Evening star., 1932-01-29

In the negotiations between railroad
owners and rail unions on the subject
of wages the public has observed on
the part of both sides new tendency
to approach the subject with friendly
spirit. This is seen as new factor In
capital-labor disputes and one which
promises beneficial results. having de-
veloped from a recognition by both
parties that the good Of the railways
and the unions are interdependent.
Outstanding in the conference are
the spirit of conciliation on both sides,
and the anxiety of the labor executives
to spread the available work for the
benefit Of as many employees as pos
sible," says the Salt Lake Desert News,
and the Cincinnati TimeS-Star COM
ments There is far more reasonable
and friendly feeling than in the earlier
crisis There is general recognition OF
the obvious fact that the railroads ana
their employees are facing the same
problem II the railroads cannot earn
fixed charges. there will be receiver
ships. That will mean less employment
less wages and less safety for the men.
So there has been neither arbitrary
action nor ill-feeling on either side.
Both sides realize. perhaps" accord
ing to the Columbus (Ohio) State Jour,
nal. that their methods have exercised
a beneficent effect upon the morale OF
the Nation" AS an example OF the
new spirit" that paper states: Even
the suggestion of reduction OF wages
to railroad men was put of until the
last by the railroad owners And when
the suggestion was put, the men lSteneo
to the proposal with reasonable ear
They did not arbitrarily refuse to enter
tain it. AS a result condition Whcn
could easily have worked adversely 10
both has apparently been avoided.
offers of the railway unions to trace
10 per cent reduction IN pay for
similar increase in employment maj
Gates unselfishneSS and humanitarian
purpose" thinks the Ann Arbor Daily
News, while the New York Herald IND
uDe agrees that labor as well as man
agement understands the nature OF the
emergency" The Connellsville Daily
Courier quotes President Willard speak
ing for the railroad presidents, as eX-
pressing the view that he and MS aSSo-
ciates regarded the union program as
clear and constructive, indicating
willingness on the part of the employees
to give very earnest consideration 10 us
features"
Under proposed conditions, in the
opinion of the Lexington Leader, 1t Is
the general belief that, IN another year
or two at the most, conditions will have
changed so much for the better that,
automatically, the old wage scale would
be restored" Showing the limited ap-
plication of the current proceedings,
the South Bend Tribune points out that
they pertain only to union1zed en-
ployes,' and the Tribune observes as to
other factors: Most officials salaries
have been reduced. Carpenters, ma
chinists. boilermakers and others IN
unions not participating in the Chicago
negotiations must be dealt with sepa-
rately by the railroad operators. Nom
union employees presumably have expe-
rienced wage reductions within the last
II months. The 10 per cent reduction
involved in the Chicago conference
probably would not save the roaas more
than sl5O 100000. That would be only
per cent of the estimated railroad
operating costs in the current year"
Reviewing the history OF railroad
wages in q period of II years, the Fort
WAYNE News-Sentinel records: 1t may
be recalled that wages were increased
during Federal control OF the railroads
in World War days-48 per cent above
the level prevailing just prior TO the
institution Of Federal control. Increases
averaging % per cent were granted by
the Railroad Labor Board soon after
the roads were returned to private
management in 1920. On July l, 1921,
IN the basis of a decline in living costs,
railroad wages were reduced about IL
per cent On July !, 1922, there was a
further reduction in wages OF mainte-
nance f-way workers, shopmen, and
station and clerical employees. But IN
December, 1924, engine, train and yard
service workers obtained per cent
increase, and In 1927 and 1923 the
train service employees obtained in
creases of about per cent, which re-
stored their wages approximately to the
1o1o kSsA