The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-31
BOOST NEEDED
TO MAINTAIN
LIVING WAGE
Statistician of Maintenance OF
Way Men Informs Labor
Board of Basis Of Living
Wage Principle.
WHARTON IN DEFENSE
(By Associated Press)

CHICAGO, Aug 31.-Pursuing the
efforts of the United Brotherhood OF
Maintenance of Way employees and
railroad shop laborers to base its plea
for increased wages on a living wage
principle" w. G. Lee, union statisti-
clan, today before the railroad labor
| board testified that what he termed
the living wage as established in all
branches of American industry would
| mean an increase of from p to 81
per cent.
The lowest range of % percent in
| crease, Mr.. Lock said, would only raise
to an annual wage of $1,000 those
workers now receiving less than that,
some on basis of an aggregate wage
budget in industry of S33,000,0 100000
| in 1918.
An average wage of $780, Mr.. Lock
| further said, would increase the cost
of living IA percent, but he declared
the increased financial burden would
be offset by other factors.
Explains Increase.
AS against a $33 900 900 900, which
the witness said labor had received in
wages in 1918, Mr.. Lock said capital
in that year had received a return Of
$4,000 100000.
that the increased wage which he said
would be called by this so-called ''liv-
ing wage" would be compensated, Mr..
Lock said the added financial burden
would be offset by the efficiency of
labor and the increase of American
capital and that labor would be stabil-
lied"
Emphatic denial of charges that he
is serving not only as member of
the United States Railroad Labor
board but also as president of the
! striking shop crafts organization was
made today by A. o. Wharton, one of
the three labor members of the board.
Formerly With Federation
Mr.. Wharton made the retort when
informed of a dispatch saying the
charges would be contained in an ar
: ticle. in the Sept 2 issue of a New
+ York magazine, quoting another mem.
Der of the federal arbitration body as
g saying "the shipments strike was en-
I gineered from the inside of the labor
:. board
e Mr Wharton was president of the
( railway employees department of the
Il American Federation of Labor from
8 1912 to 1920, when he was appointed
to the labor board He said he was
l. reelected president at the unions con
{ vention last April, but that his re-elec
u . tiop was merely a formal tribute il
! appreciation of past services.
- 1T was specifically understood" he
2 said, that l was not to serve as head
of the organization and that l was no.
/ to do anything that conflicts with my
Il duties as a member of the labor board.
y Refused to Serve.
e AS soon as l was formally notified
of my election, wrote a letter to Mr.
Jewell, in which l refused to serve, bu
IL thanked the organization for the vott
d of confidence. This is a matter of rec
S ord
/ 1t also is charged, according to thu
II report, that Albert Phillips, anothe
q labor member of the board, is vice
y president of the Brotherhood of Loco
D. motive Firemen and Enginemen MI
o Phillips is at present in California Nj
Wharton said he knew nothing of Gil
cumstances under which Mr.. Phillip
took office.
Section 306 of the transport act ur
G der which the labor board was createt
provides that no member shall be az
lively connected with any labor OF
n ganiZation or any railway enterprtS
- and that he shall have no pecuniar
=. interest in any carrier enterprise bu
"a adds that he snall not be required t
4 relinquish honorary membership in, o
- - his rights in eny insurance or pensio
- or other benefit fund maintained b
- any organization of employees or sui
= ordinate officials or by a carrier
g (By United Press)
~ CLEVELAND. Ohio, Aug. 31.-Rai
road brotherhood chiefs today notifie
their organizations their efforts as M
diators in the shopmen's strike hav
failed.
J They added:
at appears to be a fight to the fiji
ish between the railroads and th
m shopmen."
or They warned members of their r
spective organizations against becon
er ing involved in any way Orders I
er follow instructions heretofore give
oh to the letter" revealed the attitude {
m the various brotherhood leaders t
he ward the shopmen's strike RENAME
unchanged despite their attempts
get together in unified strike polio