The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-08-29
RA|lROAOERS MUST
WAIT FOR INCREASE
PRESIDENT TELLS WORKERS
NORMAL CONDITIONS WILL
SOON PREVAIL
SMALL INCREASE GRANTED
Shopmen Allowed Four Cents an Hour.
President Says Time Is not Feas.
ibie to Increase Freight Rates
in Order to Raise Wages

Washington Aug ~. = Postpone
ment of the settlement of wage de-
mantl> until normal economic condi'
tionS are restored was announced yes.
terday by President Wilson as the pol
icy which the administration will rur-
sue in dealing with such questions,
particularly those affecting railroad
workers.
The president announced also that
II was neither Il wise nor feasible
thing at this time. when the most inn
portant question before the country is
Il return to Il normal price level. TO
attempt to increase freight rates 10
provide funds for higher wages.
We ought to postpone questions of
this sort until we have the opportunity
for certain calculation as tn the rela
tionS between wages and the cost Of
living. the president declared in Il
statement to the public explaining his
decision as to wages. Il, is the duty
of every citizen ~ insist upon II truce
in such contests until intelligent set
Elements can he made. and made by
peace and effective common counsel.
I appeal to my fellow citizens OF every
employment to cooperate in insisting
upon and maintaining such Il truce"
Mr.. Wilson's statement was ISSUED
in connection with the decision of him
self and Director General Hines on
demands of railroad shopmen for
:! per cent advance in wages. hut
the general policy pronounced covers
also the wage demands Of other hun
dredS of thousands of railroad workers
which are pending before The direc-
Tor general or are, about To be pre-
scented. 1t is to be expected that other
unions trying to obtain more pay will
tie asked. rs are the >hopinen. Ia play
their part with other citizens in re-
,lllciug the cost of living hy foregoing
Il temporary advantage which would
add to transportation costs.
Get Four Cents an Hour More.
The decision of the president and
The director general WAS announced 10
y committee of 100 representing the
>hopmen. In reply To their demands
for a - per cent increase. the shop.
men We're asked to accept an adjust
Inent Of their pay on the basis of 10
hours pay for eight hour>' work.
which they contended WAS given other
employees ana denied them when The
Adam>on law became effective This
means an advance IT the basic pay
from GS cents to - cents an hour
whereas an increase of Il cents To s..
cents an hour was demanded
In view of the delay "f the rail
road administrator board on wages
and working conditions in repnrtin.
on the Demand of The >hapnen. hi.
rector General Hines recommended
that the new rate uf pay be made re.
1roactive from May l. although the
boards report WIS made July 16 the
date Of report generally being taken
as The retroactive date.
Under the new scale Of wages. ma.
chni>tS. tool markers, hoiermakerS.
riveterS. hlackSmith>. sheet metal
workers and electricians. all Of whom
c"ive - cents. Helpers will receive
~ cents an hour instead Of The pres
ent wage of As cents.
Acting President Jewell of the rail
way employees department Of the
American Federation and his advisers
said they would communicate the de
cision To the union locals for accent
ance or rejection. \ strike vote com.
pleted Sunday. but not Yet ,abulated.
WAS on the question whether the men
should quit work to enforce considera.
lion of their demands by the railroad
administration instead of hv a con.
%reSSonal commission as first suggest
Ell. As this plan was abandoned. the
vote. whatever its results j. non-ef~
fective. and the shopmen now hav,
an entirely new question before them