The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-29
BY MILTON BRONNER.
Special Staff Dispatch.

special StdrI OlSPatCU. .',
Washington, June 2S.-The 100000
employees OF the railroads are still
puzzled about that raise in pay grant.
ed them by Director General McAdoo.
They know that it totals something
like $500, 100000 and is retroactive to
last Jan. /; that it recognizes the
basic principle Of the S-hour day, but
that owing to the war. hours Of en-
ployment are not actually reduced,
overtime pro.rata being paid instead;
that day laborers employed on track
work are to get at least 2 1-2 cents an
hour more than last December; that a
minimum Of IS cents an hour is es-
tablished for the shop trades; that
women are to receive the same pay as
the men where they do the same work,
and that negroes are to get the same
as white men for the sam job
They know that men drawing un'
der SAC month on Dec. 81, 1915, get
a flat laise of $40 over that figure,
and that men from SAG up get
amounts varying from 43 down to 4.56
per cent of their wages, the bigger in.
creases being given to the men with
the smaller wages. They know COM
paratively the same scale of percent
ages applies to the men who work by
piece, by hour or by train miles. But
railroad men don't know how the scale
works. So here are few examples
which will show them how it figures
out.
The telegrapher who holds the same
position now that he did Dec. 81, 1915,
and who then deceived SIS month,
will receive an additional wage OF
x3O.75. If ~ the past two years he
has received an increase of $40
month, his net advance now will be
$2O75. In other words, he will here
after draw $105'7' and, in addition,
will get five months back pay at the
rate OF $20.75 a month, or $1Oo.75 in
ALL
Sectionman Smith is employed in
1918, but was not working in 1915.
The rate of pay on the division where
he is working was in 1915 $l10 day
OF IL hours, seven days a week. The
1918 rate of pay is $3.50 day for
the same hours. The monthly rate for
1915 was, therefore, $33. 1t is now
$45. Under the McAdoo plan of in
crease this job pays $40 month more
than it did in 1915, or $500. This is So
a month more than Smith is now
drawing. He is therefore, entitled to
five months back pay at this rate, of
$40 velvet, and in future draws $50
a month regularly. -.
The method of finding out back pay
due to men who work on an hourly
rate is more complicated. Machinist
Grown in 1915 got IS cents an hour
for 8 hours, 26 days, a month. He was
paid for overtime and Sunday work at
time and one-half. In 1918 hours were
reduced to s and. his rate increased
to 40 cents His increase will be fig
uredon the 1916 hours andirate That
is, he, vi worked in 1915 2S4 hours
month, getting $3.50 Under the Nc,
Adoo plan he is entitled to 40 cents an
hour from now on. In 1918, from Jam.
Ito May 81, he worked t234 hours a
month"; Tor an average Of one hour,
= daily overtima~On the o Is schedule
n For the five months ending May 9l
\ this gives him 1a30 hours overtime He
I has been paid as follows: ,Ss
1910 hours straight time at
cents y /. !. \. s.s s.s e . . $4,000
Iaau hours overtime at 60 cents, 800
lOtdl -. .....''.... $500. 1o1.U"
His back pay will be figured as fol-
lows:
1O4O hours straight time at
49 cents .......a.. 49,. $5O96os
1870 hours overtime at % IL IA
cents ~. -. ........ 5000