The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-06-20

THE CALDWELL TRTRl
the increases since the war in the
main represent higher pay for labor.
Wages are higher not alone in the
mills. but in the production of coal,
the manufacture OF machinery, the
making of repairs and throughout
the process OF selling and handling
goods transportation charges are
an important factor. over which there
is much controversy, but the Illinois
Central Railroad Company has recent
ly given out over the signature OF its
President. Mr. c. III. Markham, the
following figures. making representa-
tive comparisons in operating costs
and in transportation rates in 1918 and
1928. as follows:
! In 1923 the company paid
S244 for the same quantity of loco
motive coal rat it paid 81 icr in 1913:
Sl87 for the same quantity of ma
terials and supplies other than coal
that it paid 81 for in 1918;
S32S in taxes for every 81 it paid in
1913:
Sl96 for the same number off hours
of labor that it paid 81 for in 1913.
In the transportation rates, the in
crease is not so large. The Illinois
Central System in 1923 received only
Sl.54 for hauling a passenger the
same distance that ii received 81 for
in 1913. Ii received only Sl3S for
hauling a ton OF freight the same dis
lance that it received 81 for in 1918.
The latter figures do not have ref
erence to the charge for hauling any
particular kind OF freight. but they
show that the average revenue which
the Illinois Central System received
IN 1928 for each ton of freight car
ried one mile was only SO per cent
breater than it was in 1918. This
increase in rates compares. as noted
above in dollars and cents, with in
creases in costs of IA per cent for
locomotive coal. 81 per cent for ma
terials and supplies other than coal
and 90 per cent for labor.
Approximately IS per cent of all
the revenues OF the railroads in 1928
went for operating expenses and |
taxes and interest on their indebted !
ness took the greater part of the
The net total of railroad |
dividends is only about 5 per cent
Of gross operating receipts. and if all
dividends were abonded the resulting
relief to the public could not exceed
his.
The Howell Barley Bill
Pertinent to this matter of trans
,ortation costs is the Howell Barkley
ill now pending in congress, which
5 sponsored and pressed by the labor
abroad organizations for the purpose
# doing away with the existing Rail
Dad Labor Board The present
'oard. which was intended for con
iliation and adjustment rather than
strictly judicial body consists of 9
iembers, of whom 3 are chosen to :
,present the public, to represent
he railroad employees and 3 to repre- c
mt the employing companies. t
One general reduction of brother a
bod wages was made by the Rail-
lad Labor Board in the fall OF 1921.
about II per cent, which A
e men have been trying to get :
scinded through negotiations direct Il
18th the companies, in which they Il
I've been partially successful Re- 1
ictions affecting other employees ,c
I'VE been made, but on the whole a.
does not seem to the public that Il
c Railroad Labor Board has been 5,
friendly or unjust to the employees. Il
ne latter, however, are dissatisfied a.
ID have set about abolishing the q,
ard. In its place the Howell III
Irkley bill proposes to set up four 81
ards for conference, adjustment. as
'diation and conciliation,' OF IA to
,mbers each, with salaries of $1,000 81,
r year, and another board of ur
and arbitration consisting tn
FIVE commissioners with salaries co
$4,000 land the boards have to
'hority to employ and fix the COM ra
nsation OF such attorneys, assis- re-