Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-27
More Wages Mean Nothing

Increased wages would mean moth
ing If cost OF living was also to in
crease. It would mean ruin to many.
for those who were SO unfortunate as
not to receive an increase would suffer
through the increased cost of living.
Alleged inequalities and discrimiua-
tious practiced against the workers by
the railroad managements. resulting in
discontent and unrest are set forth as
follows by Mr.. Jeffrey:
Locomotive crane operators working
within shop yards. rate fifty eight
cents per hour, time and one half after
eight hours and for Sundays ard hoH-
days; operating the identical crane out
side of shop yards, rate fifty three
cents per hour. straight time for Sun
days and holidays,
Engineers at part of power plants
SIXTY eight cents per hour. time and
half after eight hours and on SUNDAYS
and holidays: rest of engineers. fifty
two cents per hour, straight time on
Sundays and holidays.
Stationary fremen. forty nine and
half cents at part Of the plants {:
forty two cents per hour ut other plants.
Seat turner's, Philadelphia Terminal
division, forty three cents per hour ::
seat turner's. Camden Terminal di-
vision, thirty seven cents per hour
one master mechanic applies the law.
the other refuses to do so.
Clerks at Broad Street Station.
seven hours per day no work Satur-
day afternoon or Sundays. and eighty
eight days vacation per year with pay
clerks at engine houses, eight hours per
day every day in the year and no
Aracation-sll time lost deducted from
their earnings.
All efforts TO induce Regional Di
rector Mr.. Markham to equalize or cor
rect the inequalities have been without
result. He declines to do so, on the
grounds that If he corrects an in
equality or discrimination in one case,
ne must necessarily do so in all cases,
ana they are so, numerous that he does
not care to tackle the undertaking."
Finds Favor In This City
President Wilson's answer to IN.
railroad shopmen's wage demands. and
especially his appeal for truce be-
tween labor and capital until such time
as an economic readjustment can be
made, seems to have found favor with
men of affairs in this city.
Charles s. Calwell. president of the
Corn Exchange National Bank, ey
pressed approval of President Wilson s
view of the railroad workers demands.
should say that railroad men $
wages have gone up in proportion to
the cost of living said Mr.. Caiwel in
an interview. I'm many other lines,
however, wages have not kept pace with
the increasing cost of the necessaries
of life. The railroad workers have been
given increases beyond some other in .
dustries.
"The Presidents stand s. an entirely
proper one. We should all realize that
the time has come when we must stop
pyramidins wages.
.The government itself has been the
greatest food hoarder in the country.
Food supplies purchased by the gov
erDment should have been unloaded
earlier. The government did not want
10 put its food into the market before
the Gamers had a chance TO take car,
Of this seasons crop"
Nathan T. Folwell. like M. Cal
well. agreed thoroughly with the
Presidents attitude.
"President Wilson is entirely right. -
said Mr.. Folwell. There has to come
an end to this raising of wages, for
every increase in wages means also ar
Increase in the price of the product.
If that keeps on there will be no end
10 either. There has to be a point
beyond which we cannot 20.