The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-07-22
BIG INCREASE
Six Hundred Million
Dollars Added To
Payroll OF Rail-
way Men.
way Men.
DOUBLE WAGES OF 1915.

Six hundred million dollars was
added 70 the pay envelopes Of the
nations 1000, 900 railroad workers
last Tuesday in the first award hand
ed down by the new United States
Railway Labor Board.
Rejecting the demands Of the or
gained rail unions for increases
totaling approximately $1,000. OOO.-
900. the board decided approximate
~ go per cent Of that sum would be
just increase TO meet present liv-
ing conditions.
The award adds approximately 2l
per cent to the present pay schedules.
Railroad officials have declared that
any pay increase awarded the men
must be followed by a correspond
ing increase in rates, and they plan.
il is said. TO file new tariffs with the
Interstate Commerce Commission as
soon as they can be prepared.
Referendum Vote Likely.
Whether the award as given will
stave off the threat Of general
railroad strike remains TO be seen.
The leaders Of practically every one
Of the sixteen big railroad unions
were present when Judge r. NJ. Bar
ton. chairman Of the board. handed
down the decision. They left i'm
mediately to present the award TO
1000 general chsirmen, who had
gathered here TO pass on its accepta-
bility. The union presidents refus-
ed TO make any comment before the
meeting. The approximate terms Of
the decision had been known to them
last Monday and they believed then
their men would stay in line. at least
until a referendum vote can be taken.
Nearly a month will be needed for
the referendum.
The boards decision is Retroactive
TO May /. As the maximum increase
granted any class was Is cents an
hour. or S36.72 per month. the big
gest pay check due when the back
pay settlement is made August will
be for sii0.l6. Engineers. iremen
and helpers in the yard service will
receive this amount The board pro-
vides that the back pay checks shall
be made out separately so that each
man will know the amount he re-
ceives from that source.
Seven Points Considsred.
Seven things were taken into con-
sideration in arriving at the award.
the preamble Of the boards an
nouncement says. They were:
The scale paid for similar kinds
Of work in other industries;
The relation between wages and
the cost Of living;
The hazards Of the smploymeats;
Training and skill required;
Degree Of responsibility
Character and regularity Of the
employment
"eteshss~s ~ tuefsSsc anu tfest-
msnt resulting from previous wage
orders"
Those persons who consider the
rates determined on herein too high
should reflect on the abnormal con-
ditions resulting from the high cost
Of living and the high rates now be-
ing paid in other industries" the
board said. The employees who may
believe these rates too low should
consider the increased burden these
rates will place on their fellow coun-
trymen. many Of whom are less
favorably situated than themselves.
The board has endeavored TO fix
such wages as will provide a decent
living and secure for the children Of
the wagearners opportunity for edu-
cation. and yet to remember that no
class Of Americans should receive
preferred treatment and that the
great mass Of the people must ulti-
nately pay a great part Of the In
creased cost Of operation entitled by
the increase in wages determined
herein"