Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-23
RAILWAY WORKERS
DEMAND MORE PAY
Improved Working Conditions
Wanted Before Government
Surrenders Control.
ASK PLEDGES BE FULFILLED
Employees Assert They Are Pre-
pared for Finish Fight With
Administration.
ASK PLEDGES BE FULFILLED
LRy Associated pressl

WASHINGTON. oct. 22.-Railroad
employees are prepared for finish
fight with the railroad administration
for increased wages, time and d half
overtime and improved working con-
d!tions before the government surren-
ders the roads to private control.
ha been serHed 49tee bot to hs eject
the tiremen. appearing be fore the
board OF railway wages and working
II our demands for living wage
should not be met when the time APP
roads 70 their private owners" Mr..
shea said, in testimony which became
puoiic tonight. we shall demand as a
OF !ao9r-the living wage. the eight
hour day on all Federal-controlled
and other principles to which the gov
eminent pledged itself during the war
which nave now been made a part of
the treaty Of peace and which so far
tho railroad administration has never
Appears for Firemen.
While MIR. Shea was appearing on be-
half Of the irem.n only. it has been
recognized generally that wage in
cfeaScs for any one class OF raiIroa Il
employees meant an advance for all
workers. Furthermore. Mr.. Shea said.
ne anticipated that the failure of the
Sf yinr Wifi soTs IT'S to refuge the cost
would make necessary advances in pay
FOR all workers. and predicted that by
November / the wage board would be
forced to consider further requests for
general increases" from railroad en-
ployecs.
Thus, /, is the view here that the
government. as operator OF the rail
transports ton system. will be face to
labor crisis which arose J,,rinv ne ne
summer: AT that time. President viii
son denied the request OF the shopmen
ground that the Vicious G Circle" % 'ne OF
rising wages and mounting prices had
9y To eeme sToulG ID Sa Sa e1d and tha The
Reconstruction after the war period.
Claim Living Cost Decreased.
How D!rector-General Hines and mis-
lStants propose TO meet the situa-
siGered si9e eas ce9iais a9i been dlsed Il is
Wilson drst Will be eonsni,cd. nsni sesiaeht Raiit
road administration officials declare
lever peen so good as at present. and
in pointing 10 the last report OF the
Laoor Department showing a decrease
of 10 per cent in living costs in Au-
gust, intimate that the impendin ?
crisis viii be solved in par; by natur-
al economic forces. plus Attorney
Ieneral Palmer's efforts TO take tho
imitation out of prices
There were indicati tions today Of an
approaching showdown" between The
railroad administration and the Broth
erhood OF Railway Trainmen and En-
glnemen. who asked increased wages
last summer. The report OF the wage
board on the demands has been sent
TO the director-general who will meet
President w. G.. Lee and his commit
tee next Wednesday. The committee,
composed OF the sixteen general chair
men OF districts and six officers of the
grand lodge, will hold preliminary
meeting here Tuesday.
There is no ultimatum about our
meeting" President Lee said today.
and it does not necessarily involve a
strike. though the committee has been
given full power 10 take any steps
necessary or desirable"
The shopmen. like the trainmen.
have given their committee full power
to call a strike whenever it appeared
advisable.
Mr. Hines quashed one unauthor-
lied strike today. after cxhausting
every means OF peaceful negotiation.
by giving the idle express workers in
New York until Friday night to return
"a work or find their places filled. They
went back to work.
In addition to the labor troubles be-
setting ii. the railroad administration
also is heing called on by the railroad
officials to provide an increase in rates
to take care of the operating deficit
caused by the higher prices of labor
and materials. Despite the announced
policy that no increase would be made
by the director-general in the short
a committee from the Association of
Railway Executives. headed by Presi-
dent +. Dewitt Cuyler, will confer
with him tomorrow on the situation
which will confront the roads when
they are turned back TO private own
ership.