Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-11-14
R. R. WAGE DEMANDS
EQUAL S1O9.OOO.OOO
CONSERVATION Over Enor-
nous Yearly Sum Repre-
scented in New Schedule
10000 MEN
ARE EFFECTED

NEW YORK, nov. i3.-New demands
from 10000 railway conductors and
brskemen on all Of the railroads Of the
United states for wage increases that
arc estimated 10 aggregate si09000OO0
year reached the big railroad man
ayers yesterday. along with the infor-
nation that the men were taking secret
ballots on the demands. preliminary to
a strike vote n the road did not meet
The demands.
Railway officials IN New York said
last night that The new proposals were
much more serious than the eight hour
demand that almost tied up the coun-
try a year ago. There was utter con-
siernatlon among the big men when a
COPY OF the employees wage sugges-
tions were received from Chicago yes
ierday.
1T is worse than we imagined" said
one Of the chief officials, who said that
a new disturbing discussion had been
expected He added that the increase
amounted. In effect, TO 40 per cent. IN
addition 10 the s6O,0O000O OF added
payments that were exacted from The
roads under the Adamson law.
The New York ofilcials estimated that
the increases wanted would amount To
$4,000. 900 for the lines east Of Chicago
while FOR ;he whole country the figure
would reach si09oOoOOO.
The men IN the movement include
$1,000 passenger men, 5000 freight
men and $1,000 yard men. The 6i,0ol
fremen, under the leadership OF W, S
Carter, have not yet determined upor
their course. Leaders Of the flremenl
brotherhood are now meeting IN Cleve
land 10 decide whether they will ioil
the national movement. The 5000 en-
gineers, so railway oflcials are inform
ed. will not take part IN the movement
The vote now being taken Is prelim
mary TO a strike vote. The brother
hoods are following their usual pro
cedure OF voting the men on the de
mands, leaving a strike vote 20 follow
the failure to force the full demand
on the railroads. Tho official circu
lar sent out by the grand lodge officer
states that the strike vote Will b
taken in case the proposition
turned down by the arrangements
n Railroad officials here say they d
not believe the Council Of Nation'
Defence at Washington, which brougt
a settlement Of the eight hour contrl
versy IN March last, would allow On
new demands 10 90 90 O strike vot
one Of these officials who took a lea'
ing part IN the handling of the i9
wage movement, said:
1T would be a waste Of effort at
time like this, when the railroads a
struggling 10 carry the great volume
war traflc, 10 attempt TO settle this ne
controversy by the long drawn o
method Of former years. The Gig
hour controversy dragged along +
two years and the patience OF the pu
bic was severely tried. I do not belle
the country would stand for such
thing again when all our energies mt
he devoted 90 the big job VIC have
winning the war.
Immediately after our entrance II
the war the railroads put thomselN
unreservedly at The service of the CT
ornment, and under the direction
the Railroads War Board at Washil
ton the entire transportation system
the country is being operated as an @
Of national defense.
II tho train employees deserve
have 500 100000 added 90 their wa
IN addition 10 the s6OOOOOOO gained l
Dir the Adamson ACT, with the aim
certain after development that the
glneers and flremen would follow "
"A demand for a parallel increase q
would amount 10 3I0O00OO0 more, u
H. is up 20 tho Government 10 instr
the railroads what course TO pursue
when Congress passed the Adam
act. and when the supreme Court S
tanned tho power Of Congress to
railroad wages 10 avoid nation-v
strike, the power Of the managers
meet these nationwide demands
taken from them."