The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-21
Brotherhoods Probably Will
Submit Rail Wage Award to
Referendum of the Workers
Six Hundred Million Increase
Granted to 100000 En-
ployes, Equivalent to 2l
Percent Largest Increase
for Yardmen

Chicago. July 20.-Whcther the spec
tor OF a nationwide railway strike has
been laid by the $500. 100000 wage IN
crease granted today 10 more than l.
100000 railroad employees tonight re-
manned undecided.
Brotherhood officials after all day
conferences made no attempt 10 con-
Ceal their disappointment that they did
not get all Of the billion dollar increase
they asked. The belief grew. however.
in the absence Of any talk OF an !mme-
diatc strikE that the union officials
would submit the award. probably with
Of the men. \ decision on this point
was promised tomorrow by W. q. l."
OF Cleveland. grand president OF tho
Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen.
There will be no G,,jdGisss iGsa 1si1SSi Ggf!Sw
strike" Mr.. Lee. said. Whether the
railroad wage award IS accepted or re-
jccted. the union action Will DC con-
ccrted and deliberate"
The various brotherhood groups con-
ferrcd far into the night on the wage
awards. but no announcement was mace
by any Of thcm as to what action had
been taken. Each group will report at
general meeting tomorrow at %hlcn
il was expected decision wouLo DO
reached on the award.
Paying tho Freight.
The railroad representatives accepted
the award philoSophically and immedl-'
atcly set about plans for passing the
$50, ,000. 900 addition to their wage ouo-
get along TO the ultimate consumcr-ln
this case the man who pays the freight.
Armed with reliable advance knowledge
as TO what the award would provide the
railroads had their figures ready. judge
r. VI. Barton. chairman or the nitea
states Railway Labor board, had harI-
lv handed down his decision, when r. T.
Whittier. representing the more than
four hundred railroads involved. an
nounced that the roads would need an
increase Of Is per cent in freight rates
state Commerce commission viii nS
asked TO spread the increase over both
freight and passenger rates.
rwenty-one Per Cent increase. increase
o1-per-cent increase in the pay Of the
roiiroad men. For the first time N
history the roads payrolls this year
will pass the rhree- billion dollar mark.
Mr.. Whittier estimated the 1920 pay
rolls at $3.344oOo.Ooo more than double
the sl.I6s.576, ,394 paid in 1915.
The boards award was made retroac-
tive to May |, with provision that back
pay for three months fa!! d1e Angus,
/ when $3.50. 100000 is to be distributed
in addition 10 the regular pay: YARD
service engineers. fremen and hel l.,ers,
who received an hourly Increase OF Is
cents, will get the biggest back pay
checks. their three months award to-
falling S1l0.1s.
Largest Increase for Yardmer-
In the decision the board follower
the broad general policy laid down nE
the Lane commission. appointed In l9lS'
that the man who received the least
should get the most.
The one notable exception to this gem
eral rule was tho yard service men.
whose IS cents an hour increase toppcd
all others. Here, the board explained.
the deciding factors were tho extreme
hazard 10 life and limb and the degree
OF skill.
the men. will bring to q close. at least
for the present, the beard believes, the
seemingly eAdless cycle Of wage de-
u,auds from the railway workers.
Decision Not Unanimous.
The decision. Chairman Barton eH-
plained was not unanimous one, some
members dissenting on nearly every sec
ton. The awards given were by ma
jorty vote on each section. with at least
one member Of the public group voting
for each award.
Demands OF The railroad men who
struck last April and formed new unions
are ignored BY the board. No refer
ence !s made to the strikers on their
den,anrS The Soard had refused TO
hear representative OF the new unions.
holding with the old hrotherhoodS. that
the me were already represented by the
officials Of the recognized unions.
In addition to the Is recognized orotn-
(6onttuusd on Page Tsn-)