Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-12
% RAILROADS
FAVOR WAGE Gut
Eleven Mere Systems Take
Steps to Reduce
Expenses
UNION LEADERS BALk
Senator Cummings Asked tor Order
Congressional Probe-To Make Out
of Twenty Per Cent.

Chicago. March ~. Tabulation of
reports from railroad centers all over
the United States shows that 20 sys-
tens have taken stems within the last
tire" days TO devise wages down
ward. Reports from different parts
Of the country stated that Il roads
yesterday initiated efforts along this
line. Eight took this action Yesterday
following the lead of the Pennsyi-
van;a system, which started the
movement Wednesday.
The roads acting yesterday were:
Northern Pacific.
Union Paciii...
Great Northern
Chicago and Great Western.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.
Chicago and Alton.
Lehigh Valley.
New York, Ontario and Western.
Maine Central.
Wabash
Boston and Maine.
Thos. who yesterday announced
proposed wage cuts were: New York
Central. New York. New Haven
and Hartford, Philadelphia and Read
ing, Santa Fe, Chicago, Milwaukee
and ST. Paul, Chicago and Great
Western, Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific and Chicago ard Northwest
arn.
The wage rer;s;ons will affect from
100 to 5000 men on each road. On
Some Of the Ines only unskilled Ia
hror will or affected, while on others
:ierkS, maintenance of way employees
and mechanics will be included. The
nians 80 far announced do rot INCLUDE
train service employees and telegraph
operators. IE several cases the rate
Of .reduction~has been. annonnced "a
raisging from - to 20 per cent, but
The majority Of the lines are waiting
70 hold ccnfercNctss with the. workers
Ore road, the Chicago and Great
Western, took the lead among the
Western lirles in the matter Of .redut
ions br announcing that it proposed
4 20 per ccnt-tecreaSe in the pay Of
,very employe. from the, president
Iown, with the exception of train
service men, telegraph operators and
ln<k:lled men. The pay of unsRllcd
workers would be brought down to
conform with the rates paid in other
industries. # possible. Conference
1-ill be held with the employees at Gel
vein. Iowa. March 10. About 5000
,cn will be affected. Its proposed
policy was. similar 20 that announced
a few days age by the Pennsylvania
lines.
In every case the roads specified
that they would seek lower wages in
accordance with the provisions of the
Transportation Act, which provide
I,hat conferences must be held with
he employees and the matter brought
before TIE Railroad Labor Board only
when an agreement could not be
~uached in thes" conferences.
Action looking toward the wholesale
reduction OF wages OF railway en-
7loyes Of the nation was assa;lcd
'ast night BIZ urion leaders.
Th" railway executives were unani-
nous ir declarins that the reductions
were necessary 10 pave the way FOR
over freight ard passenger rates
md said that tie wage cuts would
,yeGn With the uclSkilEei emplpyes,
5ut would finally reach the highest
executives.
In replying to this J. G.. Luhr.sen,
oresi:en- CT the American Trasa D:s-
.'ratcheTS' Association. asserted that
Che train sheets would show that the
railroads were net economically man
aged and in a-letter to Senator A. B.,
cunmins, chairman CT the Semitic
Interstate Commerce Committee, ha
failed for Senatorial! investigation
IF the TRANSPORTATION situation so
as to avert serious strife over wage
reductions. 1:.:.--..
RirEgarri, Va. March ia .lsrga
nna,.: enthusiastic congregation gath,
gred- IN Tie Sunsiay Sehcci rooms Of
The St. Pants. Church last night a:
ihe, meeting tttssEgalsd TO influence the
4 as.nr Dr.. ". Russell Bywie, To re-