The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-20
WAGE INCREASE
rs GRANTED
(Continued from gage IL

were fixed according to the boat or
tug. For tug captains the wage was
set at from $3.50 to $3.50 per month.
Steamship captains ranged from $3.50
to $3.50 per month.
With the increases retroactive 10
May /, 1920, Judge Barton said soma
time will be necessary to determine
the amount due each worker. the
computation of these amounts Will ne
left to the clerical departments OF
each road.
The board specifically avoided de-
termining compensation for ot1clals
of the various roads.
The decision of the board was not
unanimous. The award declared the
!, increase represented the Judgment oil
the majority Of the board"
No announcement was made OF the
Individual stand Of members.
In reaching its decision, the board
said it took into consideration the
following:
Scale of wages for similar work IN
other industries.
Relation of wages to the cost OF
living
Hazards of employment.
Training and skill required.
The degree of responsibility.
The character and regularity of the
employment, and
Inequalities Of increase in wages or
of treatment, the result of previous
wage orders or adjustments, and
"Other relevant circumstances.
The award said it found with few
exceptions railroad employment Is
more regular and the character OF the
work is more desirable than like oc-
equations outside"
at is clear that the cost of living
in the United States has increased ap-
proximately 100 per cent since 1914,
the report said. TN many instances
the increase to employees herein fixed,
together with prior increases, exceed
this figure,
Anticipating the award would not
meet universal favor and attempting
to aIlay dissatisfaction, the board de-
clared these persons who consider
the rates determined on herein TOO
high should reflect on the abnormal
conditions resulting from the high
cost of living and the high rates now
being paid in other industries. me
employees who may believe these rates
too low should consider the increased
burden these rates will place on their
fellow countrymen. many of whom are
less favorably situated than them
Selves"
An effort was made, the statement
said, to arrive at an increase sufficient
to provide "a decent living and secure
for the children of the wage earners
opportunity for education" without
showing preference" for any class
because the great mass of the people
must ultimately pay a great part or
an increased cost of operation en-
tailed by the increase in wages.
If railroad labor will render the
best service of which it is capable"
the award then declares, 'the Ameri-
can people will receive benefits far
outweighing the cost of the increases
decided upon" The board asks in
making the award that it serve as an
inspiration to workers to attempt bet
ter service to the public and a spirit
of cooperation. This will result in
eonomices of material and labor and
solution in transportation difficulties,
it said The public deserves and has
a right to expect this spirit, board
members declared.
From 20 to 81 Percent.
CHICAGO July 20.-Railroad wage
Increases totalling almost 100000, 600
a year were awarded today by the
United States railway labor board.
Union heads went into session al
most Immediately after the printed
decision had been made public. They
expected by their approval or dis
approval today or tomorrow, to indi-
cate whether business may move
ahead now or whether it will continue
to be hampered by strikes.
The increase awards for the most
part were on an hourly basis, rang
ing from 13 and Is cents per hour
tor the more poorly paid workmen to
IN average of s and 10 cents for the
higher grades such as train and en-
ginemen.
The increases, roughly, averaged
from 20 to 81 percent Demands by
the unions had run from 80 to 65
percent.
Judge r. M. Barton, chairman Of
The rail labor board, after announce
henL of the awards said:
This award necessarily in the end
will have to be paid by the public
md will result in increased freight
!ates.
Efficient railroad service has been
iifficult and sometimes impossible
With the men receiving the wages
hey did The board has been fair
ind just in this complex and intri-
.ate problem" .a.
E. T. Whittier, chairman Of the
executive board of railway managers
ifter cursory reading of the deci-
lion, said:
az have not read the decision en-
Hrely. but can say that the railways
will abide by the boards award"
Timothy Shea. head of the firemen's
brotherhood, merely said the boards
decision would be considered care
hlly at a meeting of nearly two
thousand union leaders and a formal
tatement made after each section OF
he award had been considered.
The decision, after a preamble, set
ing forth the history of the hoard