The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-11
BOARD UPHOLDS
RAIL WAGE PACTS
Executives Plea For Ab'Ogat.Jn
is Refused.
DENY FINANCIAL STRAITS
Counsel For Unions Declares Roads
Are Stronger Today Than Ever.
Sees Conspiracy to Destroy organi-
cations


Are Stronger Today Than Ever.
Sees Conspiracy to Destroy organi-
cations. -
Chicago, Feb. 1.-THE federal rail.
road laboc board denied the request of
the American Association of Railway
Executives for Immediate abrogation
of the national wage agreements with
the hrotherhOOds and establishment of
new basic rate for unSkilled labor.
predicated on local CONDITIONS.
The decision came before b. VI.
Jewell, president of fhe Railway En-
ployes' department Of the American
Federation of Labor, had filed his re-
ply to the statement made for the rail
way executives last week b. w. w.
Atterbury, of the Pennsylvania rail
road. 1t was totally unexpected, but
Mr.. Jewell filed his statement never
theleSs, in preparation for fighting a
continuation of the movement for alb
rogatiOn of the national agreements.
After Mr.. Jewell submitted his state
ment he introduced Frank p Walsh,
retained as council for fifteen broth
erhoOdS.
Mr.. Walsh requested the board to
subpoena twenty-four men, including
Z. L. StOtcSbury, Samuel Rca, T. De
Witt Cuyler, A. J. County, Charles Z.
Ingersoll and Mr.. Atterbury, of Phila-
delpha. He alleged they had inter
locking relations with New York banks
and the directOrates Of large railroads.
The board took his request under CON
sideratiOn after considerable question
ing as to what would be proved by
their appearance.
I'VE expect to prove these men have
financial control of large railroads
and, by cross-eXaminatious, to bring
out the national agreements have not
been unduly burdensOme ~ the roads,"
Mr.. Walsh said.
Referring to the boards rulings
against abrogation, Mr.. Walsh said it
was probably the mos momentouS
ever made in the United states us far
as oul citizenship is concerned
Mr.. Walsh denied he railroads. allie
cations of impending national bank
ruptcy unless they received immediate
relief
The railroads are stronger financi-
ely today than at any lime in history"
lie said Some mismanaged roads may
be on the verge of bankruptcy, but
that is not a reason for your board to
reduce employees pay below the living
GLASS nna' .nilrnal, I,N
Per cent of the mileage Of the country,
and their total credit surplus is 3d.
0 100000 Only thirty-twO roads
show deficit, and this amounts only
to S116O00.O0O."
Mr.. JEWELS statement charged that
the request for immediate abrogation
of the national working agreements
was part of the alleged conspiracy to
disrupt uniOnism.
He asserted last weeks statement to
TIE board by Mr.. AtterDury rs chair
man of the labor committee of the
American Association of Railway EX-
ecut:ves, was designed to stampede
the board into position which mature
consideration would prove to he in
uSlSUSlDlS. ne dtlt6u MI.
also attempted falsely 10 convince the
public high rates due TO financial ir-
regularitieS and ineiticiencieS of rail
road management are attributable to
the unions of railroad workers to OBJ
tain a weapon with which to extract
from the government full payment Of
the exhorhitant claims which tie rail
reads are making" and to coerce and
threaten the railroad workers by a
spectre of unemployment and reduced
wages"
Mr.. Jewell charged Mr.. Atterbury
was the spokesman of Il powerful f.
nancial combination seeking to re-es-
tablish this autOcratic control from
which the war has freed US, and which
was especially eXemplified by condi-
tons on the Pennsy lvania railroad"
MIR. Atterbury," he added, has re-
yealed the intention Of certain men to
override the board and 10 frame up
the case.
He represents conspiracy attempt
Ing to cast discredit upon the govern
ment in it's administration of the rail-
roads, and to destroy the legitimate
organizations of the railroad en-
gloves"