Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-18
Rail Board Accused
of Irregularities

Continued from Page Ono
went into executive session to make its
decision.
Dccketinss Held Illegal
Only five ut the fourteen cases affect
ing engineers docketod had been pre-
scntcd to the brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers. Warren =. Stone, prcsi-
dent, declared.
~ do not believe these ccrtifcations
are legal and proper" Mr.. Stone as
serted. Some roads called IN men
pcrfunctorily ON Saturday. asked them
VI they would accept n reduction and
when the employees declined. entered
their dispute by wire. These confer.
cnccs were not according to tho trans
portation net. This matter Of wages
Is vital, and before the dcstinies Of
- 900 engineers are decided. we want
all the time necessary to present their
cases.
The railroads were on hand. pre-.
pared tn proceed Immediately. Their
case was in the hands of John G.. Wal /.
ber, Of the Pennsylvania. who explained
that they had outlined their case SO
that II could be presented within the
eight hours. They emphasized the need
for immediate action, declaring that
wage increases had always been made
retroactive, but this was impossible In
the case Of reductions. Mr.. Walber
charged that ''if the employees on the
roads had been free to deal wit the
nanagements. no dispute would he be-
fore the board" This accusation
brought sharp replies from union heads
who declared they would show that all
union mcn had bcen instructed to con-
50 ,.vtt l.t
II. 4. Worthington. Of the Ctncin L.
natl. indianapolis and Western. pro-
tested against any delay in the hearing
declaring that his road was facing an
$500 monthly deficit.
Jewell Replies to Railroads
The railroads urgency brought a
lengthy reply from Mr.. jewell, who
outlined tho evidence employees will pre-.
sent against wage reductions. The cm-
ploycs, he said. would show:
That for twenty wears preceding tho
war period surplus earnings had been
absorbed by the Issue of fictitious SO.
curities or disspatcd through hnanriaI
nismanagcmcnt.
That employees and the public were
deharrcd from an equitable particlpa- e
ton In railroad earnings In the form
of wages and decreased rates.
That proper reserves had not been
set aside for depreciation or improve
ments.
That "cven under these adverse con
ditions" labor costs had been low be-
cause Of the efficiency Of railway en-.
poycs.
That employees wages had not kept
pace with thc increased cost Of living
during the war time.
That the same financial control as
before the war. dCbnrrcd from sex
plotting" the railroad properties by the
transportation act. had instituted "a
new form of exploitation Of railway
resources through contracts with equip
mcnt and supply companies.
That the productive efficiency of en-
ploycS has been grpntcr than before
tho war, but the old inadequacies of
management have been continued"
That "thc real significance of the
order to reduce wages is tho attempt
to take advantage Of temporary iu-
dustrial depression to impair the stand.
ards Of employees, add permanently to
railroad profits and create II smoke
screen to conceal their own inadequa
cics of management.
That reduction of railway wages
would be indcfCnsiblc. because tho rate
Of pay in other industries WAS not be-
low that on the railroads, cost OF living
had not really declined below tho
level on which the present wages were
fixed" and that the present rates were
not mfiri"nt to maintain un American
standard OF living.
That tho railway employc was ''ths
residual sufferer from industrial do
prcsSion.'