The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-10
RAILWAY EXECUTIVES
. REQUEST TO ABROGAT
AGREEMENTS IS DENIED
Compensation Of Labor
ers Not to Be Altered
Millions Affected.

Chicago, Feb. lQ-The fed.
eral railroad labor board today
denied the request Of 'tAe
American Association Of Rail-
way Executives for immediate
abrogation Of the NATIONAL wage
agreements with the bro!her.
hoods and establishment Of .
new basic rate fer unskillcd h.
bor predicated on local condi.
tions.
The decision came before r.
n. Jewel president Of the rail.
way employees department Of
American Federation Of Labor,
had started his reply to tho
statement made for tho railway
executives hast week BY ". w.
Atterbury of the Peansylvanla
railroad. Il WAS unexpected.
bat Mr.. Jewell made his state.
nent nevertheless.
The board held that 1t had NO
jurisdiction over questions involy-
ing expense of operation, and sug-
gested that neither the roads nor
the union interrupt the pending
hearing on standard rules and
working conditions with further
unwarranted demands"
In announcing the decision OF the
board, Chairman r. M. Barton re-
viewed the powers Of the board,
Feb. %, 1920. He said the act
imposed upon the board the duty
Of deciding its disputes between
carriers and employees of what shall
constitute Just and reasonable
wages, salaries and standards ok
working conditions. The present
hearing separated, by agreement.
rules and working conditions from
wages.
The decisions on wages was
given last July, Chairman Barton
said, and the rules hearing con-
cened on Jan. 10.
THE board assumed as the basis
of this decision, the continuance in
full force and effect of the rules.
working conditions and agreements
enforced under the authority Of the
United States railroad administra-
tion," Mr.. Barton said. He made
an exception of any mutual agree
ment between carriers and en-
ployes and declared it was the
boards desire to give a decision at
the earliest possible date.
The ruling this morning held that
all questions involving expense Of
operation were outside the juris-
diction of the labor board.
IF any Of these rules and work
ing conditions are unjust and un-
reasonable" the decision said. they
constitute an unwarranted burden
upon the railroads and upon the
public. 1t b therefore the duty Of
the board to use the utmost prac-
ticable expedition, consistent with
the necessary time for hearing
and consideration, in determining
whether any of the rules and work
ing conditions now in effect. Afe
unreasonable. The board is en-
deavoring to perform its obligation
and will be better able to succosd
in doing so il 1t is not further in
terrupted by the introduction Of
unwarranted demands by either
party"
So great was the interest in Mr..
>Jewell's statement that the regular
quarters of the board proved In
adequate and the hearing was held
in q court room In the fedefsl
building. Even this room was In
adequate to accommodate all Of the
hundreds who sought admission.
JEWELS Statement.
Chicago, Feb. 10.-Conspirsey On
the part Of American railroad
executives and financiers to destroy
the organization OF railroad work;
ers and reestablish autocratic finan.
ciai control. of the transportation
industry. was charged here toda,
by B. NJ. Jewell, president Of thi
railway employees department Of tn,
American Federation of Labor, wh,
appeared before the United State.
labor board.
Mr.. Jewell, chief spokesman fol
the railroad workers unions, alst
charged. the railroad executives
with framing up Of evidence" and