New-York tribune., 1921-02-02
Executives Chairman De-
clares Object i'm Asking
Wage Agreement Abro-
CATION Is to Cut Tariffs
Denies Assertions
Brothe1'lloods Make
President Informed Read
justrnent for thew elfare
of All Is Contemplated

CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-THE railroads
asked the Railway Labor Board to alb
rogate the national wage agreements
between the roads and the railway
employees brotherhoods, so that an
ultimate reduction in freight and pas
senger rates might be brought about,
according to a telegram sent to Presi-
dent Wilson tonight by Thomas Dc
witt Cuyler, chairman of the Associa-
tion of Railway Executives. The mes
sage was in reply to charges made in
a telegram sent President Wilson last
night by representatives of the seven
brotherhoods.
The brotherhoods in their message.
winch also was sent to Senator Poin-
dexter, called for a Congressional in
vestigatlon (which we believe will re-
suit in disclosures that the representa-
tions of the carriers are decentive
Mr.. Cuyler denied every charge made
against the railroads by the labor lead
ers in their telegram, declaring that
they were deliberate and gross mis-
representation and propaganda in
tended to discredit private management
of the railroads in the interests Of the
Plumb plan and to defeat efforts being
made in good faith to abolish rules and
working conditions which were war
Aim Is Lower Rates
Mr.. Cuyler said the railroads had
refused conference with labor leaders
because such a conference could not
adjust conditions for all roads in all
parts of the country. The roads, how
ever, were willing individually to ad-
Just conditions with their employees
and were, in fact, urging this upon the
Labor Board.
THE action requested by Brigadier
General ". w. Atterbury of the Penn
sylvania lines (abrogation of the ma
tional agreements) is the only action
which, with government sanction, can
free the hands of the railway execu-
tives and enable them by orderly pro-
cedure with their men to develop an
propriate rules and working condi-
tions," the telegram said.
"Ihe only rules that stand the tests
of practical operation and do not in
volve endless controversy are rules
which are negotiated between each
and its own men, and the
opportunity of getting this is request
ed by the railroads not only to enable
the roads to achieve the earning power
contemplated in the transportation act,
but in the interests of an ultimate re-
duction in transportation rates to the
public.
Last, but not least, the roads re-
quest is in the interest of the men who
work upon these railroads. We recog-
nize that as the wages of railroad en-
ployees were the last to go up they
should also be the last to come down,
and if by restoring the conditions
necessary to efficient and economical
operation the railroads can postpone
for reasonable period the reduction
of basic wages which will ultimately be
required, they will be only too glad to
do so in the interests Of the great
body of their employees.
Needs Are Urgent
"The pressing financial necessities
Of the railroads are such that, if de-
MED the opportunity of initial economy
through proper rules and working con-
ditions, their only other recourse must
be in a reduction of basic wages.
"The railway executives are proceed
ing in this matter with the keenest
sense Of obligation to the public. They
feel that they are trustees of q great
rublic interest and that they are repre-
sensing not only their own interest,
hut the interests of the farmer, the
consumer labor and manufacturers in
other industries and the railway en-
ployees themselves. They have every
confidence that, when the various in
dustries and workers are making their
respective contributions to a decline in
the cost of living, the great body OF
railway employees will certainly not
refuse to make their similar contribu-
ton"
E. F. Cradle, president of the United
brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees and Railway Shop Laborers
the largest of the railway unions, to-
night sent telegram to President Will
son protesting against the statement
made before the labor board yesterday
by General Atterbury, declaring that it
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