The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-05-13
RIGHTING A WRONG

While there has Oeen Soioo" H-
popular impression that railroad men
vsrs among the most highly paid
workers, the report Of the Railroad
Wage Commission has brought out the
astonishing fact that fully fifty-one per
cent. OF all the workers get less 1nan
seFenty-fve dollars monthly. Inese
men were unorganized and heretofore
inexperienced, while the four brother
hoods OF railway employees, strongly
orSanized, were able to force, from
time to time. increase Of their already
fa;r WAGES. The commission now
proposes to do justice TO the long neg
lected men OF the low wage. 1t recon-
mends wage increases TO the stupen-
dous amount Of $4,000. 600. and the
hulk of this does not 80 where Dig
wage increases usually go-to the
strong labor organizations. to the men
Of the higher pay. but TO those now re-
,ceiving the smaller wages. All the
men getting less than $3.50 month
are slated for an increase, but on a
sliding scale.
Flat increases Of $50 month are
proposed for all employees. except APP
prentices receiving S46 or less. and all
others up 10 1899 would get advances
ranging from 40 per cent. downward
TO 4.6 ps r cent. the smallest increase
SoinS TO those with the highest wages.
Above S239 fat increases would be
given TO make the wage $3.50. For
those above $3.50 there are no in
creases. Apprentices from IS to Il
years old would receive only three
fourths OF the recommended increase,
and those below is years one-hah 1t
was reserved 10 Uncle Sam as the
master OF the railroads TO bring about
this act Of justice 70 the poorly paid
employees. But the commission did
more than that. In providing for the
base from which the increase Is 70
work upward. it goes back TO 1915.
Whatever rate Of increase has been Sc
cured since that time is deducted
from the rate OF increase granted BY
the commission. This is all the more
right: as it was principally the higher
paid employees who had been granted
those increases.
OF the total estimated amount, ST.
100000 will be distributed Immediate
II, as the order it retroactive from
January l. 1918. An important feature
, OF the report was the recommendation
that where the same service IL rem
/. dered, the pay shall be the same, with
out discrimination as TO sex or race.
. Mr.. McAdoo will have the final de
ctsion In the matter. While he may
not adopt IN full the recommendation
Of the commission. he may be expect
-. ed to agree with the general views ad-
: yocated. even II he does make read
|. justments necessitated by union wage
scales and other wage factors. The
increases will be a heavy addition to
: the enormous sum the government will
have to pay the railway companies
! this year for compensation. During
" the first three months OF the year the
government lost over one hundred mil.
lion dollars by operating the railroads
owing mainly to bad weather condi-
tons in January and consequent loss
in traffic and increase in operating eX-
penses. Besides practicing economy
In other directions, a heavy increase
In freight and passenger rates and
possibly a draft on the government
treasury will be necessary 10 make
ends meet. But whatever the conse-
quences. the granting Of living wage
to the railway laborers will be ap.
prpved by the people as righting a
long-standing and unjust discrimIna.
ton.