New-York tribune., 1907-10-01
STRIKE DEFEATS LAW
NO RAILROAD OPERATORS.
Eight-Hour Statute To-day-Cont
Get 4ddionaL Men Required.

The number Of teegraphers employed by the
railroads operating IN this and nine other states
should be increased one-thrd under the new elght-
hour law that goes effect to-day. but with rev
eYcentions officials Of railroads running into this
city said yesterday that they would not be aple 10
comply with the law.
Several frankly stated that they had been unable
10 get enough men and others lodged the question
IN manner that indicated that they were IN the
same condition Striking telegraphers openly SAID
that if some Of the railroads were not playing INTO
the hands Of their former employers there would
be no trouble in finding the men needed.
The last Congress passed law declaring that
no teIegrapher employed by railroad who had
ANYTHING at all dc with the movement OF trains
should work more than eight hours out Of twenty
four. This law is 10 go into effect OF warren =
but New York and nine other states s' n aiteF
passed q similar law, setting to-day as the time
for il To 20 into effect Most of railroad COM
panies as soon as the law passed in this
state began A search for telegraphers, which has
been continued unsuccessfuly.
Compliance with the law is to be enforced by
the Public Service Commission Of the I'd District
but the general opinion among railroad men IS
that their efforts comply will let them off with
out a penalty. They hope TO get enough men
eventually.
Not only the men in the telegraph offices but
hundreds Of station agents under the new
law in cases where one man has been ticket
agent and telegraph operator in the smaller sta
tions two men will be required after to-day Most
of he railroad officials said they had not asked any
questions of the applicants regarding union af1lla-
tions for they we're only too glad TO get airy COM
petent telegraphers without going too far back
in their records.
Al the ONCE Of the New York Central ii was said
that the road would be unable 10 comply with the
law to-day Without the actual figures aVellaole
II was estimated that the law would require one
thousand more telegraphers. including the aoul-
tional men required in the smaller stations where
one man mas done the work heretofore.
q
have no trouble in complying. for ii will only re-
ou,re five more men to bring that road within the
law At the office Of the Lackawanna, Also II was
thought there would be trouble, but exact hg-
J ures We're not available.
The Erie reported that men were not easy 10
get and made no effort to deny that II would be
unable to report the Public Service Commits
sion compliance with the law. II was said at the
/ Offices Of the New York, Ontario & Western that
few Of its stations would be affected and that
about thirty men would he all the additional help
! required. This was. however, largely matter Of
guesswork The West Shore reported a shortage
Of men, but did not know the figures. The Long
Island Railroad people Said thirty would bring
the read within the law, and ii was believed these
had been obtained.
Information as 10 salaries under the rules
was difficult obtain. A report that the New
York Central had reduced the pay of its operators
was denied at the offices. II was stated there
that experienced men could get $50 for eight hours
work The scale on the Long Island Road is from
s57 80 TO $40. il said. The Erie pays from $50
10 $50. The wages the Lackawanna are from
SIS 10 s75.
D. L Russell, chairman of the local strike COM
lnttee Of the telegraphers. said yesterday after
noon that the law meant employment for
eight thousand telegraphers, three thousand
of whom would be needed in the ten states tomor-
row From this city $50 men have been sent out
since the strike began. The records in Mr.. Rus
sells Office show that forty of this number secured
employment from the wireless, companies one hun
dred were placed in miscellaneous positions and
three hundred the railroads.