THE BEE: OMAHA. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1921.
Railroad Wages
Cut 12 Per Cent
By Labor Board
'Annual Saving to Roads f Es
timated at $100,000,000
31 Labor Organizations
On 104 Lines Affected.
(Continued From race One.)
the second six months. Clerks with
less than one year's experience, now
receive $120.
A new monthly schedule for float
ing equipment employes on ferries,
tugs and steam lighters gives cap
tains $200, engineers $190, firemen
and oilers $140 per month. On light
ers and barges, captains will receive
$120 to $150, engineers $140 to $10U
tnd mates $100.
Unions' Attitude Uncertain.
The attitude of the railway unions
toward the decreases ordered re
mains to be determined. The big
brotherhoods are expected to meet
here July 1, to consider the board's
decision.
Claiming they were hard hit by the
winter slumo in business, railroad
managements have been clamoring
tor lower wages and the decision will
mark the first relief granted by the
board since it set the advanced wage
scale more than 10 months ago.
The decision tomorrow will say
that since the 1920 wage award, there
has been a decrease in the cost of
living and ''the scale of wages for
similar kinds of work in other in
dustries has in general, been de
creased." These two points were the
chief contention of the railroads.
Testimony was offered in the hearing
which began April 18 and ended May
16, to show reduction of 20 to SO per
cent in the cost of living. Varying
reductions in wages, mostly for com
mon labor, were also cited by the
carriers. "The board believes," the
decision says, "that based on the ele
ments shown the decreases fixed are
justified and required."
Drive Started in February.
The campaign for lower wages
was begun in February, when Brig.
Gen. W. W. Atte.rbury, vice presi
dent of the Pennsylvania lines, first
demanded the right to hire unskilled
labor at the rate prevailing in each
road's territory. General Atterbury
brought his demand to the board
during the hearing on rules and
working conditions, which the board
has not yet disposed of. At the
same time he demanded immediate
abrogation of the national ship
crafts agreements, which, he de
clared, would further reduce the
railroads' labor bill by $300,000,000.
The board, however, took no ac
tion on the demands at that time
and it was not until the following
month that distinct wage cases came
to the board's attention. The Erie
railroad and the New York Central
lines then took steps toward a re
duction by presenting the matter to
their employes. No agreement was
reached, however, and the disputes
finally reached the labor board.
Provisions of the transportation
act of 1920 require that before any
dispute is referred to the labor
board, both employes and employer
shall have made a sincere effort to
effect a settlement. In case no
agreement can be reached, the case
may be referred to the board by
one or both parties. The board then
summons the disputants and holds
a hearing at which both sides are
given opportunity to present their
arguments.
Reductions Denied.
Following their hearings, the
Erie, which had already put a re
duction in force, was ordered by the
board to restore the former rates
and the New York Central was de
nied permission to make an immedi
ate reduction, pending a hearing of
the merits of the dispute. Defeat
of the efforts of both road9 to cut
wages was jthen the signal for a del
uge of cases which began to pour
into the board's offices. Realizing
the futility of attempting a separate
hearing on each dispute, the board
combined all the cases for the hear
ing which resulted in today's de
cision. '
After only one day's deliberation,
the board made public, a resolution
on May 17, stating that prevailing
conditions justified a readjustment
downward and that a new wage or
der would be issued on or about
June 1, to be effective July 1. The
decision, however, is not as com
prehensive as that which granted
the $600,000,000 wage increase to
railway workers on July 20, 1920.
Reductions under today's decision
will be effective only for the classes
of employes named by the railroads
which filed disputes prior to April
18 and which appeared in the hear
ing beginning on that date. The
increase last year affected all so
called class I roads, including
nearly 200 of the larger rail sys
tems of the country.
List pf Roads Affected.
