The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-11
RAIL men GIVEN
WAGE INCREASE
OF S. MILLION
New Advances Raise Total
Payroll of American Rail-
roads to $4,000, 900, 900.
(By Associated Press)

vanceS aggregat1ng $65,UUU.uVU were
ordered today by Director General
Hines for four hundred thousand rail-
road engineers, fremen, trainmen and
conductors in both passenger and
freight service-members of the 'big
four railway brotherhoods-retro-
active since January 1. 1919. The
brotherhood demands for time and a
half pay for overtime was granted
only for men engaged in yard service
and for the others this question was
referred to the railroad administra-
tion's board Of adjustment number
one already created for consideration
Of disputes relating to railway train
men and enginemen.
The increases were arranged ac-
cording to a contemplated schedule.
one Of the aims Of which was to re-
store the wage relationship existing
before the railroads increase in wages
last year. The average advance IN
pay per man per year will be about
$3.50.
Raised Three Billion
Including today's order the aggre-
gate pay increases allowed by the
railroad administration to the two
million railroad employees is at the
rate Of $822,311 900 year, more than
$400 average per man. Thus the total
payroll of Americas railroads is rails
ed nearly to $3.000.000,000 year from
the basis of approximately $2,000,000,-
900 on January l, 1918. when the
roads passed into the governments
hands.
The $e5,0Oo,ooo added to the pay.
rolls Of members Of the "big four" bro
therhoods brings the total granted this
class Of employees in the last three
years to approximately $275. 100000, or
approximately $500 per man. This
takes into consideration the $140.000.-
900, estimated as the brotherhood 8
share of the general wage increase
last year and $70,000.000 estimated as
the fruit for these men from the Adam
son act which established basic
eight hour day but did not put into
effect the brotherhood's pleas for time
and a half for overtime.
Back pay for work since January l
will be given the brotherhood men as
soon as the railway paymasters can
work out the amount due. This may
take a month or even more to conf
| plete.
In the first general wage advance
made by the railroad administration
following the recommendations OF the
railroad wage commission, approx
mately $400.000.0o0 a year was dis
tributed among railroad employees.
About s14O,O00,000 Of this went to the
trainmen and engineers and about
$3.50, ,OOO, 900 to other employees. On
supplemental orders about $50, 1000, 900
was added to payrolls of the shopmen
about the same to maintenance-of-
way men and clerks, and about $45,-
100000 to telegraphers and station
agents. Railway accountants calcula-
tedthat in 1915 and 1917, the years i'm
mediately preceding government con-
troll, the railway companies increased
wages $3.50 1000, 900. With the $S22,-
O0O, 900 added by the railroad admins
tration the aggregate advance OF rail-
road mems wages in three years Is
set at approximately $1.172,000,0OO or
about $3.50 per man. The railroad
payroll in 1917 was calculated at ST.
75O. 900 900, in 1918 at $2,53S, 900, 900.
and this year at 1882, 100000.
Comparatively small increases in
nav are expected soon for dining car
and sleeping car employees.
| Director General Hines in his analy'
sis of wage situation under govern
ment control explained that at the end
of last year employees wages had not
been raised to a rate which would
have added $754,s11, 900 to the aggre'
gate railroad payroll if it had been
effective through the entire year He
added to this the sum of S67, 100000
to cover increases for the brotherhood
men in the order today and for dining
car, sleeping car and police employees.
The aggregate for the latter three
classes is estimated at about $4,000
900, having approximately $65,OOO,0OO
for the brotherhood men.
Count on Rate Increase.
The actual payment under increased
wage orders last year was $538,OOO..
900, according to Mr.. Hines calcula'
ton. Railroad companies estimate
the wage increases at nearly 500, ,0OO,-
900 more than the railroad administra'
ton.
Railroad accountants calculate that
about $1,000, 100000 a year will be
forthcoming from the rate increase
last year. The railroad administra-
tion's figures today on wage additions
indicate that more than eighty per
cent of this is eaten up in wages.