The Topeka state journal., 1902-11-18
Western Railroads Still Paying
More Wages Than Eastern.
Answer of Westerners to the
PennsylVania's Advance.
SANTA FE'S SCHEDULE.
No Road Has More Varied
Scale.
General Manager GOOdnOw, of
Rock Island, Talks.

The 10 per cent advance in the wages
of all employees of the Pennsylvania
railway who earn less than $500 a
month is met by western railroad Off
cials with the statement: We'll. they
could afford it" Salaries. it is said,
have been much higher in the west
than on the eastern railroads
There viii be no such advance by
the western roads," said President Geo.
3. Harris OF the Burlington. They do
business in a different way. They meet
their employees by departments or
trades and treat with them. have not
heard that any western road contem-
plates announcing such an advance. AS
matter OF TACT, western railroad men
are tar better paid and always have
been than the men on the eastern
roads"
General Manager C. A Goodnow OF
the Rock Island said that even with
the advance made to the Pennsylvania
men western railroad employees are
drawing more money in their respec-
tive lines.
There is no question concerning the
standing of the western railroad man
when it comes to pay he said. ''TAeY
are advanced by the different roads
whenever possible. There is hardly
body of men on the Rock Island which
has not received a heavy increase dur
ing the last year. In the aggregate the
will be enormous"
That the roads all have made heavy
advances in the pay of their men is well
known.
The freight handlers were given from
1212 to IS per cent more wages when
they struck in July.
The switchmen's schedule was estab-
lished completely yesterday by the
agreement of the Wabash. the last of
the Chicago Missouri river lines to ac-
@ scale Aocnrdin-r RI
schedule, which affects about 5000 men,
day and night fOremen will receive 4
cents an hour increase and switchmen
cents an hour.
The Illinois Central has increased wages
from to 10 per cent.
The Chicago and Western Indiana road
has advanced the pay of its baggagemen,
janitors, and freighthouse men 10 to IS
per cent.
The Rock Island increased the wages
of its fremen 10 per cent by relieving
them of work to which they objected,
thereby entailing a heavy expense, which
must be borne by the road. Machinists,
! bOilermakers, and other shop employees
were given. an increase, amounting to Il
per cent Committees representing it's
tram and engine men will be heard next
month.
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois road
made an advance to all its men, practical
| ly the same as the advance of the Penn
| sylvania. All trainmen and mechanics
were given 10 per cent more wages. Clerks
received an increase varying according to
merit from 10 to 20 per cent, while all
trackmen were raised from Slips to $1.50
per day.
The Santa Fe has adopted a system OF
/ increase in it's mechanical department
based on merit, and it is impossible for
the officials to tell just what the advance
/ in wages they will have to take into con-
! sideration when the pay roll is made up
| Perhaps no road in the country has a
more varied schedule than the Santa Fc.
/ East of Newton, Kan, it pays about the
same wages as are received on other
roads. From Newton to Albuquerque. N
NJ, the scale increases heavily. Then
across the desert to the coast another
schedule maintains, the advance being
| large in each case.
The Burlington has advanced the wages
of many of it's men during the year and
probably will make more changes in it's
pay schedule before the new year comes.
While the Northwestern has made num-
erous advances in several departm ents,
it is difficult to give the percentage of
! increase