Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-30
FINANCE Of
WAY MEN ) CAST:
UP To HARDING
Cradle Urges That the
Transportation Act Be
Revised to Make Provi-
sion for Living Wage. :
by the Associated Press.

Chicago, Aug. 20 tby the Associ-
ated Press. -Declarin that the
desire of 100000 maintenance OF
way employees to obtain "living
wage" through decision of the TN
tied States railroad labor board,
now "seems absolutely hopeless,
e. +. Cradle, president of the track
men tonight sent kilograms to
President Harding and Chairman
Cummins, of the senate interstate
commerce committee, urging that
the transportation act be revised at
once to make provision for the liv-
ing wage.
Mr.. CRADLES telegram was sent
after the labor board, in answer to
request of the United Brother
hood of Maintenance of Way En-
ployes and Railway Shop Laborers
that the board accept the principle
of the living wage had replied that
| it would not go beyond the trans
portation acv which says that wages
shall be "just and reasonable" The
board in it's decision said that II
the living wage was defined by the
track men is found to be just and
reasonable, it will be accepted,
otherwise 1t would not.
Mr.. CRADLE, who is asking, for
wages based on 4S cents an hour
instead ofthe present scale ranging
from 20 to 35 cents, informed the
president and Mr.. Cummins that he
expected to proceed with the case
before the board in which more
than 100 roads are concerned, al
though "in view of the action or
the board, such procedure seems
absolutely hopeless"
The maintenance of way leader
requested that immediate consld-
Grafton be given to the proposal to
submit an amending act to con-
gress which will make clear beyonda
all doubt that the trainers of the
transportation act and congress
itself intend that even the humblest
railroad worker should receive a
wage sufficient to maintain himself
and his family in healthy and mod
est comfort. 1t was suggested that
the amendment be introduced at
once and that committee hearings
be held as soon as possible.
Describing the present status of
the trackmen's organization before
the labor board as critical situa-
ton" Mr.. Cradle said he was urg-
ing 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 action
by congress will strengthen ana
make the board the great construct
i've force for industrial peace, which
| hope 1t may be"
Mr.. Cradle, who several weeks
ago withheld strike action by his
pending action by the
board in hearing petitions for
revision of the wage decision OF
last July /, which Topped $4,000
900 from trackmen's pay, asserted
that the present average for his
men was 80 cents an hour, the
minimum being 20 cents.
The board, in passing on the Nv
ing wage principle today, said IL
would neither limit nor enlarge the
right of either the railroads or
trackmen to present their concep-
ton OF what constituted a just and
reasonable wage.
Mr.. Cradle said that he will con-
tinue to present his case tomorrow
and that his evidence will probably
be submitted in full tomorrow OF
Spokesman for the car
riers said they could not tell how
long they would take until the
nature of the trackmen's evidence
was divulged.