New-York tribune., 1921-02-15
Labor Board to
Retain Rule i'm
W age Disputes
Refuses TO Grant Plea of
Rail Men for Transfer
of Jurisdiction Over Re-
ductions to the /. e. G..
Both Sides Are Heard
Atlanta Road President AS
serts Workers Paw Is
Higher Than Other Classes

CHICAGO, Feb. 14.-Pleas that the
Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Rail
road wage controversy. now before the
Railway Labor Board, be declared
without the 5oard's jurisdiction and
the present wage rates be continued
were overruled by the board to-day.
The ruling marked the termination of
fight by the labor side to throw the
case out of court on the contention that
financial inability to pay the wages
laid down by the board last july
should come properly before the Inter
state Commerce Commission and not
before the Labor Board. The poor
financial status of the road had been
given as the reason for a wage reduc-
tlon, to be etfet tive February |, which
was recently ordered rescinded by the
board.
The boards ruling decided that each
SIDE IN the controversy be permitted
to present its evidence in its own way.
ANY evidence considered irrelevant
would be stricken out later, the chair
said. Half days time was taken up
IL the argument of Z. P. Curtis, vice
president of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, speaking for all employees of
the road. The decision overruling his
contentious, however, permitted rail-
road representatives to take the stand
this afternoon and Colonel B. L. Bugp
president of the A. B. & A, presented
mass of statistics in the roads be-
half
Mr.. Curtis, reviewing the case, told
OF the roads proposal December 90
1870, to reduce wages by one-half of
the amount of increases granted since
December 21, 1917.
Notices for the wage reductions were
posted to be effective February l, and
the matter was brought before the
Labor Board by the employees. The
road was directed to rescind the order.
and the employers advanced the argu-
ment that the whole case be thrown
out as beyond the jurisdiction Of the
Labor Board.
During the noon recess the board
promulgated it's decision, and when the
afternoon session convened Colonel
Bugg took the stand to present figures
bearing on labor wages, the cost of
living and unemployment He pre-
sented reports showing wages gener-
ally lower than railroad wages for
similar work in the South. He gave
statistics on unemployment in that
section, and offered evidence to show
that the cost of living was lower than
when the boards wage decision was
rendered last July.
A ruling of the board to-day ordered
the Erie Railroad to withdraw it's re-
duction of track laborers's wages to
80 cents an hour and another provision
which prescribed a seven day week for
telegraphers. Complaint was filed with
the board recently, as a result of the
posting of the wage reduction several
weeks ago. A hearing was set for
February %. No definite program has
yet been arranged for proceeding
with the general rules and working
conditions hearing, which was sus-
pended last Thursday, pending prep
a1aticn Of the labor Representatives to
continue. 1t was expected that the
employees would be ready to proceed
With the case on Wednesday, but it was
freely predicted that a request for in
definite postponement would be asked