The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-18

engaged in yard service and for the
others this question was referred to
the railroad administrations board
of adjustment Number One, already
created for consideration Of disputes
relating to railway trainmen and en-
ginemen.
The increases were arranged &C.
cording to a contemplated schedule,
one of the aims of which was to re-
store the wage relationship existing
before the railroads increase in wa
ges last year. The average advance
in pay per man per year will be
about $160.
This action practically completed
the war cycle of wage increases
granted railroad men since the gov
ernment took over management of
the roads Is months ago Only few
minor requests for more pay re.
main to be acted on.
War Increases Average $400 a Man.
Including today's order the aggre.
gate pay increases allowed by the
railroad administration to the two
million employees is at the rate of
S822,311,O0O a year, more than s4O0
average per man.
Thus the total payroll for Ameri-
cas- railroads is raised nearly $4,000.
100000 year from the basis of ap.
proximately $2,OOO,OOO,OOO on Janu-
ary 1, 1918, when the roads passed
into the governments hands.
The s65,00O, 1000 added to the pay.
rolls of member of the "Big -Four
brotherhoods brings the total grant
ed this class of employees in the last
three years to approximately $275,.
100000 or approximately $500 per
man. This takes into consideration
the s140,00Q,OO0 estimated as the
brotherhood's share of the general
wage increase last year. and s7O,-
100000 estimated as the fruit for
these men from the Adamson act
which established a basic eight-hour
day but did not put into effect the
brotherhood's pleas for time and a
half overtime.
Back Pay Being Computed.
Back pay for work since January
1, will be given the brotherhood men
as soon as railway paymasters can
work out the amount due. This may
take a month or even more to COM
plete.
In announcing the incIease, Direc-
tor General Hines explained that the
same principles were followed as
were applied by the railroad ad-
ministration during the war. These
principles included the adjustment
OF wages to living costs and to vari-
Gus classes of employment.
In the first general wage advance
made by the railroad administration
following the recommendations of
the railroad wage commission, ap-
proximately s4OO,OOO,OOO a year was
distributed among railroad employees.
About s140,000,OOO of this went to
trainmen and enginemen and about
$3.50, 100000 to other employees. On
supplemental orders about $3.50, ,000-
600 was added to payrolls of the
shop men, about the same to main
tenance of waymen and clerks and
about $45, agents. Railway account
ants calculated that in 1916 and
1917, the years Immediately preced-
ing government control, the railway
companies increased wages $780,
100000. With the $822,OOO,00O
added by the railroad administration
the aggregate advance of railroad
mems wages in three year is set at
approximately s1,172,O00,OOO, or
about $3.50 per man The railroad
payroll in 1917 was calculated at
$1,750,OO0,OOO, in 1913 was ST.
538,000,000 and this year at ST.
1922, 100000.
Comparatively small increases in
pay are expected soon for dining car
and sleeping car employees.
ssgsa- Ssgssys
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