The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-15
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RATE SITUATION
Board Of-Trade Adopted Resolutions
Against the SO-Called National
Agreements

The Marion County Board of Trade,
at its meeting last night, adopted
resolutions urging the railroad labor
board TO Immediately abolish the So
called national agreements affecting
the wage scales on the railroads, and
directed that copies be sent to the
railroad labor board at Chicago and
to the Florida senators and represen-
tatiyes in Congress.
The resolutions adopted are as fol-
lows:
Whereas, the business of the coun-
| try is dependent upon transportation
by common carriers for its successful
conduct and is vitality interested in
the economy and efficiency of the serv-
ice rendered by the railroads, since
they are required by statute to pay
freight rates, passenger rates and
other charges which will produce an
aggregate net railway operating in
come of six per cent.
Whereas, the amounts paid as
wages and salaries to employees and
officers represents a very substantial
part of the operating expenses of the
railroads, and the rules and working
conditions affect the aggregate wage
account of the employees no less than
the rate of pay itself; and,
Whereas, the present wage scales
represent an accumulation of the in
creases beginning with the passage of
the Adamson so-called eight-hour
law, continuing through the period of
federal control, and eliminating with
the award of the railroad labor board
in the summer of 1920 under abnorm-
al war conditions, when the cost OF
living was at the highest level; and,
Whereas, the present rules and
working conditions were established
for the railroads as a whole, when
substantially all of the class one car
riers were operated by the director
general Of railroads as single sys-
tenn of transportation, and the So
called national agreements prevent
the railroads now under private ope-
ration from making individual con-
tracts and adjusting their rates of
| I ay with their employees; and,
"Whereas, the present rules and
working conditions, which were estab-
lished as a war emergency measure
during the period of government ope-
ration of the railroads as unit, are
Impractical under private operation
as individual lines. since they impair
discipline, destroy efficiency, hinder
the employment of competent and
loyal men, resulting in wasteful ex-
penditures for operation which must
be paid by the public in freight rates
that are so high they are destroying
the business of the country; therefore
| "Be it resolved, that the railroad
labor board be urged to Immediately
abrogate the so-called national agree
ments and permit the carriers to
make their own contracts and adjust
their rates of pay in line with their
own individual conditions, the cost OF
living in their territory, the wages
lpaid for similar classes of work in
other industries, and other factors
which are pertinent in determining q
Just and fair scale of wages and reas.
enable and non-discriminatory rules
and working conditions"
A communication from the St
Louis chamber of commerce was reac
showing how the national working
agreements are affecting the rail
roads. The communication is 9
lengthy one. 1t shows, among Other
things, that it now takes a number OF
men to do work formerly done by one
or two; that in some instances crew.
are paid for forty-tw6 hours worl
although the actual working time b,
Ionly nine hours. 1t shows that it wa
developed before the labor board tina
under the present rules shop EN-
ployees are allowed one hour a weel
without performing any service, ant
that this rule costs the railroad
twelve million dollars a year.
The Board of Trade went on recon
as. being opposed to any measur
tplacing municipal utility plants un
der the state railroad commission o
any state censorship, as proposed b
the CaIkins bill that has been intro
duced into the state legislature. ]
directed that the Marion county rep
resentatives in the Legislature be ad
vised of the Board of Trades actio
in the matter.
Mr. J. J. Gerig, chairman of tn
covic committee of the Board Q
Trade, reported that a Representative
of the railroads was in 0cala yestel
LAY to consult the committee in re
gard to the proposed Identification G
the union station plaza. Mr.. Geri
stated that he felt very much encoul
aged after conference with the raj
lroad representative.
The efforts of the band committe
u arrange for summer concerts hay
fallen down completely, for the pre-:
ent at least The band members ths
recently made a proposition to I'll