New-York tribune., 1921-12-27
Expected Applications for
Cuts Affecting All En-.
ployees Will Be Filed
With Labor Board Soon
Would Range From
10 to 80 Per Cent
Rail Heads Assert Red,lc-
tions Necessary to Give
Public Better Service
spccio, Dispatch 10 The Trsbur


CHICAGO, Dec 26.-Railroad man
ayers are determined to get out from
under the staggering load put upon
them while the var administration
had charge Of the properties and prac-
tically put in two or three men at
highly increased wages to do the work
one man formerly had done satisfactor
lily The result of three men stumbling
over one mans work resulted in gem
eral waste and incompetency, and the
roads feel they must get back to some
thing like normal business conditions
or go bankrupt.
Notice was given to-day that the rail
roads will go before the United States
Railroad Labor Board early in January
and ask reductions in wages and
changes in working conditions that. f
granted, will lop off approximately
$200,000,0O0 and vastly improve the
service not alone in the operating
branches, but in the shops and main
tenance of way forces.
Railroad managers feel certain the
public is with them in their efforts to
set wages down to basis that COM
pares with the earnings of men IN
other industries and will give the roads
a chance to make necessary repairs and
provide new equipment. When the
lines were handed back to the owners
by the government they were in pitt
able condition as to right of way and
equipment, to say nothing of the mill
lions added in wages and the thousands
of unnecessary employees.
The proposed new cut in the pay
rolls ranges from 10 per cent in the
train service division to 25 and 80 per
cent for common labor. Changes in
tile working rules in the shops and
emergency repairs on the road also
will effect a tremendous saving.
The roads expect determined opposi-
ton from the rail unions, but they
feel the public is with them.
1t is expected that when the rail-
roads file applications for further
wage reductions the unions. especially
the shop crafts, will ask a readjust-
ment of pay upward to compensate for
the 100000 or more Topped Oft the
annual payrolls by revised working
conditions.
Many roads already have met with
the union committees regarding the
proposed 10 per cent cut for the men
and as high as 80 per cent decrease in
other trades. No agreements have been
reported and under the transportation
act such controversies may be taken
before the board thirty days after the
parties have disagreed
The Pennsylvania test case to de-
termine how far the boards power ex-
tends in the matter of laying down
working rules is scheduled to come up
for hearing in the Federal court
here on January 8.
SEDALIA, Mo-, Dec. 26.--The local
Missouri Pacific Railroad shops will
reopen January 5, with approximately
1400 employees, and the Missouri,
Kansas e. Texas Railroad shops will
reopen January 3, official announce
ment to-day said. These shops were
closed last week.
BLOOMINGTON. H., Dec. 26.--The
Chicago e. Alton Railroad shops here
will be operated only three days week
until further notice, according to a
bulletin posted Saturday. Approx
mately 1900 men will be affected.
Local officials refused to comment on
the order