Evening star., 1932-08-31
BACK 20 PER CENT CUT.

BACK 20 PER CENT CUT.
Executives Unitedly Behind Slashes in
Wages for 1888.
NEW YORK, August 31.-The rail-
roads of the Nation are preparing Tor
early and concerted action under the
terms of the railway labor act to force
acceptance by more than 100000 en-
ployes of a 20 per cent reduction In
the existing basic wage scale, the
Herald Tribune said today. This would
be twice the reduction in pay that rail-
labor accepted this year. AS soon as
formal notices of the proposals are
posted the labor brotherhoods will be
asked to agree to one all-lncluslve
arbitration conference, the Herald
Tribunt added.
Representatives Of the railroad man
agements in all sections Of the country
would meet next week in Chicago for
preliminary action. it was announced
yesterday at meeting OF the eastern
presidents conference, which mcludeS
executives of the leading systems in this
territory.
SpcCldl TuCCd1lS Duc'
A formal decision to seek the reduc-
ton under the terms of the labor act
will be concurred in by the roads at a
special meeting to be held soon. This
means that conciliatory efforts Of some
of the more conservative arrangements
have been unofhcially voted down by a
majority Of the executives, a minority
having favored limitation of present
wage discussions to means of renewing
the February agreement
Under this agreement all organized
railroad employees pledged themselves
to accept voluntarily 10 per cent re-
ductions in wages for the year ending
January 81. 1888 Although this con-
tract has five months more to run. the
arrangements wish to insure settle
ment of the wage problem in advance
of the expiration date.
BY proceeding under the railway
labor act it is assumed that the roads
will not endeavor to renew the FeDru-
ary agreement. Instead they will place
all their eggs in one basket, banking
on winning legally 20 per cent reduc-
ton. The difference between this fig
ure and the reduction now in force is
10 per cent, and it is entirely possible
that compromise may be reached OF
one-hah this percentage.
Chance to Save Time.
If the unions agree to pool all their
members interests at one arbitration
proceeding, many months will be saved
in arriving at a settlement. 1t is
pointed out here that acceptance of
such a proposal by the Railway Labor
Executives Association would be a
means for the union chiefs to absolve
themselves from all the customary
charges, attendant on such cases, OF
politics and procrastination. o ne un-
confirmed report has it that the labor
executives already have agreed to such
O procedure.
Under the provisions of the railway
labor act, the following are the stages
of action which may ensue in arriving
at settlement:
/. Notice of the wage reductions
sought must be posted by the manage
ments for at least 80 days.
2. At the expiration of this limit,
Joint conferences between agents OF
both sides may be reSorted to IN an
effort to arrive at an amicable solution.
If this fails
8. A board Of mediation may be con-
vened of impartial judges which will en-
deavor to present a solution agreeable
to both sides. Thirty Gays after con-
Ol IIltlI ClICllS lIllo 4oIl1i.S
4. Arbitration may De requested by
one group and, if agreed to by the
other, the judgments OF the arbltrators
are considered legally binding.
s. Should arbitration be avoided. ar
emergency beard may be created by the
President of the United States to dea
with the problem There is no lega
compulsion on either Size to accept the
findings of such board, but
g. The findings of the emergency
board are considered effective in ce'
menting public opinion in favor OF ont
side or the other. 1t beng the Theory
that public pressure would force accept
ance of the boards decision. II thl
fails, the workers are at liberty t
strike, although both sides are pre-
vented from moving until an interim
of 80 days elapses after the finding
of the emergency board have been re
ported to the President.
Committee Retained.
The Eastern presidents conferenc
yesterday authorized committee
which was appointed at a meeting tw
weeks ago, to continue in Office for tn
purpose If arranging details of tn
proposed action in conjunction Wit
representatives of the Western ASso
citation of Railway Executives and tn
Southeastern presidents conference
The Eastern committee consists Q
John G. Walber vice president i
charge of personnel of the New Yor
Central; c. w. Galloway, vice preSi
dent in charge of operation of tn
Baltimore & Ohio. and H. A. Enoch'
acting chief of personnel Of the Penn
sylvania.
A formal statement made by F. "
Ieamy. secretary of the conference. 8
the conclusion of yesterdays meetin
at the Bankers Club follows
AT a meeting of the Eastern pres
dents conference today a committe
was appointed to cooperate with CON
mittees from the Western and South
western regions in giving considerable
to the matter Of railway wages for tn
period following February l, 1888. O
which date the present agreement e,
pires."
The chairman of this conference
Jeonor F. Loree. president OF the Dels
ware & Hudson, whose company ms
be the only major one not partic
pating in the forthcoming wage battl
The reason for this is that Mr.. Lore
has negotiated an original agreemel
with workers on his road, which HI
been approved by the labor union
that guarantees a minimum workir
day to the employees, but neverthele
achieves substantial economies for Il
company The D. & H. was not
party to the February agreement.
Reaches Low Mark.
Railroad employment today is at
record low for the last 20 years, recel
figures Inf the Interstate ComYNer'