action by the railroads
10 cut wages.