The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-15
WAGE CONTROVERSY
WILL Be HEARD ON
MERITS OF THE CASE
Labor Board Refuses to Throw
Out Hearing on Claim BY
Labor Side to Be With
out Jurisdiction

Z
Chicago, February f4.--Pleas that
the Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlantic
wage controversy now before the
United states railroad labor board he
declared without the boards jurisdic-
ton and the present wage rates be
continued were overruled today by the
board, The ruling marked the term
nation Of fight by the labor side to
throw the case out OF court on the
contention that financial inability to
pay the wages laid down by the board
last July should come properly before
the interstate commerce commission
and not before the railway labor board.
| The poor financial status OF the road
had been given as the reason for
wage reduction, to be effective Feb
ruary Il was recently ordered rescind-
ed by the board.
| The boards ruling decided that each
side in the controversy be permitted
70 present its evidence in its own way.
Any evidence considered irreveiant
would be stricken out later, the chair
said Half a days time was taken up
In the argument of f.. p. Curtis, vice
president of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, speaking for all employees OF
the road for the cut was financial in
contentious, however permitted rail-
road representatives to take tho stand
this afternoon and Col. 3. L. Bugg,
president of the Atlanta, Birmingham
and Atlantic. presented a mass of sta
tstics in the roads behalf
Mr.. Curtis, reviewing the case, told
of The roads proposal on December
20, 1920, to reduce wages by one-half
Of the amount OF increases granted
since December 81, 1917. According 20
Mr.. Curtis, the reason advanced by
the road for thee ut was financial NJ
ability to pay operating expenses, IT
which the employees pay roll consti-
tuted II per cent. The road was said
to be operating at a deficit OF 100000
a month, due, 1t was explained to the
general slump in business and the poo
financial and industrial situation in tho
southeast
POSTED DEDUCTIONS
Notices for the wage reductions were
posted to be effective February l, and
the matter was brought before the la
for board by the employees. The road
was directed to rescind the order and
the employees advanced the argument
that the whole case be thrown out as
beyond the jurisdiction of the labor
board. Mr.. Curtis cited the decision Of
the labor board in the general rules
hearing last Thursday. when 1t was de-
clareus tne ROAD was pfepdreu " 0un
financial status o: railroads were
properly under jurisdiction Of the
Interstate commerce. commission.
Morris Brandon, attorney for the
Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic, de-
|clareds til eroad wa sprepared to sub
Init other evidence than financial ip-p
liability TO pay in support Of the PRO
posed reduction. He said the dispute
centered around whether or not the
-. - l. Ian ~H
and maintained the roads right to
present any evidence it desired IN ia
yor OF its reduction proposal.
During the noon recess, the board
its decision and when
the afternoon session convened. Col
onei Bugg took the stand to present
Figures bearing on labor wages. tho
cost OF living and unemployment. He
presented statistics showing living
conditions generally lower than rail-
road work in the southeast, gave sta
ton and offered evidence to show the
cost OF living was lower than when
the boards wage decision was rem
dered last july.
BUGG 1EsTIFIES
Colonel Bugg testified that he had
offered to confer with employees at any
time and that several conferences had
been held, but with no solution Of the
matter. He declared that the en-
pioyes had been unwilling to make
any compromise.
A ruling Of the board today ordered
the Erie railroad TO withdraw It's re-
duction Of track laborers' wages TO
80 cents an hour and another provision
which prescribed a seven day week for
photographers Complaint was filed
with the board recently following the
posting OF the wage reduction several
weeks ago. A hearing was set for
February %.
No definite programme has yet been
arranged for proceeding with the gen
eral rules and working conditions
hearing which was suspended last
Thursday, pending preparation OF the
labor representatives 10 continue. 1t
was expected that the employees would
be ready to proceed with the case on
Wednesday, but 1t was freely pre-
dicted that request for indefinite
postponement would be asked.