The following are the 104 roads
Sffected:
St Louis-San Francisco; Chicago
Great Western; Denver & Salt Lake;
Boston & Albany; Boston Terminal;
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie; Lake Erie
& Eastern; Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western; Lehigh Valley; Rutland;
Gulf Coast Lines, Houston Belt &
Terminal; Buffalo, Rochester &
Pittsburgh; Toledo & Ohio Central;
Zanesville & Western; Kanawha &
Michigan; Kanawha & West Vir
ginia; Staten Island Rapid Transit;
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Gulf,
Colorado & Santa Fe; Beaumont,
Wharf & Terminal; Ann Arbor;
New York, New Haven & Hartford;
Central New England; Erie and sub
sidiaries; Central Union Depot &
Railway of Cincinnati; Lehigh &
New "England; Chicago & North
Western; Indiana Harbor Belt; New
York Central; Maine Central; Port
land Terminal; Cleveland, Cincin
nati, Chicago & St. Louis and sub
sidiaries; Chicago, Peoria & St.
Louis; Southern Pacific company;
South Pacific lines in Texas and
Louisiana; Grand Trunk; Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy; Illinois Cen
tral and subsidiaries; Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific; Chicago, Rock Is
land & Gulf; Central Railroad of
New Jersey; Cincinnati, Indianapolis
ft Western; Boston & Maine; New
York, Ontario & Western; Chicago,
Indianapolis & Louisville; Texas
Midland; Detroit Terminal; Monon
gahela: Great Northern; Buffalo &
Susquehanna; Philadelphia & Read
ink and subsidiaries: Norfolk &
Western; Northern Pacific jAMiiinc-
Princess Mary May
Wed Serbian Rulei
Harding Plans
Early Relief
For Railroads
Immediate Payment of Com
pensation and Funding of
Debts to Government
Considered. '
Princess Mary, the only daughter
of the king and queen of England,
is, according to current rumors, en
gaged again. This time, so the re
ports go, it is a "really truly en
gagement" to Prince Alexander,
regent of Serbia. Dame Rumor has
even gone so far in this case as to
say that the wedding will take place
in August. The princess has been
reported engaged many times.
Princess Mary was born April 25,
1897, and christened Princess Vic
toria Alexandra Alice Mary. She is
an accomplished musician and
equestrienne, very popular with the
British people and considered the
highest type of English beauty.
Prince Alexander, who is now regent
of Serbia, was born in 1883. He
became regent of Serbia m 1919.
apolis & St. Louis; Michigan Cen
tral; Nashville, Chattanooga & St
Louis; Bangor & Aroostock; Union
Pacific; St. Joseph & Grand Island;
Oregon Short Line; Oregon-Wash
ington Railroad & Navigation Com
pany; Hocking Vallev; Pittsburgh &
West Virginia West bide Belt; Min
neapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie;
Duluth South bhore; Mineral Kange;
Minnesota & International; Big
Fork & International Falls; Chicago
& Eastern Illinois: Chicago. Mil
waukee & St. Paul: Wabash: Mo,
Kansas & Texas; Wichita tails &
Northwestern: Missouri, Kansas &
Texas; Texas; Belt Railway of Chi
cago: Baltimore & Ohio Chicago
Terminal; B. & O.; Baltimore, Ches
apeake & Atlantic; Maryland, Dela
ware & Virginia: Lentral Vermont;
Chesapeake & Ohio; Chicago &
Western Indiana: Chicasro Junction
railway; Denver & Rio Grande; El
Paso & Southwestern: fort Worth
& Denver Citv: Wichita Valley; In
ternational & Great Northern; In-
dianaoolis Union: Kansas City Ter
minal; Kansas City Southern; Los
Angeles & Salt Lake; Lake Erie
A .11 . . TIT. t'. ;
OS western; rort vv dyne, v,mi.iuiiaii
& Louisville; Long Island; Louis
ville & Nashville; Missouri Pacific;
Northwestern, Pacific; Pennsylvania
lines; Pere Marquette"; Tennessee
Central; Western Maryland; West
ern Pacific. i
Relatives Fail to
Break Will Leaving
Estate to Friends
Villisca, la., May 3''. (Special.)
It required but 20 minutes for a. jury
in district court at Red, Oak to de
cide that David Whitmyer of Vilisca
was 'ol sound mind when he made a
will giving the bulk of his $100,00
estate to a business associate, cut
ting off his relatives with a paltry
$12,000.
The case was on trial before Judge
Woodruff for nine days and nearly
100 witnesses were examined.- The
will was contested by nine nephews
and nieces of Whitmyer. .
