The New York herald., 1921-03-15

week. II an amicable settlement is not
reached Il is expected the cuts viii be
put into effect as scheduled and the case
submitted to the Labor Board by the
men.
In reducing the wages OF the marine
workers the railroads have given assur-
ances that they will not disturb the basic
eight hour day. The proposed decrease
will range from 10 to 20 per cent, and
will be approximately is per cent IN The
present wages OF captains. mates ana
pilots; 1876 per cent decrease for engi-
neers, 20 per cent. decrease for licensed
firemen and oilers and 10 per cent de-
crease for unlicensed firemen and oilers.
Approximately 5000 men employed on
the floating equipment in the harbor are
affected by the order. Six months ago.
when exports were at their peak. the
number Of men employed on railroad
equipment In the harbor touched 5000,
but in the intervening four months busi-
ness has slackened and the men have
been laid off as piece after piece Of
equipment was hauled out Of service be
cause of idleness.
New EngIanders Cut S31 n Month.
Union officials who represent engi-
neers, masters, mates and pilots en-
New England coastwise trade were re-
quested by employers to report In four
days the action OF their unions on the
proposed wage cut submitted by the New
England Barge and Towers Association.
The boat owners have submitted
schedule of reductions which is said to
amount to approximately $40 month
on the average for each grade In the
marine service.
G. c. Hannah, president OF the Staples
Transportation Company. spoke for the
boat owners at a conference az II
Broadway, in which Thomas Healy.
business manager of Local No. 3S. and
Burt Todd, business manager OF Local
No. so of the Marine Engineers Bene-
fetal Association, represented the union
men. None of the conferees would dis
cuss the meeting except to say that the
unions are expected TO have an answer
TO the employers demands within four
days.
The proposed reduction is said to
affect approximately 1900 men.
The most sweeping revision of un-
skilled labor wages which has been pro-
posed by any railroad In the Eastern
territory is the 25 per cent. cut-or
what the labor men assert amounts to
% per cent. cut--on the Central Rail-
road OF New Jersey. II was proposed
yesterday at conference of J. w. Mere
dith, general manager OF transportation,
and c. e. Chambers, general manager Of
motive power, with Leslie Miller, repre-
senting the maintenance OF way enl-
ployees, and l.. A. Mckinley. general
chairman of the Federation OF Shop
Crafts of the Central lines.
The road proposes to reduce the wages
Of its track laborers now getting 4s1a
cents an hour. to 35 cents. The proposed
New York Central reduction Is from
4Sib cents TO 40 cents an hour. The re-
duction proposed for the maintenance of
way employees in the New York and
Newark district Is from 81 cents TO 45
cents an hour in Bayonne from 81 to
40 cents an hour. and in the Plainfeld
y. J.. district from 5l1a cents TO 80
cents an hour.
The labor officials, who said they were
stunned at the suggestion of such a
heavy cut, asked until March "a for an
opportunity to go back home to confer
with the men they represent. They said
there is little doubt that the proposal
will be rejected. Between $500 and
300 men are affected by the order.
Erie Reduces Working Forces.
The Erie Railroad Company whose
cutting of wages before conferences with
employees provoked the censure Of the
United States Railroad Labor Board
last week. causing the resembling Of the
order. yesterday started to reduce ex-
penses by cutting down working forces
from one end of the line to the other.
The immediate reductions amount 70 ap-
proxinlateiy 90 per cent, and is for all
classes OF employees with the exception
of those working under the rules of the
four railroad brotherhoods. Approx
rnately 500 employees at Hornell. n. Y,
were discharged. and at Middletown,
". Y, lis men who have been working
five days a week were laid Off. This In
cludes employees of the Port Jervis
shops.
I'VE have reached the limit OF re-
sources" declared an official of the Erie
Yesterday, "and there IS nothing for us
TO do but lay off these men. We cannot
spend money in wages that we have not
on hand and have slim prospects of get
ting. There IL only one thing left for
us-slash to the bone"
One OF the Developments OF the day
was the summoning OF officials OF the
Railway Executives Association TO APP
pear before the United States Railroad
Labor BOARD in Chicago Friday morning.
They will be cross-examined by repre-
sentatives of the rail workers in connec-
tion with the operation OF the national
agreements and the charge, made yester-
day before tho beard by Frank r. Walsh.
that the labor committee of the RAILWAY
EXECUTIVES Association controls wages OF
railroad men in the United States.
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