Evening journal., 1918-11-30
M'ADOO HALTS
R.R. wage BOOSTS
Answer to Last Appeal is
Warning That Limit Has
Been Reached
SAYS MEN MUST
CONSIDER THE PUBLIC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3o.--Director-
General McAdoo has warned railroad
employees throughout the country that
there Is definite limit TO wage raising
and that this limit has been about
reached AT the same time he gave
notice that the appeal for more money
Of shopmen and maintenance OF way
employees, some Of whom have ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with increases
granted, would fall on deaf ears.
The Director Generals position was
set forth in a letter TO Chairman G..
II. Hines Of the Board Of Railroad
Wages and Working Conditions, telling
the chairman the board should take
no further action with respect to the
wages OF the shopmen or the main
tenance way men. A definite stand
by the Director-General on the ques-
tion or additional wage increases was
called forth by letter from Mr.. Hines
enclosing petitions and protests from
the two classes OF employees involved
In supplements Z and s to the general
wage raising order. The DlrectOr-Geh-
eral said in part
"As ! have previously stated ! am
obliged 10 consider not only the in
terests OF the employees OF the rail-
roads but also the interests Of the peo-
pie Of the country In determining ques-
tions Of wages and working conditions.
"The officers and employees Of the
railroads are no longer servants OF
private railroad corporations; they are
now servants Of the public. The Di-
rector-General also is a servant OF the
public, owing a duty to the public as
well TO the employees. / cannot be in
different 10 the interests Of the pub
lie any more than | can be indifferent
10 the interests Of the employed, and
my constant effort has been 10 find
the line Of justice as represented by
fair wages and working conditions and
square IL with the interest OF the en-
ployes and the interest OF the public.
Il have not hesltated 10 announce de-
cisions which involved immense in
creases In the wages Of railroad en-
ployes throughout the country esti-
mated at over s5O0,OOOOO0. These IN
creased wages must be paid by the
people Of the United States, and in
order TO pay them / sometime ago
announced large increases in freight
and passenger rates. Numerous pro-
tests against these have been made by
shippers and farmres and other organi-
cations throughout the country, and
warn US all that we must keep our de-
mands within reasonable limits. be-
cause there is point beyond which the
public will not sustain us In raising
wages
at my directions claims OF employees
mentioned in supplements and 10
General order q We're given further
consideration by your board, and after
an exhaustive investigation decisions
embodied in supplements Z and s were
rendered.
1T Is true that wages in excess OF
those provided for In supplement
and s are paid IN some localities and
by some indUs les, but these are a
transient character such as shipyards.
munitions plants, &c. and their work
will cease OF be greatly reduced upon
the return OF peace. Il is. however.
undeniably true that the wages estab-
Usher in supplements 7 and compare
as a class fsvorably and perhaps much
more favorsbly with those paid else
where.
when we consider these railroad
wage questions Il must be remembered
that the railroad business IS not tenn
porary, such as referred to above. but |
OF a permanent character and Offering |
90 employees steady work.
1T must also be remembered that |
the revenues Of the railroads are not |
affected by the varying conditions |
which permit private enterprises TO |
earn high profits. but on the contrary, |
are limited by rates fixed by lawful /
authority and measured by the ability /
snd willingness Of the public to pay /
them.