Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1922-07-03 | Page 1 | Wages Higher than in 1917, Board Claims

WAGES HIGHER THAN IN 1917, BOAffi CLAIMS Buying Power Declared Greater Than Just Before Be-fore Federal Control CHICAGO, July S. The cut of about $136,000,000 In the wages of ome L-200,000 L-200,000 railroad employes which became be-came effective at the same time a ten per cent cut In freight rates amounting to about I J400.000.000 went Into effect, still leaves hourly wages measured In actual act-ual buying power above the wages of Docomher, 1917, Just before go'-rn-ment control, according 10 figures compiled by tho United States Railroad Rail-road Labor board Machinists who belong to the shop-crafte, shop-crafte, which have gone on strike were cut 7 cents an hour. Thev averaged 77.3 cent nnd now they average 70.3 cents In 1917 the rate waa 50.5, the now hourly rate being 3 9 por cent higher Cost of living, according to labor board figures is 17 por cent higher than In December, 1917 The board flguros the new hourly rato for machinists 19 per cent greater In real purchasing power than In December, 1917- WAGES OF CARMEN'. Carmen, cut nine cents an hour, now have an average hourly wage of 64 1 Cents as compared lo 87 7 an hour In December, 1917, the board's figures show. This represents a net increase of 71 per cent In cash and an advance of 45 7 per cent In actual purchasing power of the hourly wage, tho board maintains. By a similar mathematical proceia. the wage Increase for machinists Ls figured as 7 per cent. HOW CUT IS DIVIDED. The J136.000.000 wage cut made effective ef-fective July 1. Is divided as follows Clerical and station forces $24,336 -817. Malntennnce of way. structural and unskilled forces $-18,898,873. Shop employes $69,669,347. Stationary engine and boiler room employes $551,954. Signal department employes $1,532,-42S. $1,532,-42S. Total $1 34,988,919. The National Industrial Conference board has made a comparison of the new wage rates with thos,? in 1014 using its own cost of living Index It places the average earnings of the four main groups which h id their wages cut at about If per cent higher than In 1914. In buying power. J 4