Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-02-19
SHY At OFFICER QUESTION
Decline to lndorse Sugges-
ton Salaries of Higher
ups Be Reduced.
NO DISTINCTION FOR UNIONS
Women Advancing in Glass
of Work Attempted; Age
Minimum Advancing.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The ne
Cessi'y for increased wages for rail
way employees WAS conceded today 10y
representatives. of majority OF the
railroads Of the United States. ap-
peirng for the first time before the
go,ernments railroad wage commits
sion They said they came not To
oppose requests OF the employees. but
merely To aid the commission by Civ
lng Information.
Officials need no evidence that
the cost Of living has increased and
that the low paid man needs assist.
anCe during the war" declared ] w
Higgins ~ Chicago. executive secre.
tgy of the Western Association uf
Railways speaking for the roads or
the western district "No one recug-
nizes more keenly'than the manage
mcuts that there are numeIuaS
classes Of employees not properly
compensated" was the statement
made for the eastern territory by
John G. WalDy OF New ork. secrSs
iaty Of the bHToau OF information OF
eastern railways
Mr higgins assertion that the
low paid man be helped drew from
Secretary Lane, chairman OF the
commission, a query as to what he
considered low-pnld man.
$3.50 Per Month Low.
q would say that all mea receiv-
Ing under $3.50 g month need more
money to meet the advance in prico
Of necessities" MIR. Higgins replied.
"Perhaps the limit oI those VINO
need help should be raised TO $4,000
@ year, which seems to be the line
drawn hy the government in the in
come tax law. The greatest advance
should be given to the men making
les than 800 a month. Those TN
loWs must be having a strenuous
time"
The $4,000 limit would Include nil
hborers, trainnen, brakemen, me-
chanies and clerks and great many
eNL'neers and conductors COM
menied Mr.. Lane
Mr Higgins agreed that was true.
I'VE dld not suggest any definite In
crease but remarked that perha ps
me Increased living cost should he
borne for the distressed employees
durnG the war poth he and Mr..
NAlher asserted that the manage
inens have not been unmindful or
'he welfare Of theU employees in the
past and have given additional pay
Nhsrc their finances permitted,
Vnlon and Nom Union Same,
All the speakers were careful TO
swtN thet they made no distinction
pfINten union members and uuor-
N"hlYrf employees The course OF
wages UnE declared TO have been up
Ptd Flnce 1910. when the concerted
FORM OF demand was first used by
we hrntherhoods Especially since
Up the ascending trend has been
uu'eahlc. according TO the speak
IN reporting their wage increases
suine OF the nine representative rua ds
included the pay OF officers In the
SaL Mr Higgins said however. he
,housht the officers had received
Nv increases and called attention to
me highest average. $3.50. reported
me Chicago, Milwaukee 4 ST.
Aul which did not include officers
In lu report.
DO you think any OF these officers
yush, 70 have their salaries re-
Chord. ''''''' '''''''' "
MA Tam not, in a position to answer
H"I Nr Higgins said "f think
'l after spending lifetime hc-
So"'hg knowledge and experience. n
"I s entitled TO compensation"
noth Mr Higgins and MIR. Walbcr
tsFhed their own experiences They
''gan as office boys.
o., raeTck W Lehman. counsel
@ 'he commission. asked MIR. Hig-
s S Ahout the employment OF boys
women by the railroads.
mere are few boys employed
WUN except as messengers" he re-
u a The federal law lhterfercd
u lneir employment in other ca-
u's was switching cars whom
W H. but the age limit now is 21.
ana N are being employed as clerks
,,, 10 some extent, In other capaci-
co., .hey have been working as
>'"'h cleaners for years"