The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-25
Officials Tell Employees Why
Wage Cut Is Necessary.
Combine in Statement at First
Conference of Series.
EXPENSES EXCEED REVENUES
Cars Idle and Wage Ratio Has
Become 94.37 Per Cent.
Cannot Operate and Pay War
Scale, Officials Say.

At a late hour this afternoon, gem
eral officials of the Santa F'e system
and representatives of the employees
in the maintenance of way and
structure department had not agreed
on basis for the wage reduction
which officials declare is necessary
if the road is to remain in operation.
The men who are representing the
employees are f. E. Clark, of San
Bernardino, Calf, general chairman
of the craft: John Thorpe vice-chair-
man, and H. c. H. Dunoway. repre-
senting the maintenance employees on
the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe lines
Tuesday the cases of the clerical
and station employees, with the excep-
ton of freight handlers. truckers, and
common Iaborers. and laborers in and
around stations, storehouses and ware
houses. including janitors and watch
men, will be the subject of further
conference.
Operating expenses. rentals and
taxes have been exceeding the
revenues of the Santa Fe railroad.
the road to the operating revenues
has become 94.39 per cent Approx
mately 4S per cent of the freight cars
belonging to the road. which should
be earning revenue, are standing idle
| on sidings. From 1917 to 1920 the
! pay roll of the Santa Fe system in
creased nearly 116 per cent, the aver
| age yearly wages of employees increas-
| ing approximately 6S per cent in that
| period.
Sixty Per Cent for Wages.
AT the present time approximately
so cents of every dollar that the Santa
Fe receives from operation is paid out
in wages. and the remainder is not
sufficient to buy fuel and materials
and to pay taxes and other obliga-
! tions.
The Santa Fe was operated during
February of this year at a loss of more
! than sl.S0o.000. officials say.
! The truth is that we cannot oper-
ate and continue to pay the high scale
of wages established during and after
| the war"
These are some of the "high lights,
in the statement which was made to-
DAY by general officers of the Santa
re system to the employees who have
peen called to the office of the general
manager. F. c. Fox. in Topeka, to dis
cuss wage reduction of 20 per cent
in the wages paid to the employees
coming under the provisions of Article
III. except sections and s. of De
cislon No. of the United States Rail-
road Labor Maintenance of
Ways and Structures, except common
labor.
Many Officers Here.
The general officers who are re-
sponsible for this presentation of their
case to the employees are F. c. Fox,
general manager of the eastern lines;
r. A Lehman. general manager of
the western lines and General manager
of the Panhandle and Santa Fe; F. @.
Pettbone. vice president and general
manager of the Gulf, Colors DO g. Santa
fe Railway company; r. F. Goerinz
general manager of the Rio Grande.
Ell Paso & Santa Fe; T. L. Hibbard.
general manager of the Grand Canyon
Railway Co: and w. D. Deveny super
: intendent of the Topeka shops of the
system.
The Railroads Statement
The statement, in fun. is as follows:
You are here today in response to the
invitation given in our notice OF Anril 1e
to consider the question Of diminution
(Contfnued on Page TwoD