Evening star., 1922-08-28
SENIORITY DISPUTE
CARRIED TOLABOR
BOARD BY ROADS
Federal Rail Agency May
Ask Amendment to Esch-
Cummins Act.
HEAR TRACKMEN'S PLEA
FOR BOOST IN WAGES
Chicago and Alton Road Tied Up
by Walkout of Trainmen.
Tee Warns Strikers.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, August 2s.-Seniority
and new organizations Of railroad
employees were thrust forward by ten
eastern railroads today before the
Railroad Labor Board, when the
United Brotherhood of Maintenance
of Way Employees and Railroad Shop
Laborers began q hearing on pleas
for an increase In minimum wages
from 23 to 48 cents an hour.
The seniority question. which has
been the chief stumbling block over
which efforts to end the railway shop
mems strike have several times fail
ed, came to the front when John G.
Walber. representing eastern rail-
United Brotherhood to represent en-
ployes on the ten roads.
In the same way new organizations
were rejected into the proceedings
when Mr.. Walber declared that as a
result of the strikes of maintenance
men at points on the ten lines, the
maintenance union could not repre-
sent the majority of trackmen and
shop labors on those roads.
Cradle to Reply
E. F. Cradle. president of the main
tenance union, was given until to-
morrow morning to reply to Mr..
Walber's CONVENTIONS.
Congress may be asked to amend the
Esch- -Cummins transportation act to In
clude a definition or basis for COM
putting the minimum cost of living
for railroad employees. 1t was report
ed today in Railroad Labor Board
circles as preparations were begun
for opening of the hearing on pleas
for a wage increase for maintenance
of way men.
E. F. Cradle, president of the main
tenance brotherhood, refused to af-
firm or deny the reported plan to in
clude a minimum cost of living base
in proposals to amend the transporta-
tion act.
statfsticinh to Testify.
The unions position in it's effort to
increase the minimum wage of %
cents an hour for trackmen to "a
cents an hour was to be developed in
the testimony of w. Jett Lauck, labor
statistician.
Mr.. Cradle had prepared in addition
a long statement for presentation>$o
the La bor Board.
John G. Walber, representing east
resenting western railroads, repre-
sented the railroads.
Roads Oppose Appeal.
When the hearing opened the first
opposition to the union submissions
came when six eastern railroads re-
fused to recognize the unions appeal
on the ground that railroad shopmen.
including some Of the maintenance
men, were on strike.
Four additional railroads later
Joined the six, declaring that new
organizations of trackmen had been
formed on these lines as a reserve of
strikes, and that consequently the
maintenance union did not represent
a majority of their trackmen.
Mr. Cradle, in a statement, empha-
sized three points:
First. that the board recognize a
living wage as the basis of the de-
cision in this case.
Second. That in applying this prin-
ciple. a minimum rate Of not less
than 4S cents an hour be awarded to
all our members who under the
last wage decision are receiving %
cents an hour or less.
Third. That for those who are now
receiving more than 2s cents an hour
their differential in cents above the
2s cents be added to the new minimum
rate Of As cents an hour"
Urge Overtime Penalty.
Mr.. GrabIe further asked that time
and one half as punitive wage be
Maid for all work over eight hours.
I'VE have no desire for overtime"
Mr.. Cradle added. IF it were pos
sible. or rather II 1t were practicable,
we would be glad to have the board
absolutely forbid all overtime and all
work on Sundays and holidays"
There has been no recognition of a
living wage in principle" Mr.. Cradle
in a general way to all classes of en-
ployes, or, as especially directed, to
the Iaborer or unskilled worker as a
principle, and conse-
ouently as q basic principle which
should determine wages throughout
the industry.
Senate interstate commerce COM
mittee and author of the transporta-
tion act, has declared that 1t Is the
intent OF the law to give the humblest
worker the right to a living wage.
and IN order to avoid any possible
misunderstanding or misinterpreta-
init an amendment to the law clearly
for the guidance Of the Labor Board
The tie-up on the Chicago arA
Alton railroad and the appearance of
maintenance Of way workers before
the United States Railroad Labor
Board seeking higher wages were
nigh lights in the nations railroad
situation today, the fifty-ninth since
railway shopmen threw down their
tools to strike against decisions by
the Labor Board.
cation by their national chief, w. G.
Lee, members Of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen by unauthorized
walkouts at Roodhouse, ILL.,, and
Slater, Mo-, still had strangle hold
on traffic on the Chesapeake and At
lantic. Striking clerks and fremen
aided the trainmen in holding the
road in their grip and meetings were
called today to decide whether the
throttling would continue.
Ffrenen's OMcial Arrives.
]. A. Mcbride, vice president Of the
firemen's union. was at Roodhouse.
arriving last night from Cleveland
to take charge Of the situation among
members OF his organization.
Al few men remained at work In
the rouildhouse at Roodhouse during
q series Of bombings, promiscuous
shooting and attempts to dynamite
two railroad bridges near the town.
Train dispatchers and the regular
stan OF teiegraphers remained at
their desks with little to do. The
ing rooms at the station were de-
serted. Company guards and deputy
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