Evening star., 1932-09-23
RAIL LABOR HEADS
| END SESSION HERE
Leaders Appeal to President
to Aid Refusal of New
Wage Cut.

On record with a militant policy in
opposition to the 20 per cent wage cut
| proposed by the carriers. the heads Of
| organized railway labor today had con-
! cluded their three-day session here
which was climaxed yesterday with a
direct appeal to the White House to
cut off the credit the railroads have
| been receiving through the Reconstruc-
| tion Finance Corporation if they per-
Sist in their efforts to reduce pay.
Meanwhile, in New York, the Times
stated today that meeting of rail-
road presidents would be held there
| October to outline policy in the
| move for 20 per cent wage reduction
in the light of the unions refusal to
negotiate on the subject.
The posting of notices for the wage
cut will be postponed until then, it
| was said.
Appeal to President.
| Representing some 100000 workers
in q unions, the leaders who make up
the Railway Labor Executives Associa-
| ton, took their cause to the President
| yesterday.
Visioning a turn for the better in gen.
eral economic conditions, the labor men,
in a statement read by their chairman
| A ".
reduce wages, thereby further reducing
purchasing power, will retard the forces
| of recovery"
I'VE desire to suggest" the statement
| said, that when the Government Is
called upon to lend public money TO
| the railroads, the Government can at
| the same time properly insist that the
railroads shall refrain from starting or
| from joining in any suicidal program
to reduce wages and to curtaI services
and thereby to nullify the efforts OF the
| Government to promote economic
| recovery"
Further, the labor leaders said:
1--WE submit that II the public credit
| can be properly devoted to the protec-
! ton of private investments in public
service enterprise. IN order that its
service to the public may not be i'm
paired, then the same protection should
be extended to the human beings whose
labor is essential to the public service,
for the same reason, and for the addi-
tional reason that the very existence
of Government depends upon preserv-
ing for its citizenship ample oppor-
tunities to earn a livelihood"
Agreement Ends January 81.
The labor leaders did not indicate
what the Presidents reaction was.
A 10 per cent wage cut agreement
expires January 81, and Wednesday the
unions rejected overtures from repre-
sentatives of the carriers for conversa-
tionS looking toward renewal Of the
pact, with the cut doubled. The work.
ers said the previous cut had given
! them no aid at all in spreading en-
ployment
Under existing conditions the carriers
may within the next few weeks seek
an adjustment through the Federal
Board of Mediation This would be
the first time in the half dozen years
has been invoked on a Nationwide
scale affecting all classes of workers.
Where mediation fails and arbitra-
! ton is not resorted to the President Is
empowered to form an emergency
board to go into the matter.
Decision Is Binding.
This board makes its report within
80 days, and for like time thereafter.
both parties to the controversy are OBJ
ligated to maintain the status quo ex-
cept by mutual agreement. This is de-
signed as cooling off" period
Arbitration can be only by mutual
consent, and the result Is made bind
Ing Dy law, the decision reaCned Delng
entered as Federal court order.
The railway situation was expected
today to receive the attention Of the
board of directors of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States.
The labor leaders yesterday added
another name to the list of senatorial
candidates whom they. indorsed while
here. Senator Steiwer, Republican. of
Oregon, who seeks reelection, getting
their support. Candidates favorable to
the labor cause are backed, irrespec-
tive of party.