Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-05
RAILROAD PLEA IS
HELD UP BY BOARD
Managers Told to Agree Win
Men on Cut of Wages.
WORKERS APPEAL TO VIM sos
Officials of the Six Railway LAIN,
Unions Call on President to Hs,.
Rail Managers Claims Probes
by Congress.

Chicago Feb. Refusal t. boF.ss
the national agreements and Is
dice the wages Of railroad empovsss
by the United States labor board vss
forecast when Chairman L. II Ra-,es
declined TO receive a request 10 thar
effect, made by W. W. Atterbarv -.
the Railroad Executives association
The plan of the railroads was "a
reduce wages Of common labor ).
once and cut wages Of other EMPLOYEES
after 80 days.
Chairman Barton asked Mr.. After.
bury if it were not possible for -5a
railroad executives ana the enp,oys4s
10 get together in a spirit of belDf8l.
ness and not in antagonism and wo-s
out basis for the board to act upoa.
Mr.. Atterbury declared that the s.,.
uation is so acute and there is sBaa
radical difference of opinion be.
tween the two sides that such con.
ference would not bring any relief
Basis Of Wage Relief.
Chairman Barton said that when tie
board made its wage award The IA.
tional agreements We're the basis upon
which the award was made.
He again declared that the two par.
ties should first get together and worz
earnestly for mutual solution. Fiua..
ly he declined TO receive the request
Of the railroads and said that for.
NAL decision whether or not to receive
1t would be made after an executive
session Of the board.
Mr.. Atterbury was given hearing
at the opening OF the days session u
the board, and he made a formal plea
that the present hearing on working
conditions be discontinued, that tie
national agreements be abolished q;
once, and that a basis be given for
an ultimate reduction in wages
Henry Hunt, representing the pub
lie on the railway labor board. &C.
clared when Mr.. Atterbury finished:
The transportation act requires s
conference should be held on any sub
ject likely to interrupt service.
think you should take up in confer
ence with the employees the coud5-
tions you have presented here be
said.
A. o. Wharton. labor member Of tie
labor board, demanded that Mr. Alter
bury put on record the Names Of the
railroads that were behind him and
state upon what authority he acted in
asking for the annulment Of the M
tional agreements.
Opposes Wage Reductions.
Violent opposition % wage reduc-
tons on the part of railroad workers,
who are expected TO take a firm stand
against giving up any privileges gained
during federal control was voiced By
]. c. Luhrsen, president OF the AMER
ican Train Dispatchers' association.
He advocates national control Of all
railroads in a statement Issued after
Nr. Atterbury's presentation.
"A single ownership in some form
and unified operation Of all United
States carriers" he declared, is tie
only logical outcome of the tranSpor-
tation problems of America.
The employees of the railroads q
America viii not submit to bearing tie
burden which the carriers seek to IN
| pose On them.
THE great effort now being made
to reduce operating expenses is all c--
rected against the workers. Tie whole
American railway system is exuava-
gantly operated and the public s
asked to pay the bill"
L. N. Jewell, president Of the rai.-
road employees department Of lie
American Federation Of Labor So.
| a telegram TO President Wilson. caa7s-
ing that General Atterbury had ~.
| only violated all decent proprety %
his ultiIaatum TO the labor board but
had disregarded the uaHsporraz.eA
laws and Aouted existing agencies
such as tie interstate commerce CON-
mission, which have been created *
pressly by congress 10 deal Wild ~
financial requirements and propsr a2-
GRAFTON of the railroads.
lie called upon the President e IF Y
the railroad executives place Their 81
idence Of inability to operate the ran
/ roads before the interstate CONNER =
! commission. If it IS found TO he Tue
he asked the President TO refer IL
matter TO congress.
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