Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-07-20
q PCT. INCREASE
TO TAKE BALLOT
Means Is Pct. Freight
Rate Increase, Says
Whittier

WASHINGTON, July 20-Immedi-
ately upon receipt of the announce
ment of the wage award, the rail
road executives in session here, went
into conference today to frame rec
concentrations to the Interstate Com
merce Comm'sy on for an advance in
rates to meet the added expense.
CHICAGO, July 20--Tha United
States Railway Labor Boaci todav
awarded nearly two million organiz-
ed workers inch eases in wages totall-
ing $600,9 fC0. The increases
amount approximately to 21 per cent
of the present rate of pay. The award
is retroactive to May /, this year.
The board assumes as the basis
for this decision," the award says "a
continuance in full force and effect
of the rules, working cond 1cns and
agreements in force under the 50
thority of the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration. The intent of this de-
cision is that the named increase, ex-
cept as otherwise stated, shall be ad.
ded to the rates of compensation es-
tablished by the railroad administra-
tion." 4
The decision grants approximately
sixty per cent of the billion dollar in
crease which the railroad workers
sought.
Whether the award as given will
stave off the threat of general rail-
road strike remains to be seen. The
leaders of practically all of the six
teen big railroad unions who were
present when the award was announc-
award to the one thousand general
ed left Immediately to present the
chairmen gathered here to pass upon
its acceptability. They refused to
make any comment before the meet
ing.
An eighteen per cent increase in
freight rates will be necessary to
meet the wage awards, E. T. Whit
tier, representative of the railroads
in hearings before the labor board,
announced.
The new railroad unions which call
ed a series of strikes this spring will
submit the boards decision to a ref
erendum vote of their membership,
John Granau, president of the Chica-
go Yardmasters Association, declar-
ed.
Train dispatchers are given an in
crease of 13 cents an hour and yard
masters and assistant yardmasters,
10 cents an hour
The following increases are added
to the established rates for clerical
and station forces:
Storekeepers, chief clerks, foremen
and other clerical supervisory forces,
clerks with one or more years rail-
road experience, train and engine
crew callers, assistant station masters
train announcers, gatemen and bag
gage and parcel room employees, 5
cents an hour.
Janitors, elevator and telephone
operators, watchmen, employees of op-
Grating office appliances and similar
work, 10 cents an hour.
Freight handlers or truckers IL
cents an hour.
All common laborers in and around
stations, storehouses and warehouses
not otherwise provided for 8 IL cents
an hour.
Clerks of less than one years ex-
perience, 6 1-2 cents an hour.
Office boys, messengers and other
employees under f8 years of age, five
cents an hour.
Stationary engine and boiler room
EMPLOYEES were advanced 13 cents an
hour for engineers, firemen and oil
ers, while water tenders and coal
passers receive a 10-cent increase.
In the signal department foreign
inspectors, maintainers, signal men,
and their assistants, 13 cents an hour;
helpers 10 cents an hour.
The increases follow:
Passenger Service: Engineer and
motormen, fremen, helpers, 80 cents
per day.
Freight Service: Engineers, fire.
men, helpers, $1.04 per day.
Passenger Service: Conductors,
ticket collectors, baggagmen, flag
men and breakmen, $40 per month
Suburban passenger service employ
es $50 per month.
Yard Service: Engineers, firement
helpers, 18 cents per hour.
Freight Service: Conductors, flag
men and breakmen, $1.04 per day
Superseding rates established by
the railroad administration the boarC
fixed the following schedules:
Yard Service: Snglneers, tiremen
day; helpers s6.48; switch tender
$5.04.
Hostler Service: Outside hostlers
1924 per day; inside hostlers $5.6l
per day: helpers $5.04.
The following increases were an
thorized for shop employees:
Supervisory Forces: Machinists
boilermakers, blacksmiths, sheet met
tai workers, electrical workers, pow
er men, moulders, cupols tenders AM
coremakers, including those with les
than four years experience, al
crafts 13 cents an hour. Regula