The weekly Iberian., 1922-09-09
LABOR BOARD FIRM
ON living WAGE"
The President Of Maintenance
Of Way Men Appeals to
Harding.

United Brotherhood Of Maintenance OF
Way Employees and Railroad Shop La
borers' union to base its pleas for III
creased minimum wages on living
wage" w. j. Lauck, union statistician,
Wednesday before the labor board tes1
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 22 to 80 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 $33,000,-
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 Ia
Dor had received in wages in 1918. Mr..
Lauck said capital in that year had re-
ceived a return of $4,000, 100000.
Chicago-Declaring that the desire
of 400, 900 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 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 "just and reasonable" /.
Mr.. Cradle, who is asking for q,
wage based on 48 cents an hour in
stead of the present scale ranging
from 20 to 35 cents, informed the prest-
dent and Mr.. Cummins that he expect,
ed to proceed with the case before the
board in which more than 100 roads
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 az
futile as they have been in the past"
Describing the present status of the,
track mems organization before tho
labor board as critical situation" I,
Mr.. Cradle said he was urging action
mot on the ground Of any antagonismI
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 and
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 1T would
neither limit nor enlarge the right OF
either the railroads or track men to
present their conception of what con-
stitutes a 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
48 cent an hour demand improper be-
cause 1t 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.