The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-18
RAILROAD men MAKE
APPEAL TO BOARD
United Rrotherhoood Of Maintenance
Of Way Employees and Shop
Laborers Pass Resolutions


At q meeting of Deepwater Lodge,
No. 7o2, of the United Brotherhood of
Maintenance Of Way Employees and
Railway Shop Laborers, held on April
18th, the following resolution was
passed;
Whereas, on May "a, 1921, Presi-
dent Harding in an address said:
In our effort at establishing indus
trial justice we must see that the wage
Garner s placed in an economically
sound position, His lowest wage must
be enough for comfort, enough to make
his house a home, enough to insure
that the struggle for existence shall
not crowd out the things truly worth
living for. There must be provision
for education for recreation and a
margin for savings. There must be
such freedom OF action as will insure
full play to the individually ability"
and,
Whereas, as basis for determining
whether railroad employees to the
Maintenance of Way Department are
earning sufficient to enable them to
I'VE and do things recognized by the
president as being necessary in his
address Of May "a. 1921, we refer to
q study recently completed by the
Interstate Commerce Commission of the
earnings Of railway employees In July
1921, which Is by far, the most salts
factory and reliable investigation of
railroad wages that has ever been
made; and,
Whereas. this study reveals the
amazing and deplorable fact that PIT,
1877 track and section laborers are
earning only $74.0o per month, or 1888
a year. which Is worth in the value Of
1900 only $4,000, or a little better than
a dollar a day, and which is $688.00
less than the bare subsistence level
OF July. 1921. namely $4,000; and,
Whereas, we find, therefore, nearly
q quarter OF q million adult workers
who come directly under the govern
ment's Jurisdiction (by virtue of the
transportation Kct) are, by the orders
OF the Railroad Labor Board. being
paid s68S.00 less than bare level of
subsistence as tabulated for July, 1921,
and which will be applicable at present,
on account Of certain reductions in liv-
ing costs being overcome by increases
in other necessities; and,
Whereas, this Is the class OF labor,
the lowest paid of all on the railroad,
upon whose toll, in broiling sun and
driving snow. the maintenance of all
railways depends to which President
Harding specifically referred when he
declared on May "a, 1921, that:
1--WE must see that the wage learner
Is placed in an economically sound
position. His lowest wage must be
enough for comfort, enough to make
his house a home. enough to insure
that the struggle for existence shall
not crowd out the things truly worth
living for, and,
Whereas, in spite OF this amazing
and deplorable condition we find the
Labor Board confronted with another
demand for still further reductions Of
the already inadequate wage of these
track and section laborers; therefore.
be it
Resolved, by Deepwater Lodge, No.
TOP, Of the United Brotherhood Of
of Way Employees and
Shop Laborers, that we appeal
to the president Of the United States
to intercede. in our behalf, to the Lab
or Board against further wage re-
duct1on and thereby support his dec
laration of May "a. 1921; and, be it
further
Resolved, that we appeal to the Lab
or Board to consider the seven rele-
want circumstances In the Transpor-
tation Act, giving due consideration to
1.-THE relation between wages and the
cost Of living" which will, according
to reliable government statistics, prove
the inadequacy and insufficiency of
the present wage to meet the present
cost of living and which indicates
that workers herein referred to are
not enjoying the conditions, at present,
that have been declared for. by the
president, but who are already suffer-
ing for the lack of such conditions and
whose suffering will be greatly in
creased by further unjust and uncalIed
for wage decreases; and, be 1t further
Resolved, that we call the attention
Of the president. the Labor Board and
the public generally to the fact that
we have toiled faithfully and patiently
and in obedience to all laws. In spite
Of unjust misrepresentation of facts
our wages, and in spite of
the inadequate wage we have received
and now feel that we are entitled to
a fair, just and reasonable readJust-
mont of wages which will better en-
able us to provide for our families in
a manner more becoming deserving
American workers, instead Of being
forced to a state of further suffering
by favorable consideration Of an addi-
tionai. wage cut.
signed In behalf of the member
ship Of the above lodge by,
P. C. POWELL,