Evening star., 1943-10-17
President Appoints
New Board 10 Study
Railway Wage Case
BY ]. A. FOX.

made another attempt to settle the
year-old wage controversy involving
more than 100000 members of the
Is incorporating railroad unions,
appointing a special board to review
the case which was brought to a
head late in June when Economic
Sterilization Director Fred M. VIM
son refused to approve an Scent
hourly wage increase recommended
for the workers by another presi-
dental board functioning under the
Railway Labor Act,
The new board, headed by Chief
Judge Elwyn r. Shaw of the Illi-
nois Supreme Court. was directed
to report by November Is.
Sitting with Judge Shaw on the
new board are Chief Judge Richard
F. Mitchell of the Iowa Supreme
Court and Walter c. Clephane,
Washington attorney. who has been
a member of many presidential
railway arbitration boards. This
same group just disposed of the
Pacific Electric Railway wage dis
pute, but its findings have not been
made public.
Asked 20 Cents.
The incorporating unions, which
include in their ranks all but the
train and engine forces, originally
sought 20 cents an hour. When
months of negotiation with the car
riers failed to produce an agreement,
President Roosevelt named an emer-
gency board headed by Prof. I. L..
Sharfman of the University of Mich
igan to seek a settlement.
Reporting in May the board pro-
posed the 8-cent award, amounting
to $204 100000 year, holding this
sum justified to correct gross in
equities" between the pay Of rail en-
ployes and those doing comparable
work in other industries. It was
conceded by the board that the non
operating workers as a whole already
had received wage increase since
January l, 1941. equaling the is per
cent permissible under the little
steel" formula.
In vetoing the suggested increase
Director Vinson said the stabiliza-
ton program barred increases above
the little steel" ceiling to correct
gross inequities."
Foresaw Some Increase.
At the same time the director
said that a further study of the
matter might show that some in
crease was possible to correct sub
standard living conditions" He
urged the Sharfman board to re-
consider its findings. The board
refused, but the new panel un-
deubtedly will go into this phase.
Since Mr.. Wilson's veto of the
elght-cent award-which the rail-
roads, incidentally, agreed to pay
both the unions and the carriers
have been trying to get a settle
nent through President Roosevelt
George Harrison, president of the
clerks union, the spokesmen for the
Is unions, told newsmen after a
White House visit recently that the
workers were becoming dissatisfied
with the delay.
In setting up the new board YES
terday, President Roosevelt said it
may give such consideration as it
deems appropriate" to the recon-
r1endations just filed by the wage
board handling the case of the five
train and engine brotherhoods whose
demands for 80 per cent increase
have been pressed along with the
incorporating proposals.
Small Award Proposed.
The operating workers board said
the five unions had made out a
strong case for wage increase ito
correct gross inequities and to aid
In the effective prosecution of the
war" 1t, however, proposed an
award of only Az per cent-or 4
cents an heur-saying this was the
maximum possible under the Little
Steel" formula because of an earlier
increase given the train and engine
men.
The President also said any in
crease proposed for the nonoperat-
ing unions would be effective Is
days after the board reports, un-
less it is set aside by Director Vim
son.
Chairmen of the operating BROTH
erhoods are meeting in Chicago
Friday to determine their course with
regard to their proposed increase,
which has stirred widespread oppo-
sition within the unions. In some
quarters it is thought strike vote
may be authorized.