The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-09

A full dinner pail for all IL to be
the Governments policy toward the
National Railroad employees during
the war.
Formal announcement OF the Rail
road Wage Commissions report, ad-
vocatinE wage increases for all rail
road workers making less than $3.50
& month in 1915, was followed today
by assurance that Director General
McAdoo approves the increases pro-
possd-Gnd may extend some.
To Hold Conferences.
Before acting upon his commissions
report he will confer with represen-
tatives OF the employees to determine
whether the new Embellishments
ing to increases of nearly S3OO,00000O
annually with 800. 100000 back pay
to January would work hardship
on any class of workers.
The policy Of the Government to-
ward its labor is clearly set forth ia
the digest Of the report, an excerpt
from which declares:
"OrRanized and unorRaniZed en-
ployes are to be treated alike. Women
and men who perform equal service
are to be given equal pay, and diff
ferences in pay are not to be predi-
Gated on color"
In reaching It's conclusions the
Wage Commission declined to accede
to many requests mEIie by the en-
ployes. The contention of the men
that they wanted a shorter day and
more overtime to enforce II was met
with the following from the commits
sion report:
Would PenaIiEe Government.
AT this time, when urgent and
serious necessity compels sacrifice
from all, to psnAlize the Government
for working its men as long as they
have been in the, habit OF working
under their private employers Is to
take advantage of the two-fold en-
barrassment Of the Government-its
need for the work, and its inability
to call in outside men. The commits
sion does not believe the railroad
employees really want thus TO hamper
the transportation facilities OF the
country in its hour OF need"
It would be "a splendid thing" says
I the commission, "if we could at this
/ time crystalline the experience OF the
/ world into q conclusion concerning the
/ length of the work day that would be
/ OF universal application. But this Is
not possible now for many reasons,
not the least Of which Is an INSULT
cheney Of data touching so many and
such diverse employments which call
/ for such suffering strains upon human
nerve and muscle"
Speed In Output Needed.
Declaring that "this, moreover. il
not the time to make experiments,
the commission adds that the one
thing now imperative is volume and
speed in railroad output Our needs
as a nation and the vital needs OF
those nations with whom We are allied
have been imperiled by the shortcom'
ings OF our transportation system
There is no one who wishes TO risk q
repetition OF this condition.
The increases proposed by the com
mission are based on the premise thai
the cost Of living since 1915 has in
creased approximately 43 per cent
shown by a thorough study Of actual
living conditions.
The commission recommends "that
during the period OF Government con
duct Of the railroads, no salaries paid
TO officials who are not essential tc
the operation Of the roads shall b
charged as part Of the operating eE'
penses, and that a careful study be
made OF the proper relation between
the salaries Of the higher officials and
those of their subordinates with a
view TO readjustment in the interest
Of the highest efficiency Of the serv
ice"