The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-21
"Wage Agreements Org r. r.
Down"-W. w. Atterbury.
Had No Part in Making Terms
Binding Them.
HITS EIGHT HOUR DAY
Proposes Regional Wage
Boards as Substitute.
Says Eight Hours Work Makes
Day, Not Eight Hours.

Chicago, March 21.-The question
of national agreements between rail-
roads and their employees is the most
serious question confronting the
American people today. w. w. At
terbury. vice president of the Penn
sylvania lines. told the railroad labor
board today during the third day of
cross examination of high railway Of
ficials by Frank P. Walsh, labor union
attorney.
Mr.. Atterbury charged that the ma
tional agreements were foisted on the
roads without any attempt at con-
ference, and that labor leaders re-
fused to allow their employees to con-
fer with railroad officials over the
agreements.
Want Regional Boards.
Mr. Atterbury's statements were
contained in a prepared document
which he read during his examination.
Questioning of Mr. Atterbury also
revealed for the first time that T. De-
Witt Cuyler, chairman of the associa-
ton of railroad executives, had sug-
gested last August that the ,.me prob
ably had come when a compromise
might commend itself to the labor
board. and that perhaps the railroad
should propose regional boards of ad-
justment as a substitute for national
agreements.
Agreements Were Forced.
National agreements mean eventual
government ownership, nationalist
tion, Plumb planism and syndicalism,"
Atterbury declared direct negotia-
ton of each road with dts employees is
the road to industrial peace"
Atterbury charged that national
agreements were "superimposed on
railroads under federal administration
by coercion
The national agreements were char
acterized as a dog collar, bringing
about confusion. misunderstanding
and bitterness between officers and
employees
Employees have the right to expect
as steady employment as possible. q
good wage, time for recreation, oppor-
tunity to elevate themselves in EN-,
pioyment, a voice in determining the
rules and regulations under which they
work and the right to be or not to be
union man." said Atterbury.
They have no right to undermine
discipline, limit production. demand
pay for which there is no equivalent
production or to force closed union
shop"
Unions Lose Point
Attorney Frank p. Walsh for the
unions failed in an effort to force At
terbury to say Thomas Dewitt Cuyler
alleged liaison agent between Wall
street and the railroads, that Cuyler
makes policy for the rail executives.
Atterbury said Cuyler was an i'm
partial executive officer of the asso-
citation. who administered his office
with absolute neutrality.
Letters signed by Cuyler directing
sction on railroad proposals to bring
about abrogation of the national
agreements simply reflected the will
of the executive association, After
bury testified.
II am absolutely opposed to any set
of rules or regulations of national
scope he said.
How about the eight-hour day."
demanded Walsh.
'why not say eight hours work
makes day, not eight hours is a
days work. rejoined Atterbury.
THE length of a days work is abso-
lutely dependent upon the character
of employment"
The labor committee was dissolved
on its own recommendation. after
Jewell and Walsh had charged the
railroads were organized to handle
all labor matters" Atterbury testified.
s This charge was untrue he said