The sun., 1916-01-31
SHOW HOW RAILWAY
PAY HAS INCREASED
Managers Tell Of Eagcrncss Of
Men to Quit Other Jobs
for Train Work.
REPUTATION BY UNIONS

The results OF a recent advertisement
for railroad fremen published by an
Eastern railroad In various papers in
this part Of the country we're pointed
out yesterday as Offering incidental but
convincing support for one OF the prin-
cipal arguments advanced by railroad
operators against the proposed eight
hour demands and consequent wage in
creases now being voted upon by the
four great train service unions through
out the country.
This argument Is that railroad train
men. especially engineers and iiremen,
are paid better than skilled employees
In many other industries. The adver-
tiscment for such men several weeks
ago. railroad officials say, proved their
contention 10 certali, definite degree.
The responses to the advertisement IN
half dozen cities where the men ap-
piled surprised the railroad officials.
Long lines OF men appeared for the
vacancies created by increases in rail.
road business. But the significant fea :
ture. II IL said. was the fact that a large
majority of the applicants were willing
to quit employment in other Industries
which are supposed now. owing to the
pressure OF war business. to be paying
higher wages than ever before IL is
pointed out that the fact that these
men apparently preferred to work for
railroads indicated that railroad work
held out greater monetary Inducements
for them.
The railroad managers also offer i'm.
posing statistics covering Ia brief array
the betterment. Of railroad EMPLOYERS
generally as compared with the financial
betterment of tho roads themselves
These statistics. compiled from figures
dating back to 1899. divide the inter-
vening time into two periods. 1905 being
.ne diNiding line. The interesting items
in the table are the average wa,,. p,r
employee and the average net earnings
OF the roads per mile In each ppriod
This Is the comparative showing sum
married:
During the period from 1899 tn 1906
the average wages of EMPLOYEES showed
percentage Increase of only is.. while
III the period subsequent to 1905 tho
average wage per employee showed A
percentage increase almost seven times
mat or 2h.3l. on the other hand. dur
ing the period from 1899 to 1905 tho
average net earnings Of the railroads ii,
nllle showed Il percentage increase OF
fo.7". but IN the period subsequen, t.
lso6 the average earnings Of the roads a
mile showed percentage inc-c4s,. OF
less than one-fourth Of that. or only
los
Similarly. the average operating In
come a mile during the first period
showed percentage increase of IL
as opposed To 4. % for the second p.r.oJ
In refutatiou Of these statistics and
the contention of the railroad managers
that the contemplated demands Of the
members OF the four train service unions
represent only apprnN inatslv IS per
cent OF all railroad "mplo, ees. the en-
ployeeS maintain that II this argu,n,nt
were carried To its conclusion there
never would he any wage increases for
any one. The railroad officials contend
that the ~ per cent. Of employees should
he taken care of before tho trafup,eu
get increases. rlo union leaders assert
that IN" wage rates Of ~hoplncu fr- tho
greater part Of tho territory - tho
tni'cd states for many years do not
SHOW increases for straight tim. The
reason they advance IS That tn. ~hor
men cannot or will not organic. To OBJ
tain something substantial from their
en- ojers. But, they say. the others who
have adopted a policy Of preparedness"
must not surrender to the laggar,i-