The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-10-20
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1921
SOUNDS LIKE SANE REASONING.

Exorbitant freight-passenger rates
have been assessed the public for the
past two years without any apparent
hope on the part of the public of a
reduction of rates and fares, although
within the past year the railroad COM
panies have reduced wages and cur
tailed expenses by cutting off trains
and laying off workmen in every
branch of their service. They have
overlooked the great fundamental of
playing fair" by reducing rates when
they reduced wages and personnel.
Instead they have gone ahead needless
of the public welfare, and even an
nounce their intention of further re-
duction in wages which has called
forth these sane suggestions by the
public group of the railroad labor
boards as zone feasible plan by which
the present controversy can be settled
and strike averted."
Under the plan suggested by the
public group, the railroad would with
draw their request for further wage
reductions, until freight reductions
have been completed, and pending
action of the board on such petition
for further reduction as the carriers
may subsequently, submit" the unions
would withdraw the strike order.
The suggestion was based on one
put forward by w. w. Atterbury,
vice president of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, before a convention in Chi
cago last Friday.
Immediate reduction in freight
rates, it was asserted, would operate
to the benefit of the railroad en-
ployees and "would constitute one of
the statutory grounds for further re-
duction in wages" while, through re-
duction of the cost of material, it
would to that exten. relieve the rail-
roads of the necessity of relying
solely upon wage cuts for a reduction
OF their operating expenses"
The statement, given out by men,
Der of the group, said in part:
"There is at least one feasible plan
by which it can be settled and a strike
averted."
eff the railroads will Immediately,
in good faith, adopt this suggestion,
the situation can be cleared up, freight
rates reduced to shippers, the cost
of living reduced to the consumers,
and stimulating cffectexcrted upon
all business.
1--WE would suggest that the wage
cut of July 1 be translated at once
into reduction of freight rates. This
would be more tangible and satisfac-
tory to the public than to promise
that future wage reductions will be
passed or to the people in the form
of reduced freight rates. The public
undoubtedly expected this result when
the July reduction was made, and its
consummation now, though somewhat
delayed, would be highly gratifying.
That direct benefits would promptly
follow and that the psychological eff
feet would be instantly beneficial can
not be doubted"
Putting these suggestions into def
mite propositions, the group members
proposed the following:
Il. Let the carriers Immediately
give general rate reduction meas
ured by the July wage reduction and
the benefits derived from the new
rules, ard devised under the super
vision of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, to afford the greatest de-
gree of relief to the public.
"2. Let the request for further |
wage reductions be withdrawn until |
the rate reductions have been COM
pleted.
"3. At such time as the carriers |
deem advisable, let them present to
the Railroad Labor Board their peti-
ton for further reduction in wages,
based upon conditions then existing.
az. Pending the working out of the
rate reduction and the action of the
labor board on such petition for a
further wage reduction as the carriers
strike order be withdrawn.
"This method of procedure has the
merit of affording cooling time to
everybody concerned, and requires of
the carriers only one thing, namely,
that they give to the public in re-
duced freight rates the benefit of the
July wage cut, just as they are pro-
posing to do in case of a further wage
reduction. 1t also favors the with
drawal or suspension of the strike
order upon the part of the employees"