The St. Mary banner., 1922-09-09
UNABLE TO SETTLE
LIVING WAGE POINT
Labor Board Would Neither
Limit or Enlarge Rights of
Either Side.

Chicago-Pursuing the efforts OF the
United Brotherhood of Maintenance of
Way Employees and Railroad Shop La
borers' union to base its pleas for in
creased minimum wages on living
wage w. j. Lauck, union statistician.
Wednesday before the labor board tes-
titled that what he terms the living
wage, If established in all branches of
American industry, would mean an in
crease of wages of from % to 33 per
cent
The lowest range of % per cent in.
crease, Mr.. Lauck said, would only
raise to an annual wage Of $1,000 those
workers now receiving less than that
sum, on the basis of an aggregate wage
budget in industry less than $33 3,000,-
900 in 1918. A minimum wage of
$1,000, Mr.. Lauck further asserted
would increase the cost of living IA
per cent, but he declared the increased
financial expenditure would be offset
by other factors. AS against the $685.
000,000,000 which the witness said la
Dor had received in wages in 1918, Mr.
Lauck said capital in that year had re-
ceived a return of $2S,000, ,0O0,O 900
Chicago. that the desire
of 100000 maintenance Of way en-
ployes to obtain "a living wage"
through decision of the United States
railway labor board seems absolute
ly hopeless E. F. Cradle, president of
the track men has sent kilograms to
President Harding and Chairman Cum
Minis of the senate interstate COM
merce committee, urging that the
transportation act be revised at once
to make provision for the living
wage"
Mr.. CRADLES telegram was sent after
the labor board, in answer to a request
of the United Brotherhood of Mainten-
ance of Way employees and railway
shop laborers that the board accept the
principle Of the living wage, had re-
piled that it would not go beyond the
transportation act which says that
wages shall be lust and reasonable"
Mr.. Cradle, who is asking for
wage based on 48 cents an hour in
stead of the present scale ranging
from % to 35 cents, informed the presi-
dent and Mr.. Cummins that he expect
ed to proceed with the case before the
are concerned, although "in view of
the action of the board, such a pro-
cedure seems absolutely hopeless"
IF the board" the message conclud
ed, docs not feel bound to grant the
right Of the road employees to living
wage, then any efforts on our part to
show that we are not getting living
wage and what we need in order to
have living wage will no doubt be as
futile as they have been in the past"
Describing the present status of the
track mems organization before the
labor board as critical situation"
Mr.. Cradle said he was urging action
mot on the ground of any antagonism
to the railroad labor board but In the
belief that the public welfare will
thereby be best served and with the
further conviction that the suggested
0CIlOA Wy Will SIl cl6 Lucu dLu
make the board the great constructive
force for industrial peace which hope
1t may bring"
The board in passing on the living
wage principle Tuesday, said "it would
neither limit nor enlarge the right Of
either the railroads or track men to
present their conception of what con-
st1tutes just and reasonable wage"
This was taken by some to mean that
the board would not accede to the re-
quest of some carriers and declare the
4S cent an hour demand improper be-
cause it had not been discussed in the
previous negotiations between the car
riers and the trackmen before submis-
sion of the case to the board
A. o. Wharton, labor member of the
board, made motion before the board
that the board adopt the principle for
the living wage but this was rejected.