The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-06-17

Chicago. June 1.-THE United
States railroad labor board pruning
nearly $27.000,00O from the annual
payroll Of 925,O00 railways employees
by cutting clerks, signal men and
stationary firemen from two to SIX
cents an hour, yesterday announced
another wage slash, bringing total re
ductions under the boards orders up
to $135, 100000, beginning July l.
Clerks were cut three and four
cents an hour, according to classitlca
ton, signal men five cents and hre'
men two cents.
Approximately 100000 railway
employees will share the total reduc-
ton, which has brought vigorous pro
test from every union organization
involved and is expected to result in
strike vote of 10 railway labor bod
les. The voting already is under
way in seven unions.
A dissenting opinion, protesting
against any reduction, was included
in the decision 1t was signed by
Arthur o. Wharton and Albert Phil
lips, both labor members w. l.. Nc
Menimen, the third member, is in the
East on an investigation trip for the
board.
Definite recognition of a living
wage and Saving wage was made
for the first time by the board in to-
days decision. Although abnormal
postwar conditions were pointed out
as obstructions to fixing any scienti'
fic living or saving wage a present
the board declared that as soon as
this condition cleared away 1t would
give increased consideration to all
the intricate details incident to the
scientific adjustment" Of such a
wage.
The bulk of those hit by the new
cut will be 100000 clerks and 100000
station employees:
Telephone girls. who, the board de
clared, have suffered from unpropor
tionate increases and decreases, are
! given a minimum wage OF $S5
month. A further proviso says tina
any hello girls" who receive NOR
than that amount at present shall no
suffer any reduction.
Signalmen helpers suffer siN
cent slash. Signal foremen. assist
ant foremen and inspectors. however
escaped with no reduction.
The 5000 train dispatchers also es
capped a cut.
Stationary engineers, fremen an
oilers, numbering 10000, were re
duced two cents an hour.
A decision covering $4,000 teleg
raphers will he issued by the boar
later Marine workers wages wer
untouched
, Figures in the decision shove
that clerks will receive, under tn
new scale, an average OF 5S5 cent
an hour compared with 34.5 cents 1
December, 1917, when the govern
ment took over the railroads.
The fremen and oilers receive a
increase from 21.S cents an hour /
1917 to 49.6 cents.
THAT the carriers shall have
fair opportunity to profit by the r,
vval of business in order that the
may expand their faciities Is abs,
lutely indispensable to their efilcier
service to the American public, ~
decision said. Their unpreparet
ness now to cope with any greatly II
creased traffic is notorious. Ever
facility of railway transportation ha
, been skimped for the last sewers
years, and, as to mileage, there ha
been an actual decrease instead {
an increase.
This statement must not be mi
construed to mean that the employe
: should be called upon to bear tn
cost of railway rehabilitation, in
proved service and reduced rates.
simply means that It is only patri
tic common sense and justice th,
every citizen, including the railwa
+ employe, should cooperate in co
+ dial spirit should bear and forbea
I, until the carriers are back on the
L feet "