The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-05-19
impressive Staternent


as switch tenders, crossing tenders,
and watchmen. These were receiv.
ing In 1912 an average of s17O per
day, which was actually G cents a
day less than they had been receiv.
ing ten years earlier.
AT that time there were 4S,2Ol con-
ductors with whom the statistics
dealt. The conductors, therefore.
were only a slightly more numcr.
Gus class than the tenders and watch
men; yet while the conductors had
had their wages raised from s3.3S to
s4,29 per day, the less fortunate
class Of tenders and watchmen had
to stand reduction from S1.76 TO
s1.70 per day
III the cost OF living has been stead.
lily advancing for conductors, so as to
Justify an increase of 27 per cent in
their wages, it seems difficult to ex.
plain why that same cost Of living
should have fallen sufficiently TO war.
rant decrease Of 3 per cent in the
wages OF switch tenders, crossing
tenders, and watchmeD.
Take the single classification OF
general office clerks. There were
S7,1O6 Of these according to the of.
fetal report A much larger number
than OF either engineers, fremen, or
conductors.
These general Office clerks were
paid an average of 1921 per day in
1903, and of $3.50 in 1912: an in
crease Of only l3 per cent in the ten.
year period
General office clerks, without ex-
ception, are compelled to live in
cities, where the cost Of living is
high.
Engineers, on the other hand, are
distributed between large towns and
small towns: on the average, their
living circumstances ought to make
their expenses average considerably
, less than those OF office clerks, yet
the statistics show that engineers
have received in the ten-year period
an increase OF "a per cent in their
wages, making them average exactly
81 per day, while general office
clerks have received an increase OF
only 13 per cent, making them aver
age $3.50 per day
One OF the worst underpaid classi-
/ tications Of railway employees is that
! OF the station agents. There are Just
about 10000 OF these in the country,
/ or nearly as many as the number Of
, conductors.
/ In 1909 station agents averaged
$50 a day, and in 1912 they had
been raised 10 only s2.20 day, while
in that same time conductors had
advanced from S3.3S to s42O.
That is, the station agent in 1912
was getting jus; about half the wages
OF the conductor, and in ten years he
had had an average increase Of II
per cent, while the conductors mi
crease had been q per cent.
Here are two of ihe most numer
Gus classes Of railway employees
Trainmen, other than engineers
hremen, and conductors, numbered
136,S09, while trackmen numbered
33I45l. The statistics show that the
trackmen were getting in 1903 al
average OF Sl.31 per day, and in 191:
an average of $50 per day, an in
crease OF i per cent
On the other hand, the classified
zion OF other trainmen was getting il
1903 S2.l7 per day, and in 1912, S2.9,
per day. an increase Of SO per cent
In percentage, this is the largest ad
vance received by any single class O
railway employees during this decade
A general survey of wage condi
tions in the railway service and il
other industries, il is believed, wcrl,
show that in the last fifteen year
the highly organized and favored
classes OF railway wage earnere hav
had their incomes increased NOR
than almost any other class of work
ers in the country, while the mucl
more numerous, but less effectivel
organized classes of railway worker
have probably received rather les
increases than other industrial worl
ers in general.
In view OF the strong feeling ths
these most fortunate classes of tb
railway employees are now maxim
excessive and unreasonable demand
attention is now being called q
never before to these general di
crepancies. There is q strong di
position to inaugurate q general an
sweeping investigation Of the who,
question of railway wages with
view to establishing some sort of pu
lie regulation no, unlike that alread
applied TO railroad rates, in the /,
: terest of employees and public alik
Meanwhile. there is a marked indi
position to extend further favors