The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-31
PENNSY HEADS
AND WORKERS.
DISCUSS CUTS
Maintenance of Way and
Structures and Unskilled
Forces First to Confer with
Executives. -s--s--.-
GOVERNMENT SILENT
fBy Associated Press)

PITTSBURGH, March 31-P,ans OF
the Pennsylvania railroad company to
reduce the wages and salaries CT all
employees, officers and subordinate of.
ficers. numbering about 100000, was
the subject to be discussed today at
the initial conference of officials of the
road and representative of the work.
ers
Maintenance of way and structures
and the unsNlled forces of the com
pany were the first class of employees
to confer with the executives. Repre-
sentatives of these workers were
called to meet with the road officials
this morning in an effort to reach an
agreement on the question of wage
salary cuts which are to go into effect
April 90
The company's plan for the confer
ence made pubic March II, called on
the workers to meet with the officials
and agree las to what constitutes just
and reasonable rates of pay in the
light of present conditions.
Conferences will be conducted by the
officials with other classes of employees
until April 16, when the final meeting
will be held with representative Of the
supervisory forces.
1t has become impossible to operate
the Pennsylvania railroad successful
| ly and continue to pay the "abnormal'y
high" wages fixed by the railroad
labor board. C. S. krick, general
manager of the eastern region, de-
clared today.
/ Says Living Cheaper
I Mr.. Krick maintained that the en-
tire world rapidly is getting back to
normal, and that since the middle of
last year, the cost of living has been
steadily going down.
| AT present" he declared, nearly
20 cents out of every dollar the Penn
sylvania railroad receives from opera
| ton is paid out in wages. The re-
naming 80 cents is not sufficient to
buy fuel and other materials and pay
our taxes and other obligations. OPP
Grating expenses in February exceed
ed operating revenue by more than
$2,300,000. 1t cost the Pennsylvania
railroad s1.05 to take in ST., without
considering taxes, fixed charges and
other obligations.
Without taking dividends into con
IS1QeTdIlOQ, IQ6 FennSyIVdQla system
was operated in February at a loss of
more than $S,5O0,OO March results
will show no improvement, although
the number of employees is less now
than it has been since 1915. Such a
precipitate falling off in business as
has occurred in the last few months
cannot be recalled by railroad men
today and the only remedy for this
situation is to reduce salaries and
wages"
WASHINGTON, March 31.-Chair.
man E. f. Clark of the interstate com.
merce commission and r. NJ. Barton
, of the railroad labor board, discussed
: rail transportation problems with
President Harding for more than two
hours today, but afterwards declined
to comment on the form the admins
, tration reconstruction program would
, take. 1t was understood, however
that the president outlined the pur
pose of the consultation as that oil
gathering Information primarily and
, that conclusions were not attempted
Mr.. Harding is said to have EN-
! phasiZed that he desired to make no
recommendations that might be inter
preted as going over the heads of the
) government agencies which deal with
the railway questions.
Consider Statement.
One subject before the conference
, was a statement made yesterday By
!, the association of railway executives
y declaring that the principal roads
, operated at loss of more than a mil
lion dollars during January. Thi:
was considered in connection with the
Y best available information forecastins
+ earnings might be expected during tbs
4 coming month.
! 1t was indicated that the two chair
v men probably would not be called ints
consultation again, and 1t was said al
the White House, that no further con
\ ferences had been arranged with rail
way executives or employees TIL,
president Is expected, however. to ge
full information as to the attitude O
all parties concerned and also tn,
views of congressional leaders befor,
reaching decision.