Arizona republican., 1921-02-01
RAIL EXECUTIVES .xDRCE IRRIGATION OF AGREEMENTS TO
 PREVENT CHAOS
PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIAL DECLARES IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY TO SAVE ROADS WAGES WILL NOT BE CUT IF AGREEMENT ANNULLED
IRepubIIcan A. 9. Leased wIrel

CHICAGO, Jan. 31-American rail- roads, through Brigadier General w. ". Atterbury, vice president of the Pennsylvania lines, before the railroad labor board, today urged immediate aprogation of the national agreements between the roads and their employees bringing to focus what rail execu tives declared was a critical situation threatening many roads with bank ruptcy. No wage reductions would asked if the agreements were annulled Mir. Atterbury said.
 The course recommended by General Atterbury was interjected into the boards hearing on rules and working conditions. Vigorous protest, charging the railroads with violation of the transportation act, was made by J. C. Luhrsen. president of the American Train Dispatchers. association, in Ieply.
 Notice that a reply soon would be forthcoming from the Is brotherhoods also was given by E. M. Jewell, presi- dent of the Railway Emloyes depart Labor. Tonight MT. Jewell wired Pres ident Wilson protesting against inter- ruption of the boards proceedings.
 Refuses Conference
 General Atterbury declared that the railroad situation was urgent that he could entertain no proposal of confer ences with employees, as they could not agree. He added that '.even few days delay" might throw the situation into chaos and flood the board with peti- tions from railroads for wage reduc- tions
 General Atterbury, who is chairman 7 of the American Association of Rail- 1tway Executives labor committee, de Sclared that unless operating expenses were immediately reduced many roads faced bankruptcy and that wiping out of the national agreements offered a quick solution to part of the problem A reduction of $300,000.000 year in operating expenses could be effective by restoring the pre-federa1 status of Dec. s1. 1917, he said.
 One measure of relief asked was abrogation of the agreement fixing the basic rates of unskilled labor at 39 tc 48h cents an hour.
 General Atterbury's statement said other Industries are paying less and the roads asked the right to hire un- skilled labor at the prices prevailing In the roads localities
 The national agreements, he con tinued. "were forced on the railroad: as war measures and cause gross waste and fnefficiency."
 Suggestions by members of the board that further conferences be held be- tween the roads and employees were rejected by General Atterbury.
 Judge R. M. Barton, chairman of tht board. said that he considered som basis necessary for railroad operation and questioned the wisdom of wipini out the agreements. Rebuttal by tn employees would be heard immediately however, he said. and the matter takel up at once.
 Protest against MT. Luhrsen's state ment was made by C.. T. Winter, rail road representative, on the ground tha the train dispatchers have no nationa agreements and were therefore, no entitled to speak, but the chair de cided 1t could not rule on the request
 'T want to enter formal protest be cause the carriers have alread~ pre- sented arguments which wfthou proper rebuttal by the employees can not help but leave an impression upo this board detrimental to the case c the employees" said MT. Luhrsen. Tn statement made by the carriers ths unless immediate action i> taken l line with their request the railroad will be forced into rational bankruptc is deceptive and fictitious"
 MT. Luhrsen declared that clos analysis of operating records disclose operating ineffic ency which. if rect fled. would produce a saving greatl exceeding the $500. .000,c0o waste allege bv General Atterbury as the result the national agreements