The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-01
GARMENTS
WAGE SCALE
Motormen and Conductors Entitled to
From 43 to 4a Cents
Per Hour in
Cities.

United Press Leased Wire Service.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The war
labor board today handed down the
hrst of its decisions affecting carmen
IN many cities and provided general
increase in wages, with a recommen-
dation to President Wilson that
proper legislation be enacted to per-
nit of increased fares in cities where
they are necessary to meet the added
operating costs in event of such
legislation being unwise, the board
calls upon the people Of the COM
muniies affected to cheerfully abide
by such fare increases as local
authorities recommend.
The board established the rule that
men must be given sufficient returns
to meet increased living costs and
practice thrift.
For the Cleveland Railway company
lit established the following wage
schedules:
Motormen and conductors effective
May /, last, with the company allow
| ed until October l for back payments,
first three months forty-three cents
an hour; next nine months forty-six
cents and thereafter forty-eight cents.
The schedule for the Detroit United
Railway company. effective June 1.
with the company allowed until Sep
| TENDER l to make back payments was
set as follows:
Motormen and conductors, first
three months forty-three cents an
hour; next nine months, forty-six
cents, and thereafter forty-eight
cents.
| Chicago surface lines motormen
and conductors, first three months,
forty three cents; next nine months,
forty-six cents; thereafter forty-eight
cents.
Omaha and Council Bluffs street
railway company, effective July II,
motormen and conductors, first three
months, forty-one cents; next nine
months, forty-three cents; thereafter,
forty-five cents.
| Overtime on swing runs to be COM
pensated for at rate applied Cleve-
land case.
| Individual employment contract de-
clared contrary to the principles OF
the national war labor board
The board Issued the following
awards:
This increase in wages will add
substantially to the operating cost OF
the company and will require recon.
sideration by the proper regulating
authority of the. fares which the com
pany is allowed by law to collect from
its passengers.
I'VE make part of this award the
words we have used in the award IN
the Cleveland case:
1--WE have recommended to the pres.
lident that special congressional legis
he f0 nnahln
ecutive agency of the federal govern
ment to consider the very perilous
financial conditions of this and Other
electric street railways of the country
and raise fares in each case in which
the circumstances require it. We be
Ilieve it to be war necessity justifyins
federal interference. Should this be
deemed unwise, however, we urge upon
THE local authorities and the people OF
the locality the pressing need for suct
Ian increase adequate to meet the ad
ded cost of operation.
"This is not question turning or
1.-THE history of the relations between
the local street railways and the
municipalities in which they operate
THE lust claim for an increase in fares
does not rest upon any right to div
lidend upon capital long invested II
the enterprise The increase in fare
must be given because Of the immed
4 ate pressure for money receipts now tt
keep the street railroads running sc
that they may meet the local and nat
Eional demand for their service. Over
Capitalization. corrupt methods ex
orbitant dividends in the past are no
relevant to the question of policy II
1.-THE present exigency. In justice, the
public should pay an adequate wal
: conversation for a service which can
not be rendered except for war prices
1.-THE credit to these companies in float
ing bonds is gone In the face of ad
lded expenses, which this and Other
awards needed and fair compensation
ito their employees will involve, suct
lcredit will completely disappear
Bankruptcy receiverships and demon
Ialization, with failure of service mus
he the result. Hence our urgent re
Recommendation Oh this head"