The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-20
(By tile Associated Press)


Chicago, July 2O.-Six hundred mil
lion dollars was added to the pay en-
velopes Of the nations 1000 900 rail.
road workers today in the first award
handed down by the United States
railway labor board. Rejecting the
demands Of organized rail unions for
increases totaling approximately one
billion dollars, the board decided ap-
proximately co per cent of that sum
would be a just increase to meet pres
ent living conditions.
The award adds approximately q
per cent to the present pay schedules
Railroad officials have declared that
any pay increase awarded the men
must be followed by a corresponding
increase IN rates and they plan, it is
said.sto file now tariffs with the In
terstate Commerce Commission as soon
as they can be prepared.
Whether the award as given viii
stave off the threat of general
railroad strike, remains to be seen.
Leaders of l6 Roads Present
The leaders Of practically every
cne Of the 16 big railroad unions were
present this morning Judge r. NJ.
Barton, chairman of the board, hand
ed down the decision. They left i'm.
mcdiately to present the award to L.
600 general chairmen, who had gath
cred here to pass on its acceptability.
The union presidents refused TO make
any comment by the meeting. The
terms Of the decision had been known
to them yesterday and they believed
then either men would stay in line
at least until a referendum vote can
he taken. Nearly a month would be
needed for tho referendum.
Retroactive TO May |
The boards decision is retroactive
to May l. AS the minimum increase
granted any class was IS cents an
hour or $36.72 per month the biggest
pay check duo when the back pay
settlement is made August 1, will be
FOR s11O.16. Engineers, firemen, and
helpers in the yard service will re-
ceve this amount. The board pro-
vides that the back pay checks shall
he made out separately, so that each
man will know the amount he re
ceives from that source
Seven factors were taken into con-
sideration in arriving Mt the award at
the preamble of the boards announce
ment says They were:
| The scale paid for similar kinds
Of work in other Industries.
The relation between wages and the
cost Of living.
TIN hazards Of the employment.
Training and skill required.
Degree Of responsibility.
Character and regularity Of the EN-.
ployment and
Inequalities in increase and treat
ment resulting from previous wage
orders
Asks Consideration From All
"Thosc persons who consider the
rates determined on herein too high,
should reflect the abnormal conGi-
tions resulting from the high cost
of living and the high rates now be-
ing paid in other industry the board
says.
/
these rates too low should consider
the increased burden these rates will
place on their fellow countrymen.
many of whom are less favorably stu.
ated than ourselves.
The board has endeavored to fix
such wages rs will provide a decent
living and secure for the children
of the weSe earners opportunity for
education and vet to remember that
no class of Americans should receive
preferred treatment and the great
mass of the people must ultimately
pay a great part of the increased
cost Of operation entailed by the in
crease in the wage determined herein.
Decision Not Unanimous
The decision, Chairman Barton ex-
planned was not unanimous one,
some members dissenting on nearly
| every section. The awards given were
by q majority vote on a section with
at least one member OF the public
group voting for each award. De-
mands of the railroad men who struck
| last April and formed new unions are
/ ignored by the award. No reference
is made to the strikers of their de-
mands. The board had resumed to
hear representatives of the new unions,
holding, with the old brotherhoods,
that men were already represented by
the officials of the recognized unions.
| The strikers demanded that the board
order return Of their full seniority
rights, which the railroads had de
clared forfeited. This demand also
is ignored. In addition to the IL
brotherhoods the railroad supervisors
Of mechanics and the American Train
Dispatcheis' Association. are made a
party to the decisien. More than 400
railroads are specifically named as
parties,
The decision provides that in case
cf dispute as to the Interpretation
Of the decision, the question shall be
referred to the board for decision, The
law does not require. however, that
either sido must accept the award.
The decision provides that the daily
Increase shall be computed as eight
times the hourly wage, and the month.
ly increase as "a times the hourly
schedule.
The railroads, Mr.. Whittier announc-
cd, after n conference with the west
ein managership association, will ac-
cept the boards award and apply its
terms Immediately.
THE award speaks fer itself" Mr..
Whittier said. ut seems, Of course
that the roads must ask for increased
rates. To meet the boards estimated
$500 100000 increase will require an
increase of about is per cent lin
freight rates" Presidents and Off
GERS of the five big brotherhoods
went into session Immediately after
the decision was handed down and
indicated they would have nothing 10
l.. l....-- Ia. Ii. L