The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-17
PRUNING KNIFE
PUT ON SCALES
OF MANY CRAFTS
Clerks We're Cut 3 and A Cents
an Hour, According to
Classification
SIGNALMEN AND FIREMEN
GET A SLIGHT REDUCTION
Two Members of the Labor
Board Sign Dissenting Opin-
ion Protesting Cut.
(Bv The Associated Press)

CHICAGO, June t6-Pluning nearly
s270o0.000 from the annual payroll of
S25OoO railway employees by cutting
clerks, signalmen and stationary firemen
from two to six cents an hour the Unit
cd States railroad labor board today an
nounced another wage slash, bringing
total reductions under the boards orders
up to s1a5ooo,ooO beginning July /.
Clerks were cut and cents an hour.
according TO classification, signalmen 81
cents and firemen cents
Approximately 100000 railway emf
ployes VIII share the total reduction
which has brought vigorous protest from
every union organization involved and is
expected to result in strike vote Of
ten railway labor bodies. The voting
already IS under way in seven unions.
a dissenting opinion, protesting against
any reduction, was included in the de-
eision. Il was signed by Arthur 81 Whar
ton and Albert Phillips, both labor mem-
bers. w r. McManimen the third mem
ber, Is IN the east on an investigation
trip FOR the board
Definite recognition OF a living wage
and saving wage" was made for the
first time by the board In todays de-
csion Although abnormal post war
RNtAtNNNA
tlons to fixing any scientific living or
saving wage at present. the board de-
clared that as soon as this condition
cleared away il would give increased
consideration to all the intricate details
incident to the scientific adjustment" Of
such a wage
The bulk Of those hit by the new cut
WILDE 10000 clerks and 100000 station
employees. Telephone girls. who, the
board declared, have suffered from inn
proportionate increases and decreases
are given minimum wage Of sS5 a
month
Slgnaimen helpers suffer six cents
slash Signal foremen. assistant fore
men and inspectors. however, escaped
with no reduction.
The 5000 train dispatchers also escaped
cut
Stationary engineers, firemen and oil-
ers. numbering 10000 were reduced two
cents an hour.
A decision covering 10000 telegraphers
win he issued BY the board later.
Dining car employees and the culinary
workers on the ferries in San Francisco
Bay win continue to get their present |
pay
Marine workers wages were un-
touched.
Figures in the decision showed that
clerks viii receive. under. the new scale,
an average Of 5S.5 cents an hour COM
pared with s4,4 cents in December. 1917.
when the government took over the rail-
roads
Ths firemen and oilers received an in
crease from Els cents an hour In 1917,
TO 4e6 cents
uTrhat tbe carr{ars shan ba,,o = t,t-
opportunity to profit by the revival
Of business in order that they may ex-
pand their facilities Is absolutely in
dispensable to their efficient service to
the American public" the decision said
N.Their unpreparedness now to cope
with any greater increased traffic is
notorious Every facility of railway
Transportation has been skimped for
the last several years, and as TO mile
age. there has been an actual decrease
sinsteRd OF an increase.
\ "This statement must not be mis-
construed to mean that the employees
should be called upon TO bear the cost
81 railway rehabilitation, improved
service ana reduced rates. 1t simply
means that II Is only patriotic common
sense and justice that every citizen.
including the railway SAARAS3NSS SASNAeA
cooperate in q cordial spirit should
bear and forebear, until the carriers
are back on their feet.
When the railway employees de-
partment presents figures to show that
the sum OF s2.ss6.s7 is necessary for
the minimum comfort budget Of the
average family. it has propounded an
economic impossibility," the decision
said.
The dissenting opinion took the ma
1ority to task for the cut and declared
there could be mo question that very
great pressure had been brought to
bear on the board from different /
sources. making it difficult to consider
the case on its merits" the net effect
was to read into the transportation
act new bases probably never con-
templated' by the trainers, the opin-
ion said
Five reasons were named to cover
the minority objections,
Continued On Page Three)