The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-29
WHAT IS MEANT
BY LIVING WAGE?
That's W h at Maintenance
Men Want Labor Board
To Explain to I'm
PROPOSAL of Forty-eight Cents
Per Hour Admits Of
Many Angles

Chicago Aug. 2S.-with the resump'
,;o, or the hearing tomorrow OF the
meirtenance-ot-way organization case
t,,ol,,,rg wage and rules governoring
nc 400 900 members the United States
Railroad Labor Board Will rule on d
formal request TO define the much
mooted question. what constitutes
living wage? w
Announcement was made by hen' w
Hooner. chairman OF the board, when no
adjourned today's session.
Puts Up q Howl
A surprise came late today when pr
A P Neal, representative OF the SOUTH
ern roads, objected 70 President Hrao'e
argument for Increases based on 20
cent-an-hour minimum. Dr. Near ue-
crared that President Cradle had no
right under the transportation ACT W
base his argument on this oasis
The men have not In any case SUI
mitted to individual roads under my
representation a demand Tor an increase
for wages based on IS cents an hour
r,jrir,mno" declared DR.. Neal. Instead,
IN all conferences between the manage.
rnents NJ the roads Of the southeast ana
the maintenance-of-way representatives
cents an hour was discussed
Others Approve Or. Neal
John Higgins. representative or the
western roads. and John u "aioer'
Spokesman for the eastern ROADS. ootn
approved and participated in pr. Nea' y
objections, stating that the +S-ceht MIN
im,lm was never at issue IN the nesot'a'
lions on the roads.
Anrlare1 had
RICH, 70 consider proposition that did
Mo, in any way resemble the original re-
orests made upon individual roads
Chairman Hooper indicated that no
action would be taken on this point,
until the submissions were checked TO
make positive that no reference mao
heen made in them TO minimum OF -
cents an hour.
TIL. objections threaten 10 lead 10
expurration from the record or all men
tlon OF a IS cents-an-hour minimum. In
that event president Cradle VIII con-
tinue his argument on he basis or
scales set forth in the submission OF
individual roads.
In support OF his motion, W. ]. Lauck
statistical expert for the maintenance
of-way men, read lengthy manuscript
dealing with the minimum wage stand
ard and its practicability OF application.
The motion. ne told the board, has
tho following definite meanings:
That the board accept and make the
basis OF it's decision In this case. as well
as part OF It's general policy In fixing
the wage rates OF railroad employees.
that.
Want Decent Living
"A-Adult workers OF the lower
grades, urskilled railroad employees. oe
awarded rates of pay which will enable
them under normal conditions TO earn
yearly more than an amount sufficient
10 maintain standards Of living that are
approved as healthrul and decent. and
that are promotive Of genuine Industrial
economy and efficient. and,
"B-That proper difterentials above
this minimum living wage be paid for
added skill, responsibility. training and
hazard"
walber addressed the board In behalf
OF his representation. saying that Il
would never accept a bald. indefinite
thing as a living wage"
Jacob Aaronson. representative OF the
New York Central lines also qu!zzed
Lauck. on his definition OF a living wage
and the motion he had made.
When the board adjourned today. only
a portion of the maintenance organiza.
tons side OF the case had been pre-
scented