Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-26
PRESIDENT PREFERS
MEN AWAIT RETURN
OF NORMAL TIMES

thousands Il higher class iiication and
higher pay than they previously en-
wages paid for similar work in shin
have cited as higher paid, Mr. Hines
said. we're higher because the work
was temporary and carried OH under
.@sreat pressure. and also the woTkmen
were forced TO live in conscsted dis
: high while railroad shopmcn generally
have the advantage OF small or semi
rural communitiss, f ,nmd industrie Y
Ing about ; cents an hour more
Than the railroad administration. which
Conference VIII be cqualizcd under the
accent advance
Fnvors Adequate Compensation.
II approach this matter" MIR. Hines
said, in his report. with the clearcst
j conviction that the railroads must be
conducted now and for all timo in the
future III such way TO give to
railroad employees an adequate COM
pensation and liberal share in the
returns from railroad operation. This
Is not only justly due to the employees
who make possible the rendition OF
the service. but il is obviously in the
interest OF good service. 1t is true
now and will hc true to continually
increasing extent, in the future that
railroad labor will be indispensable to
efficient railroad service. and this con-
tentinen, cannot exist unless the evil
dence Of fair treatment is SO clear
that II Will carry conviction to the
railroad employees themselves"
inerea sea for mo 70 ne lcgm,sran hour
director general ordered that all
freiSh, ear rerairmen. receive 81 cents
car reDairers. and IS cents for wooden
car repa'rcrs, and that car inspectors
SHOULD receive s7 cents instead of
So cents with the exception in
10th classes that the increase for
men employed at outlying points,
Where NC work is not continuous shall
DC cents an hour.
President Issues Statement
Tho Presidents statement addressed
TO the public follows:
NY rellow- Citizens: A situation has
arisen IN connection with the adIninis-
ration Of the 2aAways which is or
such general s!Gnl ac2ircc that think
II my duty to make public tatcment
concerning ii. IN order that the whole
country may know what is involved.
me railroad shormcn have demand
G nov arg SnSs,y increase n WAGE They are
nour. They demand SIS cents per hour.
ms demand has been given careful
ana serious consideration by the boa rd
Which was constituted by the railroad
administration TO adjust questions of
waEes board consisting OF an equal
nloyees and OF the operating manarnrs
OF the railroad companies. This board
mas been unable TO come TO an agree
mont, and II has. therefore, deyolvcd
upon the director general Of rail-
roads and myself to &C; upon The
me shopmen urge they are entitled
10 hiGhtF wages because OF the higher
MassS for the present received by men
n"inS sim liar work in shIpyards navy
ysrds and arsenais, as well as in .
number OF private industries. but
concur with tho director general in
OF comparison between the settled en-
pioyment Afforded mechanics By the
. s,trosds under living conditions as
mss o. the railway shops themselves
ana OF the calculating employment az
foTded In industries cxceptionally and
temporarily stimulated by tho wa - MI
coated, almost without exception in
inoustrial centers where the cost OF
Ihscunses Argument Of shopmen.
The substantial argument which The
shopmcn urge is tho very serious in,
creaso IN the cost OF living THIS is 4,
Cs 10y 2 o,Snt arSument indeed But The
AMY reached Is peak. and viii prob.
seiE be lowered By the efforts ah!cl
are now everywhere being concerto
and carried out. 1t will Certainly hs
loworcd so soon a there are settled
eondi,ons OF production and Of com.
ineFcc; That Is, so soon as the Treaty n,
peace Is ratined and IN operation an,
nefchihis' inanutacturcrs, farmers
n minsis al fAN e, eer,ai2 basis Of cal.
VII be and what tAc conditions vi
% uhder which d, mus, be conducted
effect. this: 80 II
That We make increase in wages
which are likely 10 be pcrmanrot 1,
order to meet a temporary situaiinI
which viii last nobody can certain
ieii how long. but In AL! prohnbiliti
only for limited time Incrcssc !,
wages VIII, moreover certainly rcsui
IN stu further increasing the costs o
production. and, therefore the cost q
!iVing, and we should only have 10 .,
throush the same process again An
s SUI, increase Of wages in lead
ing lines OF Industry al this time wouI
utterly crush the general campo Z
which the goYcrnment Is wawinS vii
energy. visor and substantial hone 4
success 10 reduce the high Coz, g
living.
incT~1sed Co~t OF Transportation,
And the increases In the cost =
transportation. which would necc.
sariiy result from Increases in wage
OF railway employees. would more Ger
t.in!y and more Immediately have tina
cHect ihan any other enhanced wag