The will gave the major part of
the big estate to Frank Pierson, a
business associate of Whitmyer. Mr.
and Mrs. J. R. McMann and their
daughter were bequeathed $2,000
each' and Mrs. Gaskill, another friend
of Whitmyer, was given his home.
.None of these beneficiaries are rela
tives of Whitmyer.
Baby Alligator Is
Worn for a Brooch
Mrs. Franklin Hobbs of San
Francisco, photographed while
"wearing" her baby alligator pet.
Mrs. Hobbs, who formerly lived in
Boston, obtained the baby alligator
while touring the south by motor.
The little 'gator steeps in the pock
ets of Mrs. Hobbs' coat and at
night is turned loose iu the bathtub.
By ARTHUR SF.ARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune-Omaha B Leaied Wire.
Washington. May 31. To relieve
the financial plight of the railroads
as a vital step in reviving business,
President Harding is considering the
adoption of the forefollowing policy
of government assistance:
1. Immediate payment to the rail
roads of $400,000,000 due in compen
sation from the period of govern
ment operation and payment as fast
as adjusted, of the railroad under
maintenance and other claims, the
total remaining amount which the
government is obligated to pay the
railroads under these heads being es
timated at $1,800,000,000.
2. Funding of the railroads' $800,
000,000 debt to the government for
capital expenditures into 15-year, 6
per cent obligations.
Under the present system of settle.
ment the government is deducting
from the amounts it owes the rail
roads, the amounts the railroads
owes the government. Under the
policy the president is considering,
the government would proceed to
pay what it owes carriers and give
them 15 years to pay their debt to
the government.
Discussed by Cabinet.
The proposal was discussed at the
cabinet meeting today and later at
luncheon to which the president in
vited Senator Cummins, chairman of
the senate committee on interstate
commerce, and James C. Davis, di
rector general of railroads. Senator
Cummins approved the plan the
president is considering, but took
issue with President Harding's belief
that freight rates should be reduced
immediately. ,
Senator Cummins said the govern
ment acknowledges $900,000,000 of
the railroads claims and pointed
out that President Harding had au
thority to order the payment of this
amount. He expects one of the
principal railroads to institute suit
in the court of claims at an early
date for settlement of its claims,
which will form the basis of the
settlement of all the claims.
"Every one agrees," said Senator
Cummins, "that the railroads must
be kept running.
Opposed to Rate Reductions.
"It is all very well to talk of rate
reductions. But rates cannot be re
duced at this time. They cannot be
reduced until the cost of operation
comes down. There are some 'hope
ful signs in that direction, but when
we propose to cut rates, we must be
prepared to face a deficit of
$600,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, which
the government would have to pay
under present conditions. We don't
want to force the roads back into
government operation because they
probably would cost the govern
ment from $1,000,000,000 to $2,000,
000,000 annually."
Samuel Rea, president of the
Pennsylvania, told the senate com
mittee that the question of the
financing of the remainder of the
$1,200,000,000 capital expenditures
by the government is vital to the
roads at this time.
Transcontinental railroad freight
rates are being altered to meet ocean
competition between the Atlantic and
the Pacific via the Panamal canal,
Edward Chambers, vice president of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe,
told the committee.
Competitive Basis.
"We shall fix the rates from San
Francisco to New York to meet the
water, carriers," Mr. Chambers said,
"and then modify the interior rate
structure so that Kansas City, Chi
cago and Cincinnati for instance,
will get the same rate as that to
New York and producers in all
points will be placed on a competitive
basis.
Mr. Chambers discussed Panama
canal competition, declaring that
the water rates should be regulated.
"Reasonable rates should be fixed,
Mr. Chambers said. "The public
will be better served. Between the
ports of the United States, the water
carriers should be under the jurisdic
tion of the Interstate Commerce
commission and the rates should be
high enough to allow the Panama
canal to pay interest on the costs
of construction."
Repeal of the provisions of the
transportation act, which declare
that rail freight rates shall be fixed
to provide adequate return to the
roads on their actual valuation, is
provided in a bill being drafted by
Representative Sweet of Iowa, re-
oublican, member of the house inter
state and foreign commerce com
mittee.
