Evening star., 1922-06-09
Clerks, FreighthandIers and
SignaImen Included in
Reduction.
TELEGRAPHERS REMAIN
UNAFFECTED AT PRESENT
Many Problems Pertaining to Case
Of Key Men Will Require
Much Study.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June 9.-Railway teleg-
raphers probably will not be included
In the third wage reduction order of
the Railroad Labor Board. according
to rumors today of the contemplated
new slash from railroad pay rolls
The telegraphers number approx
mately $1,000. So many local condi-
tions on various lines have to be con-
sidered that delibeIstion of an order
affecting the telegraphers would nee
essarily consume weeks, 1t was said
New wage cuts to follow the $11O,-
100000 already Topped off the pay
checks of 100000 lnaintenance-of-way
employees and 100000 shopmen will
affect $4,000 railroad clerks, signal
men. stationary fremen. oilers and
marine department employees. accord
ing to reports.
Chief among the groups are 100000
clerks, $4,000 men in the signal de-
partment and $4,000 freight handlers
and truckers.
Cut to BE Less.
Although board members made no
direct statement regarding the next
cut, rumors were persistent In pre-
dieting a smaller reduction for the
clerical forces than those affecting
the shopmen. The reason for this
was said to lie in the fact that the
clerks did not receive increases pro
portionately as great as other groups
Of employees when the wage scale was
going up.
Outside the boardrooms railroad
gossip centered largely around the
possibility of strikes as a result of
the wage cuts. With the telegraph
ers remaining at their keys. it was
predicted in some quarters that the
likelihood of strike would be les
sened. Even in the event of a strike
, Of shopmen and maintenance-of-wa
employees, some railroad experts con-
tended that the roads could remain in
operation for a considerable time If
the telegfspRers and trSinmen did
not Join a walkout.
Railroad officfaIs continued to doubt
the probability Of 3 strike. Even IL
the referendum which started Tues
day should favor a>tstrike some rail
officials doubted whether union lead
ers would urge an aSual walkout
next month. The general employment
situation, they said, may nave some
effect on the strike plans.
Deny Rail Heads Statement,
Delegates of Chicago and North
western local board No. /, represent
ing all crafts. issued a declaration
that railroad executives are wrong In
saying that employees have adjusted
themselves to wage cuts.
Their statement said:
Amy action taken by the railway
department resisting the announced
cut will be backed up by the en-
ployes. Without a doubt this Is the
sentiment that prevails among the
crafts in general on all roads. AS to
the statement of railway officials that
homes and surroundings Of railroad
employees were better than any other
class of working men. IL this be true,
we have got to hand II to such en-
ployes and their families to do this
under conditions accorded them by
the roads in the last two years. In
the last year on this road. the Chicago
and Northwestern. the average time
was thirty-two hours per week. Fig
ure this out for yourself. Mechanics
wages at this time at ~ and a cents
per hour. Can anybody live on these
wages and raise a familyy'