The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-06
The Two Largest Divisions Are
Cut z Cents an Hour.
Normally, 45O,OOO Men WOuId
Be Affected by Reduction.
29O, 1872 men ACTUALLY HIT
Labor Members of the Board
Unanimous in Dissenting.
But Public and Railroad Groups
Concur i'm the Order.
tBy the Associated Pressj

Chicago, June 6.-Over the strong
protest of the three labor representa-
tives on the United States labor board
new wage cut of seven cents an hour
for railway shop mechanics and nine
cents for freight car men. cutting
400. 600 shopmen approximately S60,-
100000 a year was ordered by the
board today.
The new wage reduction brought
an estimated added saving of s59,66s,-
347 annually 10 the railroads follow
ing on the heels of a S50.0OO,o00 cut
in the wages of maintenance of way
laborers last week. The shop crafts
decision becomes effective July l. the
same date as last weeks order.
aThe boards latest decision which is
TO be followed shortly by reductions
for railway clerks. telegraphers and
all other classes of railway employees
except the train service men, was brlet
and offered no explanation Of how the
new rates We're arrived at. Ihls omls-
sion brought more fire from the DIS
senters who declared the majority de-
cision did not consider human needs
ignored the pleas of the employed Tor
to show that mechanics are not en-
titled 10 such a standard"
Chicago, June 6.-The crisis of a
railway strike was brought apprecia-
bly nearer it was generally believed
today by the announcement of the
United States railway labor board OF
reduction estimated at more than SOS.
00O. 900 annually in the wages of fed
Grated shop craft unions.
Strike votes on the part of the unions
are certain to follow, anless railroad
labor executes an about face" and
reverses its present announced att-
tude-
Today's decision of the board orders
wage cuts. effective July l. ranging
from nothing for supervisory opera
tives to 9 cents an hour for freight
car men. The two largest divisions
of the shop crafts employees. the ma
chinistE. electricians blacksmiths
boIlermakers. etc. and the helpers and
apprentices are reduced Z cents an
In normal times, the number" of
men affected by the decision would
approximate 450. 900 Latest available
figures however. show that in Febru-
ary last. 29O.IS2 men were employed
by the railroads in the shopcrafts
Classification.
The decision of the board, as was
the case with the ruling reducing the
wages OF the Brotherhood OF Mainte-
nance Of Way employees several days
ago. is concurred IN by the members
comprising the public and the railroad
Wharton. Albert Phillips and w L.
NicAIenimen, were unanimous in dis
senting.
Under a Living Wager"
The minority report attacks the
present decision on the ground that
1t cuts under the scale of a living
wage for railway employees. The Ia
Dor members charge that the decision
is based upon cold statistics and that
no consideration is given the human
s-s - sTr,v~a If foo cd
The most careful and cOmprehen-
stve investigation of this subject" the
minority opinion declares. shows
that wages which do not provide for
the needs OF a family of five mean
that 72 per cent of all the children in
the families receiving this wage will
be inadequately provided for during
at least five critical years of their
lives. Permanent traces Of this mall
nutrition will be left on the physique
or the next generation"
The majority opinion points out that
after the reductions made under this
decision. shop employees on the rail-
roads viii still be receiving, as a rule. /
wage in excess of that paid to sim
liar employees in other industries
Contend Wages Still Up.
II is contended in the majority |
opinion that the increased purchasing
power or the wages paid the shop
craft employees offset the decrease in
the amount OF the wages so that the
Nalue OF the wages is really greater.
In this connection. the board SAYS:
"Aitho the average hourly earnings
OF the machtnists are below the earn
ings after decision No. 2 (issued on
May l, 1920. and increasing the
wages Of employes) was applied by s
cents per hour. their value is SO per
cent greater due to the decrease in
the cost of living.
The average hourly earnings of car
men are below the earnings after de-
ClS10n NO ? annlfR6 hv I <
per hour but their value is 50 per
cent greater for the same reason
The cost of living figures upon
&hleh the board bases its decision are