Memorial Services Held
By Legion at Stanton
Stanton, Neb.. May 31. (Special.)
Memorial services here, in charge
of the American Legion, were held
on the court house lawn with the
G. A. R. and Spanish-American vet
erans as honored guests.
George A. Eberly was the orator
of the day. The regular memorial
services were held at the Stanton
cemetery.
Bluffs Youth Catches
8 34-Pound Fish at Lake
Walter Gray, 15, 1722 Sixth Av
enue, Council Bluffs, has made the
largest catch at Lake Manawa so
far this season. He landed a chan
nel catfish weighing 83-4 pounds
It measured two feet and four
inches in length. The combined
strength of both Gray and a young
campanion was required to haul in
the big fish.
Chautauqua Dates Set
Upland, Neb., May 31. (Special.)
The Upland chautauqua will be
held June 22 to 26. A very strong
program has been arranged. The
local committee in charge consists
of August Imhof, chairman; R.
Lohr, E. Arnold, Dr. N. -T. John
ston and Fred Mason.
Salesman Killed by Girl
Texarkana, Ark., May 31. Claude
A. Dunigan, 30, a salesman, ,4kst
night was shot and killed by a' 14-year-old
girl who, according to po
lice, said she fired at Dunigan when
he appeared .t her bedroom window.
Memorial Services
Are Held at Minden
Mindcn, Neb., May 31. (Spe
cial.) Memorial day was observed
in Minden with services conducted
by Strong post, No. 91, of the G.
A. R., assisted by women of Strong
circle, No. 4, Ladies of the G. A.
R. and members of the local post
of the American Legion.
The first part of the services was
conducted at the Minden auditori
um, in charge of the G. A. R. poost.
The principal address of the after
noon was given by Rev. Irwin John
son of the Swedish Evangclilcal
church of Holdrege.
The next service was held at the
memorial plot of the west end of
the court house grounds, where a
plot of ground has been fenced off
and dedicated to the memory of the
10 Kearney county boys who lost
their lives in the World war. A
tree has been planted as a living
monument to each of the boys.
Final services were held before
the monument to the unknown dead
of the Civil war, at the south end
of Minden ccnicterv.
4,000 Pay Tribute to
Vets at Blue Springs
Blue Springs, Ncb May 31.-
(Special.) Nearly 4,000 people
gathered in the cemetery here on
Memorial day to pay tribute to" sol
diers and sailors of this country.
Over 500 automobiles lined the road
on which marched soldiers of the
Civil war, Woomen's Relief corps,
American Legion, Spanish-American
War Veterans, women's auxiliary ot
the American Legion and Daughters
of the American Revolution.
H. K. Sackett of Beatrice was or
ator of the day.
Boy Scouts, under the direction
of Scoutmaster Roy M. Smith, had
gathered great quantities of ever
green branches and these were rev
erently laid on the base of the mon
ument as the procession passed
slowly around it.
Military Funeral Held at
Stanton for Overseas Vet
Stanton, Neb., May 31. (Special.)
Stanton post of the American Le
gion had charge of the military l
l r l ?.'-.. .t. n .1 t...
iiciiii lor x" i vii rrdiiK ui-n, wnouii-1
T 1 1 f ...... -,
in the service. At the remetery
Rev. Ph. Martin held a .short
service.
p red Bcu, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Bel, was born in this
county September 16, 1895. His
farm until May, 1918, when he en
tered the field artillery at Camp
Dodge, sailing for France in thn
early part of September. He died
at a French hospital.
June Sales at Thompson-Belden's
Bring the Lowest Prices of the Season
Compare These Silks
in Quality and Price
Savings Are Unusual
Our Entire Stock of Novelty
Sport Silks, $4.95 a yard
From the best American manufac
tures. All of the most desirable
weaves, new this season. Attractive
silk crepes, Canton crepes, silk and
wool crepes included.
Every yard reduced to $4.95.
Summer White Silks Repriced
.Exceptional values in white silk
skirtings dress silks and silks for
blouses. Nearly all of our best white
silks are repriced.
36-inch Heavy Silk Tricolette, $1.50
This is a choice quality, free from
flaws all colors.
