Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-06-07
Percentage of Increase

the war depends largely on thelf SER
vices.
Percentage of Increase
TO meet the expenses Of the wage
increase, the biggest ever granted to
railroad or any other class Of en-
ployes at one time, the railroad ad-.
ministration will raise the freight and
passenger rates.
The percentage Of wage increases
range from AZ for men who received
SAG month in December, 1915, down
to a small rate for those receiving
just under $3.50, and no more pay is
allowed men who made $3.50 or more
in 1915. The actual additions run up
to $34.
With the exception of office and
messenger boys under 18, who are
given smaller increases, all employees
who received less than SAC a month
are given a fiat increase Of $50, with
the provision that laborers paid by
the day shall receive a minimum Of
21a cents an hour above the rate six
months ago.
Increases on Increases
An important principle contained
in the director generals order is that
reductions in hours since 1915 are not
to be regarded as increases in pay.
This means that employees Of the four
brotherhoods affected by the Adam
son act are to receive additions or
top of the increases developed by
that act.
For instance, an engineer who made
$4 a day working ten hours in 1915
may have had his pay increased to $5
for the same number of hours under
the Adamson act. But for the pur-
poses applying the new scale the IS
is considered as $4 a day Of eight
hours with 81 for two hours over
time. Consequently, the pay will be
increased on the basis Of $4 a day,
and overtime will be paid at the same
rate Of increase.
Proportions of Pay
On this principle train employees,
including members of the leading
brotherhoods will receive appoxi-
mately the following proportional in
creases over 1915 pay, or their equiv
alent when pay is based on miles
operated:
Passenger engineers, II per cent;
passenger fremen and helpers, % per
cent; passenger conductors, Is per
cent; passenger baggage men, 38 per
cent; passenger brakemen and flag
men, 40 per cent; freight engineers, Is
per cent; freight firemen and helpers,
"a per cent; freight conductors, 20 per
cent; freight brakemen and fagmen,
40 per cent. These men also must de
duct increases granted since 1915.
The recognition of the eight-hour
basis, tho important as principle,
does not materially affect the scale Of
new wages granted. For instance,
man who in 1915 received So for a
ten-hour day would@now get $423 for
ten hours, but this $4.23 would be
considered as 1888 for a days work
eight hours) and 85 cents for two
hours overtime.
Officials of New Board
When readjustments are made later
involving possibly extra rates Of pay
for overtime, the full effect of the
new principle will become apparent
The new board of railroad wages
and working conditions is composed
of j. j. DermOdy, vice president of the
Order of Railway Telegraphers; G.
H. Sines, board president of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen; A. o.
Wharton, head of the Railway EN-
plOyes' department Of the American
Federation Of Labor; F. F. Gaines,
superintendent of motive power of
the Central of Georgia Railway; C. E.
Lindsey, maintenance of way engi-
neerS for the New York Central, and
w. E. Morse general manager of the
Denver & Salt Lake railroad. The
latter three have resigned their posi-
tions with railroads. The board will
sit in Washington. probably continu-
ously.