Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-09
WAGE COMMISSION
SUBMITS REPORT
Recommends Increase for All
II. r. Employees Getting Less
Than $3.50 Monthly
A GRADUATED SCALE
II Recommendation nre Adopted ny
McAdoo workers Will Get 800. .OOOyO 900
In Back Pay to january

Washington, May S.-All railroad en-
ployes whose monthly pay in Deccm-
Der 1915 was less than $3.50 month
have been recommended for wage in
creases by the railroad wage commits
sion.
The recommendations IL adopted by
Director General McAdoo would give
the workers s1o0,OOO,OOO in back pay
to January l.. and would add $2Ss.O13.71S
to the payroll as of 1917, an increase
of 15.021 per cent
Wage advances proposed, however,
do not represent net increases over ex-
listing pay but are based on the month
of December 1915. In other words, any
increases which may have been allowed
by individual roads since that time
must be deducted. In some cases de-
ductions will almost, II not altogether
cover. the increases suggested. accord
ing to the report. The roads themselves
during 1916 and 1917 increased wages
an amount equivalent to s350.OO0,OO0 If
applied to the present number or their
employees
"As to those who have received such
increases" the report says I'VE advise
| no other course than that the scale be
adhered to for it has it's foundation IN
principle and not in the compelling
force of any unusual competition. In
lno event. however, should there be any
reduction in wages from these now
| obtaining.
"The railroads must, however. MAINTAIN
| their complement of workers and II by
meeting fairly as here, the needs of the
time, this cannot be secured, there must
be allowed play for other forces than
those which we have recognized"
! Flat increases of $50 a month are pro-
| posed for all employees except appren-
tices receiving $40 or less, and all others
up to $239 would get advances ranging
| from 43 per cent. downward to 4.6 per
cent, the smallest increases going to
those with the highest wages. Above
S239 fiat increases would be given to make
| the wage $3.50. Apprentices from 1S to
81 years of age would receive only three
fourths Of the recommended increases
and those below IS years one-half.
In the application Of the scale. the
wage runs with the place so that men
who have been promoted since Decem-
| ber, 1915, shall receive increases appli-
cable to the new place and not to their
| wages in that month. Men discharged
since January / shall receive their share
| of the retroactive pay for the timA that
they worked
Mr.. McAdoo is studying the report,
which was made public tonight and will
decide what increases shall be allowed,
probably within 10 days. 1t ifs considered
certain that he will not accept in full
the commissions recommendations but
| will make readjustments which he be-
lieves to be necessitated by the intrica-
cies of union wage scales and other wage
factors The commission based its rec
concentrations on the monthly pay of the
men, inasmuch as the advances were rec
commended to equalize wages and the
growing cost of living, but the rates of in
crease were arranged for all classes OF
employees, whether paid by the month
day hour or number Of miles.
An important feature of the report was
the recommendation that where the same
service Is rendered the pay shall be the
same without discrimination as to sex OF
race.
Overtime pay and hours OF service
should not be disturbed during the war
the commission reported In suggesting
that an exhaustive study be made OF
both subjects with n view to changes tc
eliminate dissatisfaction and improve the
service. 1t was recorded, however. that
a standard day of reasonably limited
length Is as much a part Of the measure
of Justice with the workingman as II
his rate Of wage"
| Permanent tribunals to continue thu
|, study of railroad labor problems and tt
adjust many grievances presented to the
commission, but which it was unable tc
take up were proposed. With the com
ment that it's inquiry showed substan
tial readjustment of the salaries of rail
road officials would promote the efficien
operation of the roads, the commission
added:
some salaries may we'll be abolished
| v,,,il.
in some cases of lesser paid officials al
Increase would be warranted"