The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-01
RAILROAD NEWS.
Engineers and Firemen Against
Double Headers
Average Time Worked Is Nine
Hours a Day.
REPORT :ON SALARIES.
Men Who Run Locomotives Re.
ceive About $1,000.
Interesting Items of a General
and Local Nature.


Johnson, secretary, has completed the
compilation of statistics concerning the
railroad engineers and firemen of the
state. The members of the two organ
izations are a unit against double-h head
ing of engines on trains and suggest
that q wise provision of future laws
would be one shortening the work day
for men engaged in these professions.
The engineers and firemen were asked
which they prefer, the demerit or time
serving system for offenSeS. The ma
jority report in favor of the demerit
system, because then, as they expr ess
it, only the man suffers, where when a
man is suspended for certain lengths Of
time he loses his pay, consequently the
family suffers. However, a majority of
the firemen favor the time serving plan;
but majority of the men in the two
professions record themselves in favor
of the demerit system
The average number of hours per
day worked by the engineers is Zine.
In 55 per cent. of the cases this is an
increase over 1899. In As per cent. Of
the cases this is a decrease compared
with 1899.
The increase in the hours of the work
day, so the men report, is due to the
fact that they are now hauling larger
tonnage which make larger and heavier
trains, which as a natural result de-
creased the speed.
In favoring a proposition to decrease
the working hours to eight the engi-
neerS report that such a plan would
give more men work and would at the
same time afford those regularly en-
ployed more time for reading and ed
vocational work than they can possibly
find under the present system.
Another reform which both the engi-
neers and firemen are in favor of is
the discontinuance of double-headers
and the shortening Of trains.
The average pay for the engineers
during the year 1889 was 81 ,236.60, ac-
cording to the summaries found in this
report. Compared with 1898 these re-
turns show an increase in wages.
A large percentage of the engineers
are married, who with those who are
not married, have an average of four
persons dependent upon them for sup
port. The average expenditures an
nually for food, medicines and the cost
of living as a whole is shown to be
$746.8S.
A large majority Of the engineers and
fremen in these reports favor the cash
system of doing business.
The engineers carry insurance which
makes the following average amounts:
Old. line hfe.-..- 81, $500
Fraterna1 ............ 4,0S1O0
Accident ............ 1,57632
Out of the total number reporting to
the department but eight have mort
cages on their homes. More than SO
per cent of the engineers own their
own homes.
Another. section of the report shows
some miscellaneous expenditures which
brings the total annual cost OF living 10
the sum of 81, 1861.
The engineers join in the following
recommendations
Hospitals in which the service is
| quicker and less expensive.
Permit only substantial boilers to be
used on locomotives and require a reg
ular and thorough examination of all
boilers.
.'Discontinuance of double-headers.
1.-The government ownership OF all
public utilities, and the employment of
men out of work on government build
| ings at fair wages, the solution OF the
| labor problem.
With very few exceptions all engi-
neers and firemen belong to their re-
| spective brOtherhoods
The fremen, according to the reports
in Mr.. Johnson's department averaged
| 1913 hours at work during 1898. For
| 1899 there was no change to speak of.
The average who enjoyed reduction
! was the same as the number who re-
ceived an increase IN the working time.
/ Ninety per cent of the fremen favor
an eight-hour per day law for the rail-
roads.
The total sum earned by the ffremenr
thirty-seven reporting, on the mileage
and monthly basis was $25,2To.49, an
| average of $3.50 II for each individual.
The firemen suggest that the COM
panies employ a sanitary officer to LOOK
| after the company eating houses ana
hotels ito keep them in a fit condition
for men to eat and sleep in is the way
! they express it.
I The insurance protection for firemen
is as follows: Old line life, with five re-
porting, the average amount carried Is
| $4,000 at an average annual cost OF
| $48. "a; fraternaI life, thirty five report
| ing, the average amount carried IS ~
AZ, the average annual cost OF winch
is $29 81, with thirty-two reporting; &C
cident insurance, with nine reporting
the average amount carried is 81, 1856. IS
and five report an average weekly in
annual cost of 1924; fire insurance or
| homes is reported in eight instances
the average amount carried being 1871. q
| at an average annual cost OF $f-f4; nre
| insurance on household goods Is carried
in FIVE instances, the average amount