Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-29
S4S,0OO,OOO A YEAR
SAVED RAILROADS
BY WAGE REDUCTION
400. 600 Maintenance Of Way
Men Affected by Labor
Boards Decision.
LABOR MEMBERS DISSENT

Chicago. MAY 2g--The wheels OF In
Nurtry. already turning faster because
NJ the stoo goo 600 freight rate reduc-
ton ordered by the Interstate Com
merce Commission last week. are ex-
p.ctcd 90 gain further momentum rs
the result OF the decision OF the United
states Railroad Labor Board. an
nounccd here last night. cutting Sss.-
GOO ooo from the annual payroll OF the
railways. effective July l. Other pend
lnv wage decisions probably will add
at least Sioo. zoe. 900 to this saving.
The decision announced last night
affects approximately Aoo. 600 mainten-
anco of way employees and orders a
reduction OF is2 in the prevailing
rates. Wage reduction orders involving
oil other classes Of railway labor. ex-
ccpting train service and yard en-
plovoa. will be issued In time to become
effective July /. also, IL was said. IL
predictions are fulfilled, these pay
cuts--talSen with the stoo,ooo,ooo re-
duction of July. 1891. viii put the rail-
way wage scale back 20 where II was
before the $500. coo, 900 increase OF May
1890.
More Decisions Expected This Week,
Wages az maintenance OF way en-
ployea, now ranging from rs to a.
cents an hour will. after July I. range
from % 20 - cents an hour. by the
terms OF the decision. Although pend
ing settlement ~ their working rules
tho big four brothcrhoods and the
Swltchmen's Union ~ North America
arc not parties TO any dispute before
the labor board. u IL generally con
ccdcd Rs inevitable that they must
soon face a wage fight. Any ensuing
reduction would tip the scales in favor
of tho carriers. so far "a the rates ri
pay IN effect prior to the $500. 900 ,o0'
Increase IN concerned. The impending
decisions. which may be Forthcoming
this week. viii apply Go the 100000
railway ahopmcn and about 100000
clerks tclcgrarhers, station employees
aud other small classes.
The Labor boards decision was con
CURED I'm hv tho three public members
and the three railroad members. Ap
pended was a dissenting opinion signed
hv tho three labor members. a. q
wharton. Albert Phillips and w. l.
McNenimen. They objected on thu
ground that the pay now prescribed
dnca not constitute the Just and rea
sonable' wages guaranteed under th'
fermentation act: that. IN effect. 4
docs not represent living wpee.
Tho prevailing opinion. however
lasinr conclusions on Department OF
Labor figures. stated that the pur
chasing power ~ the wages now q
prevail will be as per cent greater
than those 90 December. 1917. Thes'
conclusions are attacked IN tho dis
.cnting opinion which maintains tina
the Increased purchasing power is onl,
la.9 per cent
The majority report. signed by BEL
W. Hooper. chairman, points out tina
labor on railroads, even with tn
coming decrease. will he receivin,
higher pay than similar labor in mos
other industries.
IL SAYS. The board Is of the opin
ION that. after the reductions arr
made under the decision. common
labor on the roads win he reccivin,
a. a rule wage IN excess of that pat
g. similar labor IN other industries. an
that tho same will he true ~ all othe
classes of labor covered by this de
cisiun
me ltafN Is OF the ohlNltNs now
ever. that the hazards and hardship
ct tho employment. the training an
skin required the degree Of respens
fhiiitv 60 the public and other element
mentioned IN the statute CTransports
tion act of 1920 combine To jusuf
the payment ~ a better wage 20 thes
employees than Is paid To similar labo
IN outside employment
Labor Members Dissent.
Balanced against this statement
the dissenting opinion. which reads
pars.
",rhe rates OF pay established undo
this decision are not based upon n
human needs Of the hundreds
thousands of families involved The
are insufficient 20 provide these fam
laos with the absolute essentials. Tn
earning % this large group Of raj
road employees win not provide N
father of a family with as much Zoe
az a. allowed convicts In the Coo
county. Illinois jail.
"rhe pre-war standard perpetuate
hv this decision was the product
inoduitahle wage bargaining. IL va
considerably below the level rccognii
ed az that time as necessary for n
maintenance of health and energ
The pre- war wages were establish,
m an ovorstocked labor marke
through railroads or contractors ba
gaining against the weakness OF Il
divldual workers in search Of a Job.
such unrcgulated conditions cal
not serve as basis for the order
establishment Of just and reasonah
wages by such a body as the Unit,
States Railroad Labor Board witho
complete denial Of its functioning