The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-26
To IL. Emuloy.. Of II. Chesapeake and Ohio Railway:

tn. dav press contains the information that certain classes OF
employees determined strike date the very near
future The Company officers have received no notice nom inc
EMPLOYEES affected Such method entirely unusual and contrary
the and practices hitherto prevailing that we Ind hao
TO credit the information, yet be authortatvey and
.v and av discussed BY the labor leaders that there little
room for doubt that such intention exists the part OF those
directing the plans.
The BEGINNING of the chapter Of eliminating dates
the period prior February 2eh 1920 when Government control
of the railroad properties ceased that tune Will be remembered
there wa. request for an pending before the Railroad
which declined however, to grant, because fe
that instance should make increase wages which would
affect the future properties after Government control had expired
The Transportation Act provided for method OF handing suen
disputes and these provisions of the act immediately invoked
in behalf of the affected Hearings held and on July ZO
1920 certain increases in wages. amounting about 22q were
allowed retroactive May s 1920 The Labor Board announced
at that time that working conditions would be taken later
Effective Angus, 10Th 1920 the Interstate Commerce Commission
mad. increases in the rates the railroads for the OF COM
plying with the requirements of the Transportation Act The increased
wages granted July 10th taken into consideration IN arriving
these rates. The Commerce Commission made an earnest
granted and if the volume of business had been maintained Their
calculations would undoubtedly have mateIzed Beginning WIN
January 1921 however the revenues OF this railroad
declined so much so that the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway did not
earn operating expenses February In this state OF affairs winch
seemed bid fair be the Company was compelled "
take some action the situation 1t shown by STATISTICS
from reliable sources other than railroad that the increase in cost
living since the prewar period had been about sevnve
whereas the hundred and
Der cent during the same period seemed therefore, that employees
wages should down measure meet the SIT
above referred As further in meeting the situation
the Companys dividend due June Both. 1921, deferred In
words stakeholder forfeited the entire income he held at stake
The question of reduction then presented due form
and the prescribed method the United States Railroad Labor
Board provided for in the Transportation Act The board gave
consideration the Numerous hearings were held
which every interested heard decision reached
effective July I 1921 making certain reductions the result of
this investigation.
This railroad accepted and put into effect good faith the
increases granted the employees in July 1920 has obeyed
ruling of Labor Board affecting and consequently will be
this controversy, there be with absolutely clean hands
expected that Labor would also obey the orders Of the Board when
properly arrived Instead of carrying out the orders arrived
have been taken and above stated informed by
the columns of the newspapers that strike will be called Let
reerae that the position Of this railroad that wiling fact
carrying the decision of the Labor Board effective July lt
1921 In application for decrease the Company asked
for the total abrosaion of Decision No. effective May M 1920
but the Labor Board fit only little than half
that which, however the Company accepted in good faith
In this state of affairs will be observed that the employees
discussing striking against of authorized by properly
constituted Governmental Authority acting entirely within that author
y the wages question having been effect July s Surely
this presents convincing ground for such grave act strike
and all realize that the railroads carry the decision
the Government Board feel absolutely and safe
making the statement that public opinion will countenance
strike such basis and disaster only that
persisted In But argued this only the beginning of
part Of the railroads making further decrease.
wages and taking away from the working conditions and
privileges which they enjoy In this needs only
show that the railroads under the labor control
do anything Of the kind until the United States Labor Board has
considered such fully had hearings upon IT, and given
Interested the right and present his side Of the