Evening journal., 1920-07-19
rail wage
AWARD SOON
Likely to Be Awarded by
Washington on Next
e Tuesday
FREIGHT RATE ISSUE
LIKELY TO WAIT

WASHINGTON, July f6-Informa-
ton reaching Washington Is that the
Railroad Labor Board now meeting
IN Chicago 10 determine how much
advance viii be made IN the wages
OF railroad employees win make Its
decision next Tuesday.
This information, which Is under
stood 10 have ONE fcrom a more or
less AUTHORITATIVE aource, was fol-
lowed by the opinion that the Inter
state Commerce Commission Will not
announce any decision In the rate
case, involving a general increase
IN freight rates, and possibly n pas
senger rates until shortly after the
wage board has determined what 0d-
ddOnal financial burdens will be put
upon the railroads.
Not the slightest iniimation has
come as vet 10 the scope OF either
decision. but thai the rate advance
will be IN the neighborhood OF that
requested by the railroads 10 the i'm
preston gained here, and the rail-
roads asked an average increase The
country over OF Approximately 2S per
cent.
Az an indication Of the flnQnolal
difficulties and tho tremendous strug-
gle being made by the railroads, re-
Vieed estimates made today by Julius
u. parmaiee, director OF Inc Bureau
or Railway Economies, showed that
Tho Government Will lose approx
m0iely S300O00OO0 as a result Of hav-
ing extended the Government guaran-
Tee period for six months aflor the
return Of tho roads 10 private con-
troll This amount Is FAR IN excess OF
the Total loss whboh Congress esll-
mated the Government would sustain
months OF tho guarantee period
March, April and May, Is now said 20
be S2i7000 900. while the most con-
sorvutlve estimates for the months Of
July and August fx the total loss dur
ing those uree months at 100000
making IN all a total loss OF e292.-
10000. And, without doubt. the eetl-
mnte for June, July and August Is q
very optlmistio one, 70 that II Is geu-
excess OF e300O00OO0.
Very recently Mr.. parmaloo said
mo loss for May would amount 10 al
least e25 100000, but the figures dc.
velOpcd by him Today shoWsd that n
really was IN excess OF e66O0OO0.
Tho guarantee from the Govern
ment Is for S00o.O0OO00 year Of
ei50O000O0 for six months. This woulf
mako Tho guarantee FOR each monh
Sl5.0O0.O00
In March tho railroads earned ap
proxlmatcly si3T0OOO0. In April
due greatly TO the railroad strike
thero was a dBfot OF d,20OOO0 anS
tho earning for May worr approx
mately S8b00O00. Tho total carnlngl
FOR The ihode months amounted u
only 100000 or s2i7. .06OO0O less thai
the. guarantees or s225,DO.0O0 for IA,
there months, This Is a net loss q
the Government OF i6.O6OOO0.
With figures estimated for Till
month and comparisons with IN
months OF June, July aud August o
last year Mr.. parfalce says That
conservatlve estimate Is that he road
will not earn more than S50OnO0O 4
each OF tho months, making a loss 70
. each month as compared with IN
Government guaraniees OF s75O00O0
OF S25O00OO0. IN the three month
OF last year the roads earned S2ii.
O00l0O0 or only 100000 less than IN
Government guarantee, but due &
railroad strikesi congestion and On
increase IN wages. II is not expecto
the earnings ibis year will approx
maio 10 any degree the earnings q
last year
Looking forward to the Increase
IN freight rates. the railroad chiet
see little hope for the increases car
not be retroactive and only about ST
weeks OF the guarantee period renal