The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-02
LIE CoNfPANY.s PosTrIoN
Shown by Reply of Vice President
KendricIx to Proposed Rules.

eral shops in this city is clearly an
nounced in the reply of Third Vice
President Kendrick to the Interna-
national Association of Machinfsts,
covering the proposed rules and regu-
lations and the comment of Mr.. Ken
drick on each rule. This was contain
ed in a circular letter as follows:
D. w. Roderick, Esq, Manager Mid
land Associated District. I. A. NJ,
Chicago, III.
Dear Sir: Referring to the proposed
schedule of rules submitted on March
%, 1904. beg to reply as follows:
RULE T.
Ten hours shall constitute a days
work, except Saturday, which shall be
start after p. m, except Saturday, when
it shall start at p. m"
Referring to the discussion that oc-
CURED at the conference held March
Roderick made the following state
ment:
different points, the rate question itself
when you come to read that paper there.
is not touched. I do not believe there is
anything asked for on the rate ques-
ton.
Adoption of this rule would result in
a substantial increase in the pay OF
machinists, inasmuch as they would
receive one hours time on Saturday,
for which they are not now paid unless
they work Moreover, the provisions
as regards overtime, would take effect
of after ten, as at present.
RULE II
when it becomes necessary to reduce
expenses, the hours shall be reduced and
mediately after the working hours in
force"
The company can not submit to die
tation with respect to the course to be
pursued in the matter of force to be
employed, or the work to be performed
by that force. As a rule it win be the
teafV Of
greatest good of the greatest number,
but as the representatives of the com
pany that owns the shops, we can not,
and will not, consent to an arrange
ment which will confer upon the en-
ployes any of the rights or privileges
of ownership.
RULE III
Overtime. shall be paid for at the rate
of time and one-half time for Sundays
and all holidays, such as New Years day,
Washington's birthday. Decoration day.
Independence day. Labor day, Thanksgiv--
ing day and Christmas, and after 3
O'Clock p. on Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and
after O'Clock p. m. on Saturdays. At
ter u o'clock midnight, double time for al
day men: this rule to govern night men
except that they shall receive 10 per cent
increase of wages. Should a machinist or
apprentice be called after the regular
working hours he shall be guaranteed five
hours pay for three hours and twenty
overtime shall not be compulsory except
on running repairs.
The company is now paying time and
a half to machinists for work perform
ed on Sundays. and on the following
holidays: New Years Washington'S
Birthday, Decoration day, Fourth of
July, Labor day, Thanksgiving and
Christmas. The introduction of the
words. 'Such as" as a qualification,
Immediately preceding the words. New
Years day." would indicate that at
some time in the future, demands
might be made for additional holidays,
and for the payment of overtime rates
for any work performed on such days.
The company does not pay double
time after twelve o'clock midnight
The adoption of this provision would
result in a very considerable increase
in the cost of overtime,
The proposed increase of ten per cent
in the wages of regular night men,
would also result in very material
increase in the pay rolls, without an
equivalent to the employer.
These demands directly contradict
Mr.. Roderick's statement 1pages Is and
IA, clause 29), that increases in COM
pensatiOn, or-What amounts 10 the
same thing-rates of pay, are not
touched upon in the proposed rules.
The provision that the working OF
overtime shall not be compulsory, eX-
cept upon running repairs, would re-
suit in controversies as to what con-
stitutes running repairs under various
conditions. The company does not de-
sire to have its men work overtime,
duction of rule which will enable q
man to elect whether he will work or
not and at the same time remain IN
the service of the company
RULE ".
"A machinist is classified as a compe-
tent general workman, competent floor
hand, competent lathe hand, competent
wise hand competent planer hand, COM
petent shaper hand, competent milling
machine hand, competent slotting ma
chine hand, competent injector and lubri-
N Dof air
tent boring mill hand, competent tool
maker. To be considered competent
hand in any class, he shall be able to tai
any piece of work pertaining to this
class with the drawings blue prints
and prosecute the work to a successful
completion within a reasonable time
1T is further understood that wheel
iathes, turret lathes, fox lathes and bolt
lathes, also steam shoYels, pile drivers,
rail saws, all air hoists, air cranes ana
gines, quarter1ng machine such bench
work as fitting driving brasses in boxes,
fitting eccentrics and straps together, lev
cling up driving spring rigging, hitting en-
CINE truck work, driving or truck brakes,
assembling or disassembling of metal
parts of all shop machines and 1ocom0-
tives shall be considered as machinlsts
work.
This rule provides that any specialist
who is competent to perform any single
branch of machinists work shall be
classed as a machinist, although he
may be wholly incompetent to perform
all of the duties Of a machinist, in all
other branches of work. In other
words it results in the classification of
all handy men as competent machin-
lists. Moreover, it provides that prac-
tically all machine tools shall be cper-
ated by machinists, who would neces-
sarily be paid at the first-class ma
chinist rate, regardless of their general
skill. 1t is a we'll known fact that
many of our best workmen on machine
tools are those who can perform only
this particular class of work AS such
men are not machinists, they are not
entitled to machinist's pay. The rule
further provides that a great deal Of