The Washington times., 1922-06-06
Anderson WAGE CUT
LEFT WIFE TO HASTEN
Ill IN \. I.R.R. STRIKE
Shop Crafts Employees Suffer
$se,ooo,ooo Reduction
BY Decision.
By In.ernationaI Now. Service.


CHICAGO, June 6.-The crisis
Of a railway strike was brought
appreciably nearer, it was gener-
ally believed today, by the an
nouncement Of the United States
Railway Labor Board Of a reduc-
ton estimated at more than $69,-
001000 annually in the wages of
Federated Shopcrafts unions
~ =. Strike Vote Expected.
Strike votes on the part Of the
unions are certain to follow unless
railroad labor executes an about
nounced attitude.
Today's decision orders wage
cuts effective July 1. ranging from
cents an hour for freight car
men. The two largest divisions Of
the shopcrafts employees, the ma
chinists. electricians, blacksmiths,
boilermakers, etc, and the helpers
and apprentices are reduced cents
an hour.
In normal times the number Of
men affected by the decision would
approximate 460,0 900. Latest avail
able figures, however, show that
in February last 290,1S2 men were
employed by the railroads In the
shopcrafts classification.
Labor Members Dissent.
The decision OF the board is con-
CURED in by the members compris-
ing the public and the railroad
groups. The labor members. A. o.
Wharton. Albert Phillips, and w.
l.. MCMenimen. were unanimous in
dissenting,
The minority report attacks the
decision on the ground that it cuts
under the scale OF a living wage for
railway employees. The labor mem
bers charge the decision is hnsed
upon cold statistics and that no con-
sideration is given the human
needs of the employees affected"
The most careful and comprehen-
sive 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 DER cent OF ali
the children in the families receiving
this wage will be inadequately pro.
vided for during at least five critical
years of their lives. Permanent
traces Of this malnutrition will be
left on the physique CT the next
generation"
The majority opinion points out
that after the reduotiOns made
under this decision. shop employees
of railroads will still bo receiving
as a rule a wage in excess of that
paid to similar employees in other
industries.
Majority Defends Cut.
1t Is contended in the ma jerity
opinion that the increasing purchas-
ing power Of the wages laid the
shopcraft employees offsets the de-
crease in the amount ct wages, so
that the value of the wages is really
greater.
In this connection the board saws;
Although the average hourly
earnings OF the machinists are below
the earnings after decision No.
(issued on May /, 1920, and increas'
ing the wage of employees was ap.
piled by Is cents per hour. their
value is SO per cent greater, due to
the decrease in the cost OF living.
average va
carmen are below the earnings after
decision No. was applied by l6
cents per hour, but their value is
3.2 per cent greater for the same
reason"
Under the present decision the
wage rates Of the Tnachinists are
fixed at 70.8 cents per hour and car
men at 64.4 cents per hour. The
scale now in effect Is 77.s cents per
hour for the machinists and 70 cents
for the carmen.
The belief was expressed in un'
official labor board circles that the
wage reductions, although providing
for an estimated drop OF sbs,66e, ,347
in the aggregate payrolls OF the
railroads, will in reality result In In
creased payroll disbursements. This
IL expected to be accomplished
through reinstatement OF me1 laid
off and the execution Of dsfsrred
work by the road