Evening journal., 1919-04-07
, NEW CYCLE or HALLWAY WAGES.
''VV7


w posed changes. In railway wages says the
Railway Age. LESS than year the Railroad Wage
Commission made its report recommending advances Ia
TO all classes OF employees which it was estimated
would amount 20 about s3OOOO0O0O year. There were
numerous complaints that The advances made too
small The first employees TO be granted additional adj
vance were those in the shops, who given more in
General order No. q than The commission had recon-
mcnded Drccior-Gencral NcAdoo then appointed wage
board composed Of three railway officers and three officers
Of employees organizations. After receiving the recon-
mendations OF This board The drccorgencral made fur
her advances in the wages Of The shop employees roughly
estimated at sl5OOOOOO to s2OoOOOOO year. This
the first Of series OF advances made 10 special classes
OF employees which have amounted TO sJOOOOOOOO year,
and which with the advances made the rccommenda-
ons Of the wage commission have made the total adj
yanccs to date under government ss000OOOOO year."
The shop employees who granted the first special
advance year have recently presented petition for
another large advance It is estimated that ihc advance
now asked would amount TO Si5OOO0O0 year. The action
taken on their petition viii be important in itself but st
moro important president II another advance in wages
should he granted the shon employees OF whom there
are over 100000 there would Immediately be received
petitions for at proporlonale advances to the other
million and half employees If another advance should
be granted to the shop employees hard TO see how
could be refused to other employees, since The shop em
ploycs are both absolutely and relatively among the
highest paid men the railways To begin another cycle
Of advances in would mean further increases OF
hundreds Of millions OF dollars annually IN railway cx-
pcnscs u only necessary recall the experience OF
the last year 10 show that this statement is Justified
ARE the shop employees entitled TO higher wases?'
the Railway Age inquiries "Thcy base their petition on
the grounds That the rates established last are in
adequate and that further increase is needed TO meet
the oycr-risng cost Of living and to maintain more
equal dincrcnlia between classes Of railroad employees
and those engaged similar capacity in other industries
mi or lvfn will fo
rather than downward IL vast advances OF wages in the
various industries are continue. 10 may be that me
chancs employed in shpbulding arc paid higher wages
than railway shop employees; but practically an other
mechanics paid less, and substantially less IMAM
those of railways and comparison should be made with
mechanics Of all classes working under conditions COM
parable to those Of railways not merely with the one
class which, because Of exceptional conditions, happens
to be the highest paid
"rhe expenses Of the railways are out Of all pro-
portion TO their earnings in spite Of the large increases
in rates. The government incurred deficit Of over
sliOOOOOO0 operating them in the months Of November
December and january 10 viii have TO advance the rates
again TO avoid huge deficit in 1919 even If wages stay
where they are Every further advance in wages will
mean corresponding increase either in the deficit That
the taxpayers will have TO pay in the rates that tray
ecrs and shippers viii have TO pay Have railway en-
ployes whose wages average forty-iNc per cent.
more than year ago better right TO stll further adj
vancos than the public has TO protection from the in
creass OF taxes or rates. both that further advances
in wages would render necessary? That is the question
really raised by the beginning Of new movement for
advances in railway wages.
"The enormous advances in wages following those made
on The Recommendation OF the Railroad Wage Commis-
sion last year were made IN such way that the press
and public were not informed and do not know now the
exact grounds upon which they were asked for and
granted The failure TO give adequate publicity TO these
matters was not iustnablc in time Of war; h would
be stil more uniuslinabe in time Of peace. The public
has To- pay the bill and has right TO know what and why
n is asked 10 pay The United States occasionally
reminded is democracy, and it is not consistent with
the principles Of democracy for wage advances That
will cost the public hundreds of millions to be made as
advances in railway wages amounting 10 over half Bill
lion dollars year have been made within the last year
'The Railroad Administration should see that the pub
lie informed as to exactly what the railway shop cm-
poycs are asking; as TO the advanced for and
against granting their demands and TO The reasons
for the decision finally reached by The Administration
Then the public will be able form an intelligent opinion
as TO the rcasonabeness and justice Of what is demanded
and what is done: and there will be less danger that
things that are neither reasonable nor just will be done
In view Of The prominence Of Frank r. kndell in the
Volunteer Fire Department and in political and fraerna
circles 30 was natural to expect That his funeral would
I'll