The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-08-28
100000 Way
MEN DEMAND
MORE WAGES
Base Claim for Higher Salary
on Increase in Living Z
Costs
STRIKE VOTE TAKEN
E. T. Cradle Enters Negotia.
tion with Authority to De-
clare Immediate Walk0ut
(By the Associated Pres,)

(By the Associated Press)
Chicago, Aug. 2S.-Nine men
are in custody and four have
been implicated in an alleged
plot, declared to have been in
spired by radicals in connection
with the wreck Of 4 Michigan
Central Express train at Gary,
Indiana, a week ago. '
Further arrests are expected
and police and railroad agents
continued to throw much Sec
recy around the case.
Chicago, Aug. 28.-Railway main
tenance of way employees comprising
approximately 100000 track workers
and crossing fagmen, placed their de-
mands for increased pay before the
U. S. Railroad labor board here TO-
day.
Hearing by the railroad labor
board was begun today on petition
of the united brotherhood Of main
tenance of way employees and rail-
road shop laborers on more than 100
railroads asking an increase Of min-
imum wages from % cents ID 48
cents an hour, virtual demand for
recognition Of basis eight hour day
with time and one-half for overtime.
E. F. Cradle, president Of the track
men, who with w. L. McMeminien and
Chairman Hooper Of the> labor board
were credited with holding the strike
in check when the shopmen threw
down their tools, opened the hearing
by presenting the demand for { min
imum wac Of forty-eight cents an
hour. The scale provided by the
boards July l decision ranged from
% to 35l cents.
The maintenance men based the,
claims for higher wages on increases
in the cost Of living.
Mr.. Cradle on entering the hearing
today was armed with a strike vote.
On the 202 class one roads of the
county, 105 were parties to tn. dia
pute before the board today. |
Mr.. Cradle characterized" the case
as the most important which has
come before the board since its crea-
ton.
''The maintenance Of way employees
have remained at work since July
under the expectation and actual as
surance by the original trainers OF
the transportation act that they
would be able to secure living wage
under the provisions Of the existing
law" he said.
Wages on some roads, Mr.. Cradle
had been forced down as
low as II 1-2 cents an hour, employees
receiving this pay being compelled to
work twelve hours day to eke out
a bare existence.
Congress may be asked to amend
the Esch- -Cummins transportation act
to include definition or basis for
computing the minimum cost of liv-
ing for railroad employees, it was re-
ported today in railroad labor board
circles as preparations were begun
for opening of the hearing on pleas
for wage increase for maintenance
Of way men.
The submissions of the union we're
to be predicated upon the
relation expected to be shown be"
tween minimum wages and the mini
mum cost of living and it was re-
ported the union leaders planned to
urge amendment Of the transporta'1
tion act to include definition of the
basis for computation of the mini
mum cost of living for railroad work.
,rs. t. |:
The first opposition to the union
submissions came when six eastern
railroads refused to recognize the
1nions' appeal on the ground that
.ailroad shopmen, including some OF
he maintenance men were on strike
Roads which refused to consider
he union submissions or make re-
,ly were the Chicago, Indianapolis
md St. Louis, Delaware, Lackawanna
md Western; Grand Trunk; Monon'
,ahela, Pere Marquette and the Buff
:alo. Rochester and Pittsburgh. i
The principle Of basic cost OF
living was expected to be the ,rln'
.ipal point through the presentation
# the trackmen's case. E. F. Cradle,
president of the dnion, presented a
engthy statement on behalf of the
and W. Jett Lauck, Ia
,or statistician, was relied upon TO :
,rodlce figures on which the main
enance men hope to establish that
heir present wage scale minimum
which ranges from % to 35 cents an
,our, is insufficient to provide tol
heir families.
Mr.. Cradle in his statement en-
,hasized three points:
"First, that the board recognize a
living wage as the basis of the de-
ision in this case.
Continued on Page 81