The Washington herald., 1920-05-18
RAILROADS ASK
INCREASED PAY :
FOR EMPLOYEES
ooNrINUED IRON PA0T on.

CONTINUED FROM FACE oNE.
cipis thus laid down In the Law. be-
ileying that eficient or satisfactory
service cannot be expected for
wages that are not just and reason
able
"we desire 70 see the transporta-
tion work OF the country carried on
by employees who have no just cause
for dissatisfaction over their wage
rates. and we are not therefore be-
1, fore you % urge that your board
put q narrow or ililberaI construc-
ton upon the words Just and res
sonsble wage used IN the law.
I'VE believe. equally. that In re-
turn for a fair wage every employe
or organization Of employees should
feel obligated 20 give eficient and
ungrudging service"
See Peak OF Living Cost.
Mr.. Whittier believed that the peak
In the cost OF living had been
reached. and he therefore argued
that some principle should be en-
bodied In any award the board
might make that would enable rail-
roads TO readjust basic rates. He.
however, did not insist that the
rates should 60 down in proportion
10 the cost Of living
Tt Is not at sIlintended here 90
say that wage rates that your board
might award 10 meet the increased
cost Of living should be taken away
again as fast as. and In the very
ZANE percentage as. the cost OF liv-
ing comes down he said. This
would be, in effect. TO decree that
rsilroad employees should remain In
the same comparative sitSstion they
we're In before your award.
We are not asfIng or suggest
ing this. but II. as the costs OF liv-
ing go down toward the pre-war
basis. a less than proportionate de-
crease in basic wages were pro-
vidcd for. the employees would be
better and better OF. a. compared
with pre-war conditions. in spite
OF such reductions"
- Inerease I'm Payroll.
A table was presented showing
that the payroll had increased from
Sl.l3I.665.O 900 in 1915 10 S2.7sI.OOO. 900
in 1919 and that the percentage 20
gross earnings had Increased from
80 to So. The number Of employees
in that time ! ad risen from 1866
2l5 to l.s77.l6l.
J Although the side OF the em>
ployes had been presented in wash
ington. the beard at it's first ses-
sion in its permanent headquarters
here met representatives from prac-
ticaIly every railroad union.
They were present merely as
spectators. but b. NJ. Jewel, presi-
dent Of the American Railway De-
psrtment OF the American Fedora
tion Of Labor. took occasion 70 Is
sue a statement signed by prac-
tically every union involved. In
this he pointed out that of the
whole army OF transportation work
ers, - per cent of their families
are underfed, 6s per cent are under
clothed and 81 per cent are over
crowded or inadeqUstely housed.
He stated that 100000 employees 90
] not earn in a normal year S1.o75.
= The Representatives OF the unions
. were in session all day discussing
/ how they could eep their members
in line until a new award were
made. All painted dark pictures
! Of the futureunless wages were sd-
justed Immediately.
Contact with .-OutIaws."
They also came in direct contact
. with the outlaw SWltchmen : strlhe
here. They discovered that the
: transportation situation in the Chi
cago district was far from Norman.
with the embargo still on as Sf-
fecting many OF the roads. II was
admitted al Brotherhood headquar-
tiers that the striking switchmen
had not gone back to work. but that
the majority had drifted into other
employment. Z
It was brought out that business
interests are eNerting more and
. more pressure. both on railroads and
Brotherhood officials to relieve the
congestion.
Consequently the Brotherhoods
, are demanding both OF the railroads
and Labor Board that the wage
award be made at the earliest pos
sible moment. @. W. A.