The Clio messenger., 1922-06-15
Wages of Rail Employees Are Re-
duced by Board and Big
Strike May Result.
HOOVER SETS COAL PRICES
Germany Yields to Allied Ultimatum
and international Bankers Plan Rep
aratlon Payments and Loans
War Fraud investigation 6egins-
British Warn Ireland.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

a MOTHER great strike Is threat
4 ened this time of the railroad
workers whose wages have been or
are to be reduced by the United
States railway labor board. Already
the board has made public one deci-
sion cutting nearly S50,000,000 from
the annual wages of the maintenance
of way men. and before this reaches
the reader is almost certain another
decision will have been published
slashing between $50,0O0,000 and $75,-
100000 from the yearly pay of the
shOpmen. Either ruling is sufficient
TO bring on walkOut If the men re-
main in their present state of mind,
and still others may follow soon.
The first decision announced orders
n reduction of 1872 per cent in the
prevailing pay of maintenance of way
men, effective July 1. 1t affects about
100000 workers, and their new wages
vii range from % to 80 cents an hour.
1t was signed by the three public
members and the three railway men,
bers of the board. The three labor
.mcmbers signed a dissenting opinion,
holding that .the new pay does not
constitute the "just and reasonable"
wages guaranteed under the transpor-
tation act, and that in fact IL does not
represent living wage. The major
ty report, however, points out that
common labor on railways, even after
the reduction, will be better paid than
similar labor in most other industries.
Edward III. Fitzgerald, president of
the railway clerks organization took
the lead in planning for the prospec-
tive strike. inviting sixteen chiefs Of
rail unions TO meet this week in Gin
clnnati. He was forestalling an eX-
pected decision by the federal board
cutting the pay Of the clerks, telegra-
pliers and other smaller classes. There
is a possibility that this conference
will result in q defensive alliance be-
tween the railway workers and the
miners. Such a compact really was
formed several months ago, but failed
to provide for aggressive action un-
less each step was approved by refer
endums Of the various organizations
involved. This lack may be supplied
at the Cincinnati meeting.
The six federated shop crafts are
concerned not only In wage reduction.
They accuse twenty-five roads OF vio-
lating the transportation act by let
ting out shop work to contractors not
within the boards jurisdiction, and
their president. B. VI. Jewell, has de
manded that the board assume jurls-
dlction In these cases and compel the
railroads 10 restore conditions In ef-
feet previous 70 the alleged violations.
He said that unless this were done
strike ballots would be sent out, re-
gardless Of the wage issue. The board
already has shown that II sympathiZes
with the attitude of the shopmen In
this matter.
Wages of train service men are not
involved In the present and immedi-
ately prospective rulings of the labor
board.
IJNOFFICIALLY but authoritatively
" II Is announced that the govern
ment is taking no action to end the
strike Of coal miners and that IL does
not took for any decisive turn In af-
fairs before the middle Of June or the
first Of July, when the shortage In
coal may begin TO be felt. Secretary
OF Commerce Hoover. however, does
not propose that the consumer shall
suffer unjustly II he can prevent IL.
He held a conference last week with
the representatives of more than 800
producers OF bitumlnous coal whose
mines are in operation In the non
union fields. and told them TINT he