The New York herald., 1921-03-13
Wages and Personnel Will
Be Trimmed, in Some
Cases as High as &c
Per Cent.
ERIE'S PLANS DELAYED
Labor Board Says Line
Violated Decision by Issu-
ing Order Without Re-
ceiving Sanction.
WORKERS PLAN A FIGHT
Labor Arranges Mass Meetings
for This Week to Decide on
Action to Be Taken in
New Circumstances.

Sweeping changes in official person
mel and revision in pay Of skilled and
unskilled workers were announced yes
terday by three Eastern railroads-the
New York Central, the Lehigh Valley
and the Erie.
In an announcement issued by the
New York Central Railroad at It's Of
fees in Elkhart Ind, the changes will
affect 4.350 men in good positions. and
will result in the abolishment Of eight
general superintendent and four other
was said. carry salary reductions
ranging from $3.50 to $4,000 yearly.
v. F. Schaff, general superintendent
from Toledo to Chicago. will go to Chi
cago to displace A. e. Lloyd, who re-
turns to Alliance, Ohio. as superin-
tendent OF the Alliance division. F. H.
Wilson, general superintendent, Buff
falo to Toledo, goes to the Cleveland
division, displacing E. Thwaites. who
IS transferred to Toledo as superin-
tendent Of the Toledo division. J. r.
Todd, Michigan division superintend-
ent. becomes assistant superintendent
OF the Erie division. e. V. Brown,
superintendent Of the Alliance division.
goes to Cleveland as assistant super
intendent.
In the notices sent along It's entire
system by the Lehigh Valley Railroad
from It's offices in Bethlehem. Pa, it
was announced that the revision In
wages of skilled labor would be effect
I've April 16. The percentage of reduc-
tion is not mentioned. but It is limited
that II viii be somewhat similar to the
reduction proposed for common labor.
Pay Reductions Are Recalled.
The Erie announcement said that tho
reductions in wages OF its unskiiled
workers. which went into effect on the
first OF this month. no longer obtain.
but that the corporation will seek to at
tain It's end by reducing It's working
forces about 80 per cent. This diminu-
tion in personnel will come to pass next
month. This IS to be done In order that
revenue and operating costs be brought
closer TO normal relationship.
This action by the Erie was prompted
By the decision of the United States
Railroad Labor Board, which ruled that
the road vas violating the cdict Of the
board BY cutting wages without first
consulting the workers affected. The
latter. Immediately appealing to the
board. were rewarded by hearing the
Erie Srebuked by the board. The rail-
"a
declared to be It's only alternative.
Late In February the Erie officials
discovered that Il cost them s1.o7 TO
make a dollar. They at once notified
their unskilled labor that a cut In pay
ranging from 4sh cents TO 30 cents an
hour had been decrced They SO ar
ranged the deductions that a dlfferen-
tial was established above the going
rate for corresponding labor In each
community touched by the railroad.
Protests by the men were overruied
and the workers appealed to the Labor
Board. The board held. In effect. that
the Erie Railroad had violated the
boards decision and instructions.
Robert Parsons. general manager FOR
the Erie. declared yesterday that the
savings affected since March / by the
reductions in pay had enabled the road
70 break about even. not considering
taxes. In other words, the road is taxi
Ing In dollar for every dollar expend-
Cd before taxes. OF course. Now the
Erie officials expect to continue to come
out even by reducing wording forces.
The only classes OF labor not to be af-
fected VIII be the four great railroad
brotherhoods. At present Erie em-
ployees. from the president OF the sys-
tenn down. arc on a pay basis of Ave
days week.
All railroad officials and labor lead
esr agreed yesterday that the announce
ment by the Erie was particularly s!g-
niflcant At present both sides (except-
Ing. OF course, the radicals, who are In
decided minority appear to be In a
conciliatory mood. On one hand are
railroad officials who say that under
the pay schedules they propose there
Will be steady worlt for all, and when
prosperity returns to It's American nor
ma.cy the railroads will be glad to talk
OF restoring losses sustained by the men.
But, they add. II the railroads can do
no business they cannot pay wages. and
It Is matter to be decided BY the men
and none others.
On the other hand. the l9hpr leaders
marine and land forcss--.are .ilcnciny
the jingoes, who already are demanding
strike instructions. These labor men
are declaring that they have faith In
me good will and fairness OF the labor
board and that neither the railroads nor
the unions can stand strike at present.
Furthermore, the railroad workers are