The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-09
FROM 81 TO $34
MORE A MONTH
ASKED FOR MEN
Increases Ranging From
One to FOrty-three Per
Cent. Urged.
LIVING COSTS ARE BLAMED
Hours and Overtime Pay
Questions Deferred Until
After War Ends.
LIVING COSTS ARE BLAMED
Special DsspotcA 10 TIE srx.

Special DsspotcA 10 TIE SuN
WASHINGTON. May s.--An increase in
wages ranging as high as - Der cent.
and graded down to fraction Of per
cent. is recommended for ell Of the
railroad employees Of the country in
the report Of the Railroad Wage Com.
mission to Director General Of Rail-
roads McAdoo.
In dollars the wage advances recon-
rlended range from 81 to as much as
:3f month. The lowest paid en-
p'oyees. those getting from $46 TO $50
: month, get the maximum percentage
uf increase. The percentage grades
out at nothing when the $3.50 a month
mark Is reached.
II the increases as recommended by
the wage board are approved by the
Director.General they will entail an
additional wage expenditure by the
railroads aggregating $300. .000, 900 a
year. They are made retroactive to
January l and the railroad workers
will collect back pay aggregating
s100.o00.0oo for the four months up to
May /.
The report OF the commission ap-
pointed by Director General McAdoo
recommending these wage advances
was unapimous. It was signed by
Franklin X. Lane. Secretary Of the
Interior. - chairman: by Interstate
Commerce- Commissioner AcChord.
Justice ]. Harry Covington OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia Supreme Court. and
william r. Wilcox, former chairman
Of the Republican National Committee.
Reasons for AAvaace.
In declaring the principle upon which
1t based its findings the commission said,
after citing the increased cost Of living
in fairness therefore a sufficient in
crease should be granted to maintain
that standard Of living which had OBJ
tained In tho pre-war period. when con.
fessedly prices and wages were both
low. And upon those who can best af-
ford to sacrifice should be cast the great
burden"
1t was in accordance with this prin-
ciple that the increases recommended
we're graded. Those oflicials and en-
ployees getting $3.50 or more a month
will not participate In the increases.
The commission found as an economic
fact that those getting the greater wage
better were able to make economies and
absorb rising costs than those getting
the lowest wage. who had nothing but
the barest necessities and could not cut
down.
Consequently all Of the increases car.
risd were worked out upon . percentage
basis. This was deemed to carry q fuller
measure of fairness and justice. 1t wal
pointed out. however. that nat increase
OF $40 a month would increase the rail
road budget by half = billion dollars
1t is Significant that the percentage
Increases granted apply ON the wages
ployees who have received increases
since that time will have the amount o.
such increase deducted from the per
centage raise recommended In the re
port. II 10 urged. however. that in ana
case where increases given by the road
in the two years 1915 and 1917 are II
excess Of the commissions recommends
tons that no cut be made.
Find Dollar Has shrunk.
The increases carried we're baset
solely upon the rising cost OF living. IN
commission finding that the purchasing
mower Of the dollar had shrunk to ,
shocking extent" In the two year period
dropping to q II cent equivalent.
1t is recommended that no change b
made in the hours Of service now In -ef
iect, nor in the method Of payment 70
overtime services. The eight hour da!
demanded is mot recommended. OH tn
ground that such q course would prov
disastrous In view OF the shortage o
men and the inability to fill the ranks a
Ibis time. The report declares the eigh
hour day Ii coming. but that this Is no
the time for II on the railroads
One OF the most significant statement
In the report is the declaration that
reduction In hours does not constltut
an increase In pay and that It Is IN
commissions view that such reduction
were made in good faith as reductio
of hours. This declaration Will anee
every member Of the railroad brotnei
hoods who under the agreement ratihe
py the Adamson law got ten hours pa
for eight hours work In September lSl'
at the time Of the threatened brother
moods strike. This means that any "
crease" received at that time Will not
deducted from the one recommended D
The wage commission.
OMciaIs Highly Paid.
Another s,Enificant chapter In the r.
rort deals with salaries OF railroad on
,iaIs The commission made an inquii
,e1.rdinR all salaries Of of1cials abcN
5000 per annum and Of services pc
,ormed. II was found that the "a
,ries paid such officials ranged as hi1
IS 500, 900 q year and totaiieo approx
inateiy S30.00O 900 a year.
The commission concluded that II
,casonabiy clear from the facts gat'
red that the substantial readjustme
II such salaries may be made and u
efficient operation Of the railroads pr
,roted thereby. Such readjustnent
alaries. however, presents an individu
roposition as applicable to each ofnc'i