Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-29
Southern Road Officers From
President Down Accept
Slice Voluntarily.
HOOVER INVITES PAYNE
TO RELIEF CONFERENCE
Railway Labor Union Heads De-
plore Pay Fight Injection
Into Rate Increase.

Of6cial Washington withheld COM
ment today on the Governments cam
paign to maintain wage scales through
out the country, resting on its state
naent Of yesterday that there had been
no change in policy.
No statement was Forthcoming from
any source as to effects anticipated
from the action Of the United States
Steel Corporation yesterday in cutting
common stock dividends and at the
same time recommending an adjust
ment" in salaries.
Payne and Hoover Confer.
The days developments in Washing
ton were confined to a conference at
the White House between the President
and John Barton Payne of the Amer
lean Red Cross. over unemployment
problems next Winter; an announce
ment from the Southern Railway that
its objects had agreed to reduce their
salaries, but that wage earners would
not be affected. and the closing ses-
sion OF the heads of the railway
labor unions who, late yesterday, went
on record against any wage cut and
deprecated the injunction of the rail
wage issue into the freight rate hear
ing before the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The action Of the Southern officials
In taking a voluntary reduction in
salary IN an effort to afford as much
relief as possible to the system, which
in common with others throughout the
country is faced with steadily declining
revenue, was made known at the gen.
eral ofices of the Southern.
tribution to the general economies which
the Southern is seeking to effect in
view OF the present situation.
Wage Cuts Not Planned.
In connection with this move the
management Of the Southern author
lied the following statement:
This company does not contemplate
any movement for the reduction Of
wage scales covered by contracts with
organized labor at this time. The press
story to that effect doubtless had its
origin In recent voluntary reduction
Of salaries by officers of which no pub
licity was intended"
In voluntarily taking the salary re-
duction. the Southern officers were said
to be following out a line of economy
that has included furloughing and
dismissal Of workers, reduction in the
dividend on common stock of the road.
and recently, an agreement with the
shop crafts for the Inauguration of the
flve-day work week. This last-named
plan was adopted in lieu of further
personnel cuts.
Officials Accept Burden.
Ofdcials, it was understood. felt that
1t was UP to them to take their share
Of the burden.
The number Of officials who would be
involved and the saving that would be
erected was not made known.
The reference to general cut had to
GO with story published this morning.
Inc 1act the road contemplated no
movement for cutting the pay of crgan-
lied labor. 1t was understood. would act
as a barrier to reductions of any class
There will be few dismissals necessi-
Cateo at some terminals. 1t Is understood.
under reorganization Of some trans
portation Offices
At the White House it was under
STOOD that the President was turning
MS attention to the unemployment sit
uatlon which. according to his advices,
gives no indication of immediate i'm
provement, the idea being to bring
ABOUT better cooperation of all the
various agencies throughout the coun-
Try engaged In extending relief and
charity to cope with the situation dur
ing the coming Winter.
In his study of the unemployment
problem the President has fnaueurated
series of conferences, the first being
Yesterday with F. c. Croxton, acting
chairman of the Presidents Unemplov.
menC commission, and the one TODAY
with Chairman Payne Of the Red Cross.
Situation Not Alarming.
Mr.. Payne, who had been summoned
TO the White House for this discussion
said afterwarG' that while the situa.
ton is serious, he would not consider
It as alarming. He added. however.
that there was nothing now to cause
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