The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-31
RAIL STATUS
LAID BEFORE
LABOR BOARD
W. W. Atterbury, Chairman !,
of Labor Committee OF Rail
way Executives, Urges I'm
mediate Change of Rules.
SEES CRAVE DANGERS
(By Associated Press)

change in rules and working condi-
tions on railroads as a means of starv-
ing off bankruptcy of the roads was
proposed to the railroad labor board
today by W. W. Atterbury, chairman
OF the labor committee of the asssoc-
iation of railway executives.
So urgent was the situation, he de-
clared, that he rejected from the wit
ness chair proposal from Judge E.
NJ. Barton, chairman of the board,
that roads and employees confer on
the subject. Mr.. Atterbury said that
"a few days" might see the entire sit
uation brought to focus where order
ly procedure would become difficult if
not impossible.
Cannot Get Together.
Henry T. Hunt. Iormer mayor of Cir
cinnati, and public representative on
the board, told General Atterbury thai
he had assurances from union leaders
that they were willing to enter d CO.,
ference but Mr.. Atterbury rejoined:
so far as the railroads are concern
ed we can not get together"
The solvency Of the railroads of the
country must De assured Dy lrLL--
tion in operating expenses, Mr.. After
bury declared. Unless prompt action
affords relief to the roads, he said,
many of the lines of the country may
be forced into insolvency.
Urges Prevention.
THE labor board can prevent this
catastrophe" Mr.. Atterbury said "'v
declaring that the national agree
ments, rules and work'-o
coming over from the war period are
terminated at once; that ,n ~ 80
of reasonable and economical rules
and working conditions shall be re
manded to negotiation between each
carrier and its own employees and that
as the basis for such negotiations. the
agreements. rules and working condi-
tions in effect on each railroad as or
December 81, 1917, shall be reestab-
Iished."
Touching upon the question of wage
reductions in connection with the re-
quested action by the board, Mr.. After
bury said:
Gauge Economies.
eff the board will do this, the la Dor
committee of the Association of Rail-
way Executives will urge upon every
railroad company a party to decision
number 2, that no proposal for thu
reduction of basic ages shall be mado
within the next succeeding 90 day..
This will afford an opportunity to
gauge the economies which can be ac-
complished through more efficient
rules and working conditions. 1t will
also afford additional time in which
to realize the benefits of a further de-
cline in the cost of living -
The national agreements, rules and
working conditions forced on the rail
roads as war measures" the statement
says. cause gross waste and ineffic-
iency."
Would Reduce Waste.
Il estimate that the elimination of
this waste would reduce railway
operating expenses AT least S3Uo, ,uvt,
600 per annum- il would be far better
to save this sum by restoring condi-
tons of efficient and economical oper-
alton than to reduce wages.
We believe that as the wages of
railroad employees were the last to go
up, they should be the last to come
down, but we do insist that for an
ample wage. an honest days work
shall be given.
Public Has Right.
"The public has a right to insist
that this must be obtained. The pub
lice has also the right to expect that
the railway executives. with the CO.
operation of the regulatory bodies and
the employees, will as rapidly as posi-
BILE reduce the cost of railway opera
tion so as to eventually insure re-
duction in rates. Ultimately a read
iustment of basic wages will be re-
quired. Meantime, it is to the inter
ests of all concerned. including labor.
that the rules and working conditions
shall be made conducive to the high
est efficiency in output per man.
The railroad committee presenting
evidence for the abrogation of the ma
tional agreements have far from ex-
hausted their evidence on this subject.
But it will be dangerous to continue
the consideration of these agreements
rule by rule. Ii the board follows its
present procedure. months will elapse
before it can render it's decision.
Cannot Wait .
! The urgent financial necessities OF
the railroads will not permit them to
wait any such length of time for re-
lief. Long before the present detailed
hearings are concluded, the board will
be flooded by appeals from individual
railroads from all parts of the country
for reductions in basic wages. 1t will
be impossible for the board 10 hear
and dispose of these separate cases
upon their merits in time to avoid
numerous receiverships and the posi-
bility of a national panic. Losses of
railway net operating income are ir
reparable. You cannot make retorac-
tive tomorrow the savings that should
have been made today.