For almost two years the great railroads of the land have held to their 1929 pledge to President Hoover not to cut wages during Depression.* Last week occurred the first major crack in their solid front. New York Central admitted that it was dickering with its 115,000 employes (December 1929: 170,061) to accept voluntarily a 10% pay reduction for one year. Reason: the Interstate Commerce Commission's refusal to grant the carriers a flat 15% freight rate increase.
Strongest of all unions are the "Big Four" Brotherhoods—Engineers, Firemen, Conductors, Trainmen—with 17 smaller rail...
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