The morning call., 1891-02-24
PAY FOR OVERTIME.
A Question Which Has Always
Troubled Railroad Men.
The Trainmen's Great Burden Incumbered by
Petty and Absurd Claims q. Inman,
the Southern Railway King.

The question of compromising railroad
trainmen for overtime made on the road,
necessitated by washOuts land-slides and
unusual work at way stations, and the many
little accidents and incidents which are for
ever intruding to hold trains and mar The
professional reputation Of Division Super
lntendentS, has probably been more prolific
OF serious trouble than any other in the his
tory of American railroads. The complica-
tions which in the past have arisen between
employees and managers of the great railway
systems OF this country can, in almost every
case, be traced directly to these causes. The
fact that in arbitration Tor when this falls,
III the last resort of labor organizations-the
strike) the principal motive is often OBJ
scnred, being buried in a great number OF
minor grievances. which are often, by I'M
skillfnl hands, added to the primary cause
to insure stability, will not disprOye this
statement.
In formulating the complaints of colabor-
erS, whom they are appointed to represent,
the men constituting grievance committee
are always Inclined to magnify complaints
and multiply requests or demands, until the
schedule of grievances contains great null
tlplielty of unimportant matter, and when
presented for officiil consideration looses
hall its force, being incumbered by irrele-
want petitions and often by the most absurd
claims. This method of procedure is in
variahly followed by those chosen to adjust
difficulties which from time to time arise be-
tween trainmen and officials of railroad
companies. Representatives chosen from
the various lodges of the order for this I'M
pleasant duty fail to-Obserye that the prini-
airy cause is weakened in proportion as the
lesser complaints are increased
METHODS IN VOGUE.
An example of the methods in vogue with
visiting committees, and one which will at
test the correctness of the above, is afforded
by Grievance Committee representing the
Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen and
Conductors on the entire Southern Pacific
system, now in. session in this city. Its
paramount grievance is an alleged refusal
of-the Southern Pacific Company to keep an
agreement entered Into III October relating
to compensation for overtime. This COM
plant, which, is certainly very just one,
has been Smothered ard very materially
weakened by such petty requests as the fol-
lowing:
That this trainmen 10 Los Angeles yard be
exempt from the duty OF throwing switches.
That promotion shall he niaue according 10
length Of service with the company. Some men
hay been working three and four years, While
Others in The service of the COMPANY for one yeaI
hav1 been promoted TO conducIorsnfp.
That married meu shall be exempt from night
work..
i"' oiu anu 4htl4ui SHAH nave tne
choice OF runs
That there shall be a regular payday
mat ualhmen shall not he required TO sweep
out passengeT-cars.
The above is a fair index to a long list of
complaints presented to.the Southern Pacific
Company, and introduced for the sole pur-
pose OF bracing UP the demand for overtime.
Instead ot supporting the demand, this list
OF petty mnrmurs serves rather to weaken
any argument which may be adduced TO
prove the rlSbtfuness of the true cause of
contention, and reduce the chances of
favorable reply to a minimum.
ON OTHER RAILROADS.
On ali the railroads in the country.
engineers and treuien paid for overtime
though this state of affairs was brought
about only after great amount of hard
work ana many bitter struggles. Thorough
Organization and concentrated etfortdid for
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Firemen what they will DO for the train
men, when they are willing 10 hammer con-
Stantly and consistently at single abuse,
and bring to common center the power
which they might Weld to Institute a
reform.
On many of the railway systems the over
time question has been settled TOR ever. of
the Western roads the Santa Fe and Great
Northern both have clear and highly salts
factory understanding with all grades of en-
pioyes concerning time. On the Union and
Southern Pacific the matter is being con-
stantly agitated. BTakemen on these roads,
held for ten and fifteen hours by washouts
and land-Slides, smart under the knowledge
that the engineer and fireman receive pay
for every hour of the delay, while they re-
ceiye nothing additional than a severe cold.
On the former of the roads above mem
toned there is probably more discomfort
among trainmen than on any other road in
the United States. and on both systems the
murmurs which, from time to time, come
TO the ears Of officials are appreeiable A
strike on the Southern Pacific at the present
time and on account of the difficulties now
undergoing adjustment is, however. entirely
out of the question for reasons which have
already been made to appear.
THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY KING.
That most conspicuous of Southern rail-
way and coal and iron magnates, President
JOHN FL. Inman Of the Tennessee Coal and
Iron Company, is now attracting general at
tention in financial circles through his re-
cent railway tour with Jay Gould. John