New-York tribune., 1921-08-04
Eastern Roads
Asked TO Give
Back Wage C,lt
Pledge to Seek No Further
deductions and With
drawal of Demand TO Kill
Overtime Scale Asked
Ahree-hour Meeting Held
Rail Officials VIII Place the
Case Before Executives
for Reply to Union Heads

representatives of the Big Four
railroad brothernoods and the Switch
mems Union asked the railroad execu-
yves OF the eastern lines at Il CON
ference here yesterday for assurances
mat there would be no further reduc-
TONS In pay. and that the demands Of
tae reads for the elimination of time
aud half time for overtime be with
Drawn and not pressed for a stated
perod.
The trainmen also requested the
restoration of the twelve per cent cut
n their pay ordered in effect by the
Raliroad Labor Board on July /.
Inc conference was held in the
oFhces Of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
at l4S Liberty Street, +. r. LOOMS.
the president of this lire. being the
chairman OF the committee of rail-
road executives of the Eastern Presi
dents Conference which met the labos
le&ders. Inc meeting with the com
pany heads was said to have boon rn.
quested ITO clearly place the railroads
on record as 10 whether they viii move
Tor additional decreases and the elimi-
nation OF time and 4 half for over
time"
Referendum Vote in Progress
1t is known that the railroads have
been negotiating individually with
their employees on these questions and
1hat a referendum vote on the accept
ance OF the II per cent cut put in
effect by the abroad Labor Board is
being taken among tranment OF the
country.
The railroad officials announced they
would present the labor mems argu-
ments before the entire Eastern Presi-
dents Conference, which probably will
take final action on the matter some
time next week
In the course Of statement issued
by the railway executives at the close
OF the three hours meeting. the com
rany officials said:
"The union chiefs in seeking the
meeting said it was their desire TO as
certain: I'd If the operating officials
of the railroads will restore the wage
rates in effect on June 80 1921; (2) if
alj@ demands for further decreases will
be withdravn: CD if all demands for
the elimination of time and one-half
for overtime and radical schedule re
vision will be withdrawn and not again
pressed for q stated period.
The railroad executives pointed out
that to grant the request of the broth
erhood heads would mean an increase
in wages Of approximately twelve and
one-half per cent at a time when all
other wages arc coming down; would
assume that no further decreases are
or VIII be warranted by reductions in
the cost OF living. and would take the
question of time and one-half for over
time out of the hands OF the Labor
Board, where it is now under discus
sion, and violate every agreement the
men now have with their respective
roads, each cf which has terminating
OR revision clause
"After hearing the arguments pre-
scented by the labor men, the railroad
officials said they would make report
to the Eastern Presidents Conference,
which win take final action"
Four Rail Officials Present
Representing the companies, besides
Mr.. Loomis, were ". w Atterbury,
vice president Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad T. n Brown, president of
the Pere Marquette Railway, and Percy
r. Todd. president Of the Bangor &
Aroos.ock Railroad
For the employees there were War
rem S. Stone, grand chief of the en-
gineers; W S. Carter, president OF the
iremen; ". G. Lee, president of the
trainmen; L. E. Sheppard, president
of the conductors. and t. c. Cashen.
president Of the Switchmens Union OF
North America
AS result Of a conference at New
Haven between employees and officials
Of the New York, New Haven &. Hart
ford Railroad, it was announced by
General Manager c. L. Bardo yester-
fay that the railway clerks union on
ne system had agreed to a new wage
rhedule regarding the payment OF
ertime and other compensatory rates
The new schedule will be retroactive
to July l. and is to remain in force
pending the decision of the Railroad
Labor Board. now considering the
wage scales Of these employees at Chi
cage.