The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-06-10
ROB WORKERS
TO FATTEN THE
CAPITALISTS
That Is What the Railroad
Wage Board Has Done.
(BY Charles NJ. KelleYl

Wy SIdIlCS VI. htlltEJ
Washington, d. c., June 4, 1921
Two million railroad workers are
deprived of bread that cake may be
placed on the sumptuously laden
table of the capitalist.
That, in few words, is the mean
ing and effect of the recent wage
cut made by the United States
Railroad Labor Board.
Those who have are to receive
more, while those who have not
are to lose what little they pos
sess.
In presenting their demands for
wage reductions the railroad man
ayers specifically stated that they
expected the Labor Board to carry
out the provision Of the trans
portation act which guarantees the
investors in railroad securities a
return of per cent on the inflated
capitalization of the transportation
industry. This demand has been re
stated and emphasized in the testi-
mony of railway executives before
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce.
The railroads, having been prom
Used a definite thing by Congress,
are insistent that they shall get it.
They are going to claim their pound
Of flesh even if it is necessary to
take it from the hearts Of the
workers.
The transportation act sets up
certain principles that shall control
wage controversies. 1t provides that
that the cost of living, the hazard
and responsibility of employment
and other considerations shall be
taken into account in fixing pay
schedules. The transportation
board gave heed to none of these
requirements. 1t bothered itself
not the least about what may hap
pen to the toilers when they are
thrown back on a starvation wage.
1t heard the call of the railroads
and that was sufficient for its pur-
pose. 1t slashed right and left,
without thought of the consequences.
In making it's heaviest reductions
on he wages of the lowest paid
workers the board cynically disre-
garded the well-being of more than
100000 men who were under exist
ing schedules receiving less than the
lowest estimate of what is required
to keep the average family in de
cent comfort. The rates established
by the decision will compel these
men to make new and bitter sacri-
fices and many of them will fail
into HOPELESS and degrading poverty.
The highest income possible for
these men under the present wage
rate, if they are employed every
working dav in the year, is less than
$1,000. With deductions incidental
to holidays, Indictment weather and
other factors that the workers do
not control, their average income
is reduced to about $3.50 a year.
The reduction will decrease this
sum about $3.50 a year, leaving
them a scant $500 with which to
maintain family of five Recent
budgets compiled by various research
organizations place the sum needed
to keep such a family above the
subsistence level at about $4,000 a
year. The employers, never too
generous with workers, have declared
that $3.50 is the absolute minimum
for the maintenance of the average
family.
All this, of course, meant nothing
to the railroads and scarcely more
to the railroad labor board. The
workers must take less bread that
the railroad managers may have
more cake. Millions must suffer
that the shameless liberality of a
recreant Congress may be realized.
When the labor board was taking