The San Francisco call., 1907-03-01


termini-with the same headway and upon the
same time. But the number OF runs would
necessafy De greater and there would neces-
short runs given 20 the men, extra men
as they are called, upon which at any reason
could not make living wages"
OLD EMPLOYEES SUFFER
1t is not exactly in accordance with the
usages OF language to say that there would be
g much greater number OF extremely short
runs under the eight-hour table. 1t is true
lnat the company produced eight-hOur tables
OF Its own under which there were much
greater number OF extremely short runs, but
II came out in the evidence that those tables
were mace mp under preposterous conditions,
were intended as reductio ad sbsurdum. But
n the time tables produced by the men, out
OF 1sb runs covered the total number of trippers
OF short-run men only II page 260s) IN
excess Of those already IN existence. Taking
al the old time tables the total number Of short
run men would not exceed SS and under the
new conditions Of the city and the progressive
improvement OF the time tables, IL is certain
that they could be pulled down to q considerably
less number.
But even If IT were true that the eight-hour
time tables could not be operated without
larger number OF short runs, the absolute
Der would IN no case go above 200. II seems TO
me tnat II would be an extraordinary principle TO
put into force that the tai should wag the dog
and that the working rules for 1000 should be
controlled by the real or fancied necessities Of
But, in fact. the question here is not so
lcltude about a living wage for the short-time
the United Railroads. That system is devised
for the purpose OF filing up the ranks Of the
70 the company. II pays the it's waiting
list just what they earn, whether it be two
the men or apprentices must support themselves
az their own charges. The apprentices TO the
elecu.e uaoes get their 800 DAY from The
moment that they enter the employ Of the
company and that 50 SO represents the living
wage They don't have TO support themselves
at their own charges while waiting for jour
ueynHn s employment.
CRUMBS FOR EXTRAMEN
But the apprentice carmen must DO so. They
must take the crumbs that drop from their
are free agents and If they want 10 pay that
initiation fee TO the company know Of moth
ing TO stop them but II is altogether another
thing when the board Of arbitration would make
the regular carmen pay that Initiation fee. The
contention OF the majority is that the carmen
under it the apprentices could not make a living
wage. Therefore, the apprentices would not
not maintain a reserve force or waiting list II
the company wants apprentices Jet It do what
Water tenders or laborers. Let Il psy living
wage. Neither in law nor morals the men
bound 70 maintain training school for the
benefit of the United Railroads
The majority report lays much stress on what
it supDoses the men viii do in the future in
cision should not be based on the future con
ungent but upon fthe facts disclosed by the
evidence We are dealing herewith two organ
lied bodies. the union and the company If we
wish TO know what the company wants we
have 10 take the statement OF its responsible
mouthpiece. We can't 60 behind its official
ufterances and fasten on the predictions OF
t' Or that individual in its employ In the
same way, when dealing with the car
men we cannot 20 behind their ofhci2l declara-
fion and pick up individual statemeZts Of indi-
asker for an eight-hour day and we cannot 20
behind that request. Whether il be granted or
not It is what the carmen want
The report Of the Majority also discloses. IA
mlilarlty with the motives Of the men which re-
dence II states on page IS; The evidence
shows that the men having the right TO select
their runs in order Of seniority almost invariably
select the longest runs. Their motive Of course
/ Is. 10 increase their earnings and this motive
VII continue 10 operate in tie future From
this motive II draws the conclusion: IF we felt
warranted IN saying that the company should nav
the rate demanded for eight hours + e. 371h
cents an hour. 1t is highly probable that the long
rJIns-runs exceeding eight hOurs-would continue
70 be chosen
As TO THRIFTY MEN
I must say that I cannot enter the psychology
cal labyrinths through which this conclusion Is
st.ll pick them through stern necessity. One
might as well conclude what a slave would do
when restored to freedom from what he does
along his back. The men picked the long
TO make a little than the S2.75 allowed
them by the highest rates OF the United Rail-
roads. These were the old men, the steady men.
the men OF family. When men have homes 10
support and children 70 clothe-especially men Of
the high and intelligent class that came before
ms 70 give their testimOny-they not going TO
spare themselves If only by long hours they can
a living wage.
They have gone 10 work before daylight and
returned after dark that few more cents might
20 into the family treasury. Their parental love
has been made whip by the company TO get
work out OF them. and when they ask in all
sincerity for humane conditions they are told by
the board OF arbitration that they are merely
ayarci0us. The poets tell OF the pious bird, the
pelican that wounds Its breast that it's
starving young may find Dutriment in their pa
rents blood The board of arbitration IS using
this affection as an argument against providing
the young with any other food and penalties the
carmen because they have been willing TO spend
themselves and be spent for those that God has
made dependent upon them
And suppose Il were true that Of the
men were willing to work ten. eleven or twelve
hours in order TO make more money should they
be permitted TO DO so? The adoption Of eight
hour laws by our Legislatures and the upholding
OF the same by the courts constitute a principle
that man, at least In cases is not al
lowed 20 use his natural liberty OF working nine
hours or ten hours II he so pleases. Indeed the
plea that be make more money by longer
hours and should be permitted TO make more
money cannot stand in the face OF the facts Of
our municipal life. For instance a man might
make more money by keeping a COW within the
COW limits, but the authorities VIII promptly ad-
Judge tine COW a nuisance. A man has no right
70 make more money by being a nuisance to his
neghbors.
EIGHT HOURS ENOUGH
In the same way man Of stronger physique or
OF greater nervous energy Of more greed may
want IN rvor fen on Hr Dir eo