The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-14
A STARTLTNG CENSUS
To Expose Wrong Rules That
Govern Railway Employees.
THE GOVERNMENT INQUIRY
As to What the Pay and Privileges
of Men of the Rail siGniry-A
Government statistician Get.
ting Facts on the Lines.

PITTsBuRGH, Pa, August l3.-Mr'
Charles b. Ihmsen, of this city, is now
engaged, and has been for some time
past, on very important work for the
Government. He is the local statistician
employed by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics at Washington.
A thorough canvass OF the books and
pay rolls OF the railroads centering in
Pittsburgh, or running through the
western part of Pennsylvania, Eastern
Ohio or West Virginia, is now being
made by Mr.. Ihmsen by authority of
the department in Washington. Thus
far the gentleman has gathered great
mass of llgures and information about
the wages, working hours and industrial
condition of the employees Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, Pennsylvania Com
pany, Panhandle, Pittsburgh & Lake
Erie, Allegheny Valley, Pittsburgh 4
Western, aud the Baltimore & Ohio
railroads. This matter he has forwarded
to the office OF Commissioner Wright,
where the clerical force tabulates it with
similar information from other parts of
the country.
THE IMPORTANT OBJECTS.
OF course Mr.. lhnlsen's investigations
only form II part OF great national census
now being taken OF the industrial condi-
ton OF the army OF railroad laborers in
the country. There are several very i'm
portant objects in view. In explaining
these an official OF the bureau made the
rather surprising statement that there is
not in existence at the present time any
work showing in detail the late and cor
rect facts on the standard OF wages paid
railroad crews, the number OF hours they
work, or the rules governing them. For
this reason Col. Wright has undertaken
topublish information ofthisvast branch
OF the public service in MS complete
form rs anything that has ever been got
ten up about the operatives in iron fac
tories, cloth mills or coal mines.
40 give you all instance OF the value
OF such book OF reference" said the
official, "you can recall how very fire.
quently the accidents and wrecks on
railroads are charged to the Overwork OF
the trHinmen. Alter nearly every iatal
wreck OF importance that charge appears
in the public press, either local or gem
orally. Now, the information we are
getting will settle that charge, by show
lug the exact number OF hours the crews
OF trains have TO work. 1t will be very
minute and truthful. Both the passen-
ger and freight service is included in our
inquiry. We have even gone to the
trouble Of taking the circumstances sur
rounding some recent accident, and then
give the number Of hours worked by the
men on that occasion.
ABOUT RAILROAD STRIKES.
"Whcn n strike occurs there has never
been any authentic information as to
wages to base legislation upon in the
various States or in the National Con-
gress. In the case Of the great Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy railroad strike, for
instance, when Congress took up the
matter for investigation, or thought OF
trying toadjust the trouble, the difficulty
encountered was the absence OF genuine
truth as to the wages paid, OF the gen.
eral requirements OF the company in re-
gard to its men. In crises like that, you
want something more than common
rumOr to base your legislation upon.
The need OF legislation on this class OF
labor troubles is so much more pressing
than in any other branch, because a
strike OF any considerable size not only
stops freight traffic and thus stagnates
commerce, but it brings public travel to
Il standstil. Therefore there should be
the fullest and most truthful informa-
ton at hand about the subject before n
remedy is undertaken. That is why
arbitration hRs so often failed heretofore
MS proposed means OF settling conflicts
OF labor and capital. The employers
will not allow their employees to examine
their books.
an the investigation which is now
being carried on in your city and all
ovcrthe United States we have so far re-
ceived the most hearty aid and assistance
OF the railroad officials"
The reporter learned that there will be
many surprises for the working classes
in this work when it is completed.