The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-09
MANY RAILROAD
men GET SMALL
RAISE IN WAGES
Recommendations of Commits.
sion Disappointment to Them.
Basing Increase on 1915 Par
Will Cut 1t Down.
RECENT RAISES DEDUCTED?
That Is the Plan Announcer
From Washington.
However, McAdoO Has Not Yet
Given 1t His o. X.
RECENT RAISES DEDUCTED?
That Is the Plan AnnOuncod
From Washington.

Following the announcement from
Washington that the proposed rail-
road wage advances, as recommended
by the federal wage commission would
be based on salaries paid in Decem-
Der, 1915, it was apparent that the
increase which would be received by
a great many Topeka employees un-s
der the arrangement would be small
II some cases, it was said in railway
circles, employees will receive no ad-
vance at all. These conditions, it wae
pointed out, are brought about by the
recommended policy of deductinG
from the wage commissions recom-
mended increase, all advances made
by the individual roads since Decem-
ber, 1915.
Santa Fe employees. in the shops.
offices and storehouse. have recetved
increases since December. 1915, aver
aging from 15 to nearly 80 per cent.
In the Santa Fe Offices. employees since
the time specified as the basis OF the
advance, have of course received their
bonus of 10 per cent. and individual
increases besides. In the shops the
! workers have been given the bonus
and Is per cent increase besides.
How 1t Will Work.
The recommendations of the wage
| commission, for instance. would ad-
vance the man who in December, 1915
was drawing SIS a month about II
per cent including deduction of any
| increase he may have had since
that time. The average railroad eni-
| ploye in Topeka who on December
or 80, 1915, was drawing s75 :
month is now drawing. under in
| creases allowed by the road from $40
| to $120, perhaps more. The Al per
cent increase over $75 would give him
S30.75, and if his salary today was
500 the increase of $25 would be
deducted leaving an increase under
the wage commissions recommends
tions of IS. 10 a month
| So complicated do the reconmend-
atoms of the commission seem, on the
face of the announcements that have
come from Washington, Topeka ofi1-
cials refuse to make a definite state
| ment relative to the effect they would
| have on the Topeka payroll. Other
than the fact that the deduction of
increases since December, 1915, will
cut down the increase to the present
salaries, it is asserted that 1t is almost
impossible to interpret other features
What About Trainmen?
There is considerable speculation az
to just what the recommendations will
mean 20 union men. Trainmen, for
instance, are drawing a wage now
averaging more than $3.50 a month,
the limit to the wage commissions
proposals. Whether or not the scale
announced applies only to employees
paid on a monthly basis, is not known,
but if It also embraces men paid by
the hour or other than a monthly
basis, it would leave the high priced
union men "out in the cold" Union
leaders have protested the proposed
arrangement.
| Officials here call attention to the
fact that Director General McAdoo
has not yet put his official o. K on
the proposals of the commission, and
many are inclined to believe that he
may not.
''McAdoo," said one Topeka official
today. likes to do things his own way;
and in times past committees haye
recommended things and when Me-
Adoo acted the committee would he
unable almost to recognize any of its
recommendations in the final order y