Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-16

Railroad wages are declared to re-
quire attention, now that the Interstate
Commerce Commission has made its
ruling on the subject of freight rates,
and the method of reaching decision
Is debated. The fact that the New
York Central lines have entered into
negotiations with the unions, Is not
considered evidence that other roads
will follow suit.
Restrictions on free action in rela-
ticn to wages are pointed out by the
Newark Evening News, which advises:
THE hard-pressed railroads and their
dwindling operating forces are engaged
in an effort to work out the problems
of wages and unemployment. Tney
should have free hand in the attempt,
success in which requires concessions
on both rides. Banking pressure not
only is net called for at this moment,
delay q solution important for the
country as a whole. More harm tnan
good can be done by such suggestions
as that Of the investment bankers con-
vention, which apparently assumes tnaI
the roads can impose the proposed III
ner cent wage cut without regard LOT
the fact that Federal law and long
practice makes the process OF sucn re-
visions in the railroad field one OF nego-
tiation. Patience Is the best pohcy ior
others than the parties directly az IN
terest where so much is at stake"
"There is no question" thinks the
Charlotte Observer, that the voluntary
acceutance by the railroad brothernooo
of a cut of 10 per cent in wages woulo
nrove an immense contributor TO tne
plans for restoring prosperity; Inc
New York Central Railroad is mVlting
a round table conference with repre-
sentatives of the brotherhoods; WIN
view of bringing about voluntary ac-
cantance of the cut. Meantime the
RaiIway Labor Executive Committee
has invited q Joint conference with the
railroad executives for the purpose OF
discussing this question of reductlon IN
wages and sterilization OF employment
in the railroad industry. 1t seems tnat
onportunty is now at hand for the ran
road arrangements and the brotner-
hoods to get together on mutually ao-
vantageous plans, and If this is done
about the longest step in the dlrectlon
of advancing prosperity VIII nave ,i pen
to come from the Railroad Round
Table, The railroad executives should
do their part, and manfully, at that"
"There is plenty of evidence" &C
cording to the Chicago Daily News,
Chat the brotherhoods as well as the
railroad executives and directors ap-
proach the interdependent questions OF
wages and freight rates with commend
able prudence" That paper also COM
ments: "The commission, instead OF
granting the application for a fiat In
crease of Is per cent in freight rates,
proposed varying increases OF speclfled
rates. These, it was estimated, would
increase railroad earnings about $780,
OOO. 600 annually, the additional revenue
to be pooled for the relief OF carriers
actually unable to meet their maturing
obligations. That condition, although
not agreeable to all the railroads, APP
parently will be accepted, provided the
commission will substitute loans from
the pool for gifts to the weaker roads.
The objection to doles. the strong rail-
roads claim, is as legitimate in trans
portation relief as in any other field.
when that comparatively minor diff
ference of opinion Is adjusted, as it
will be, in the judgment Of representa-
tive railroad executives, the expediency
and wisdom of wage readjgstments,
either under the terms Of the trans
portation law or by negotiation, may
be taken up for consideration in the
light of general economic conditions
and prospects"
knowledge of the desire of railroad
executives to reduce wages Is seen by
the Wall Street Journal to have re-
suited among the employees in proposals
of schemes Of employment stabiliza-
ton and extension Of pension systems"
- be put forward u conference OF