The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-10
IMMEDIATE CUT
INR, R. PAY ROLL
DENIED BY BOARD
Ruling Announced Body Has
No Jurisdiction on Costs.
Will Continue Investigation of
Working Conditions.
BEFORE UNIONS MADE REPLY
Stand of Board Taken Prior to
Jewell Statement.
Brotherhood Head Charges
Railroads in Conspiracy.
Will Continue Investigation OF
Working Conditions.
BEFORE UNIONS MADE REPLY
Stand of Board Taken Prior to
Jewell Statement.
fRy the Associated Press.

Chicago, Feb. 1O.-The federal rail-
road labor board today denied the re-
quest OF the American Association of
Railway Executives for immediate
abrogation of the national wage agree
ments with the brotherhoods and
establishment of new basic rate for
unskilled labor, predicated on local
conditions.
The decision came just before B. NJ.
Jewell, president of the railway en-
ployes department OF the American
Federation of Labor, had begun his
reply to the statement made for rail-
way executives last week by W. w.
Atterbury, of the Pennsylvania rail-
road.
Was Complete Surprise.
The decision came as a complete
surprise to both sides and Mr.. Jewell
declaring that the decision came like
a bolt from a clear sky" asked for
fifteen minutes to confer with his
counsel, Frank p. Walsh. On his re-
turn to the hearing he advised the
board that his statement in reply to the
Atterbury request would be filed IN
the record without reading.
In announcing the decision OF the
board. Chairman r. NJ. Barton re-
viewed the power of the board under
the transportation act of February 2S'
1920.
Rules No Jurisdiction.
THE board assumed as the basis of
this decision the continuance in full
force and effect of the rules. work.
ing conditions and agreements en-
forced under the authority of the
United States railroad administration,
Judge Barton said. He made an ex
ception of any mutual agreement be-
tween carriers and employees and de-
clared it was the boards desire to
render a decision at the earliest posi-
BILE date.
The ruling today held that all quest
tions involving expense of operation
were outside the jurisdiction of the la
Dor board.
VIII Continue Investigation.
IF any of these rules and working
conditions are unjust and unreason-
able" said the decision. they consti-
tute an unwarranted burden upon the
railroads ard upon the public. 1t is
therefore, the duty of this board to use
the utmost pra cticable expedition con-
sistent with the necessary time for
hearing and consideration in deter
mining whether any of tue rules and
working conditions now in effect are
unreasonable.
.'The board is endeavoring to per-
form its obligation and will be bet
ter able to succeed in dong so II II is
not further introductions of unwar-
ranted demands by either party.
Conspiracy Is Charged.
Railroad owners have conspired TO
wreck union labor in an effort to re-
store to capital autocratic control of
the workers, B. NJ. Jewell, president
of the railway employees department
of the American Federation OF Labor,
charged in his statement
Jewell charged that Atterburys S ap-
neal for abrogation of rules and re-
quest for permission to cut wages OF
railroad laborers were timed with a
view to stampeding the board into
taking a position on the matter.
Claims Issues Clouded.
The appeal, according to Jewell
which was made just when the entire
case of the management had been pre-
scented to the board, was designed also
to:
freight rates. fundamentally due tC
past financial irregularities and not in
efficiencies of railroad management
should be attributed to present organi-
cations of railroads employees.
Obtain from the board a recognition
of the railroad mana agements' conten-
ton that government war policies hao
led to a decrease in the efficiency ol
employees in order to use this later tC
wiring from the railroad administra-
tion full payment of the eXorbitant
claims which the railroads are making
Sound a note of warning to railroad
employees, carrying with it a threat thai
unless they came meekly begging fol
local adjustment of conditions, imme
~diate layoffs would follow, coupled
with pressure for reduction in all wage
rates
Railroad Has Threefold Object.
"Atterbury has threefold object IL
view" said Jewell. This was
/. He has attempted to destroy the foun
dations upon which the board rests bl
making It render a decision, based entirel.
upon ex-parte evidence of one side;
He has dealt in the most barefaceC
hvDocrisy in his promise to use his influ
ence to prevent requests for wage reduc
lions when he knows that abrogation o
certain rules in the national agreement
would mean nothing less than reduction il
earning. and:
8. He has abused the courtesy OF tn