Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-30
RAIL. UNIONS OPEN
LOWER WAGE FIGHT

CHICAGO, April 2S.-Reduction of
railroad wages would impair the
standard of American living and
would have no justification in eth
les, economic reason or the cold,
concrete facts Of present day indus
trial life" it was declared by B. NJ.
Jewell, head Of the railway unions.
who opened the employees fight to re-
tain present wage scales before the
railroad labor board today
Contentious of the railroads that
the cost of living haG declined since
the wage award Of July, 1920, were
met with the reply that that award
was based on the prices Of December,
1919, and not on those of July, 1920,
the peak of high prices. Mr.. Jewell
declared that it would require three
years for railway employees, at their
present wages, to recoup the losses
sustained during the war period "by
the failure of their earnings to keep
pace with the increased cost of liv-
ing"
"The railroads rush in and say
give us our pound of flesh!" Mr..
Jewell said, "even before it can be
determined whether the cost OF Nv
ing has actually declined since the
award of this board which would JUS
tify the board in authorizing at his
time a reduction in the rates of pay
of railroad employees
Mr.. Jewell named prevailing wage
rates in similar industries ana
changes in the cost OF living as me i5
two main considerations which
should direct the boards decision IN
the wage controversy. He said there
had been no reduction in wages PAID
in the basic Industries comparable 10
the railroads and that there hao NOT
been sufficient reductlon a In ne
cost CT living to justify a reductlon
in ges thae were inadequate TO
meet living costs at the time they
were established"
Goal mining and the steel indus
tries are only basic 1ndustrles tHdL
may be compared to the rallr"%a ~
dustry,' Mr.. Jewell Continued anu
it is well known tEat there ; nave e. o4 for
no wage cuts for the miners VI Aot
the steel workers.
"In addition to the two main prln7,
ciples set up as a guide for the poara
in wage determinations. there al9
also other and more fundamental
conditions which must r. ~elVe judi
clal notice These are ded efficiency,
The Transportation act REQUIRES that
the railroads operate with due econ
ony and efficiency. We shall snoM
that this has not been done; tlia1
because of the financial control ano
policy of the railroads, resources
have been dissipated or improperly
distributed, improvements and main
fenance deferred and operating has
greatly advanced despite the IN
creased work and productive ell
cheney Of railway employees. OuL
conclusions shall be, therefore, tr2I
reduction ir wages under any cir
cumstances until the inadequac1es OF
management and the high operating
costs resulting therefrom have peen
eliminated. %
indns.rv The main items of operat-
ing expenses are, Of course, fqel,
SUPPLIES of all kinds, and Il Dor. we
shall show that the same tlnanclal
interests which control the rallroaoss
also control the production o.
fuel. timber, equipment, oil and othe-
sunnlies and thar they have deter
mined UPON a policy Of decreasing
railroad expenses by reducing wages
and at the same time charging un.
warranted and unreasonable prices
for supplies which the railroads must
purchase. We shall contend tina TINS
hoard should not @0nsider any com
plants relative to The rates OF pay OF
railway employees until it is SATISFIED
that the railroads are not pelnS
forced to purchase their supplies at
exorbitant prices.
1--WE submit, therefore, that no a &C.
ton looking toward a reduction IN
wages can now be taken by ms
board which can be predicated upon
any sound basis. We are IN ING Pc
Rod of reimbursement and reconstruc-
ton ton No one can predict with Ger Ger
tainty what the immediate Tenderness; s
will be. only one thing is certain
| and that is that there has not peer
q sufficient change in the condltlonss
affecting wage principles TO va We I "a Il : :
5nff 'n No justification can be found ?
in ethics, in economic reason or IN
the cold, concrete facts of the pres
| ent-day industrial life and activity
| to support the board in MAKING
! changes in existing rates OF pay ~