40-inch Silk Crepe de Chine
Heavy Quality in All Colors, $1.95
Black Silks, $1.75 a yard
Taffetas, Satins, Poplins. A clear
ance at this price.
40-inch Silk Foulards, $2.50
New patterns $2.50 a yard.
33-inch Tub Silks, $1.98
Attractive hair line stripe ; also plain
silk La Jerz, colors and white.
36-inch Pure Dye Chiffon Taffeta
Wednesday, $2.49 a yard
A table of sport sils, short lengths,
that vill be closed out for only $2.95
a yard. Lingerie satins, $1.98.
June Apparel Economies
Are Pleasant to Contemplate
Because the garments offered are
fashionably new and of a quality
that will never prove disappointing.
Spring Suits, Dresses, Wraps,
Coats, Blouses, Our Entire Stock
In sufficient variety to assure a selec
tion that is becoming. A sale of
spring clothes -so early in the sum
mer makes it possible to complete
vacation wardrobes at a very desir
able saving. :: :: :: ::
Priced at Their Lowest Level Wednesday
A Small Charge for Alteration Service
Hats for Sport Wear
. Their colors recommend them, vivid
orange, rose, green, gold or all white, as
well as darker navies and rich browns.
Soft hand-made taffetas and good look
ing straws are fashioned into shapes and
sizes to please every taste.
$5 $7.50 $10 '
A pleasing group at each price.
Millinery Fonrth Floor
Pure Linen Huck
Towels 65c and $1
This is a value that re
minds one of prewar days,
for linen huck of this qual
ity, hemstitched, is un
usual at this price. Guest
towels ' are 65c each.
Larger ones, $1 each. ,
Linens Main Floor
June Sales in
Toilet Gbods
Prophylactic Penetrator
hair brushes for 79c.
Physicians' and surgeons'
soap on sale for 7c.
Krank's lemon cream is
excellent for 79c a jar.
Center Aide. Main Floor
Fowne's Silk
Gloves for $1.29
Two-clasp, washable silk
gloves "with double-tipped
fingers and Paris point or
three rows of embroidered
stitching on the back, are
priced Wednesday, $1.29
a pair.
Hair Nets for
50c a dozen
Only
Sonia and Opera nets,
very durable and a good
size, may be had in either
cap or fringe shapes in all
colors, for 50c a dozen.
Notion Main Floor
Six Sales for Men
Delpark Collars,
35c Three for $1
Harvard, Astor, Cop
ley, La Salle, Am
bassador, Biltmore,
Chamberlain and
Commodore.
Neckwear, 55c
All silk ties made
with "slip easy"
bands for summer
comfort. The pat
terns are highly desirable.
Arrow and Eagle
Shirts for $1.25
The low price is bet
ter appreciated when
one examines the
qualities. Soft and
starched cuff styles
, in sizes 1312 to 18.
Handkerchiefs
of Pure Irish Linen,
35c Three for $1.
Pajamas for $2.35
A special that is
timely. Nainsook and
percales. Sizes? A, B,
CD.
Night Shirts, $1.25
Extra large and com
fortable, in sizes 3.6
to 20 inclusive. Regu
lar sizes, 15 to 20.
Short or long sleeves.
Faultless and Uni
versal makes (none
better) .
New Pumps of
Gray Suede
$9.85 a pair
Pearl gray is softly har
monious with summer
frocks.
Two styles are offered,
one with a wide, cut out
instep strap, the other
with two narrow straps,
both with hand-turn soles
and Louis heels.
Madeira and
Armenian Lace
Handkerchiefs
98c Each
Finest linen is used and
the handiwork is ' ex
quisite. North AideMain Floor
Fine Cotton
Union Suits
for 89c
Globe and Richelieu suits
are a good value at this
price. These have either
band or bodice tops and
wide or tight knees. Sell
ing Wednesday for 89c.
Second Floor
Stamped Bath
Towels 50c
Attractive designs on
towels of an excellent
quality, in the June sale,
50c each.
Artneedlework
Second Floor
Black Silk Lisle
Hose for 75c
A sturdy stocking that we
recommend especially for
gymnasium wear and hik
ing. A very good economy,
too, at 75c a pair.
t