The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-18

ity of the service have never been talk
 en into the calculation in arran rfng
 the rates of pay as they have in ru.es
 Tor discipline. by virtue of which ser
 vice exactions are greater than fin any
 other general service In the world.
 From the beginning hourly railroad d
 wages in train and yard service have
 oeen ridiculous'y low but have been
 made to appear high because the longer hours of emp Oyment for a days
 work naturally earned higher daily wages but really no higher hourly rates than were paid unskHled and less responsible employnents.
 The rule of the majority of the companies not to employ a man who mas passed the age limit which var les anywhere from twenty-eight years upward, is pretty conclusive evidence or their opinion that the service de- tal abilities of the men in a very few years This rapid deterioration of men particularly applies to yard ser
 wee where constant attention to duty IS imperative and where safety de- nands continuous aIertness for there are no rest periods in yard work If IS the rule not to employ men who have had service experfence after they have reached the age of thirty-iye If tne railroaos are willing to acknowi- edge they have worked the life out of a man at that early age is it unfair 10 ask them to pay the man some thing for the remaining years of his life. which they frankly tell him are asainst his employment in railway service? Thus far they have had his best years for nothing.
 Railroad companies refer to the de- creased risk in railway err>p'ovment As long as one man cut of every eight employed Is injured each year and one out of each IFS employed is killed an nua1y 1t Is not convincing to point to the decreased hazard of railway service The ren have never been paid for this extra hazard: to the con- trary the compsnies have opposed ev- cry e ort to1 make them pay for in- jury and death sustained in the ser vice.
 The increased costs of living cannot be overlooked.
 Market reports are authority for the statement that since IS6 four has increased more than 100 par c-nt. beef SO per cent. pork about I5O per ccn.s hans 8 Ter cent. bacon II per cent. ard 1S0 per cent, butter 70 per cent. and potatoes more than 1s0 per cent. Tn the past year flour hrs advalced IS per cent, and ccnfee over e5 per cent while heaven alone knows to what figures rents and other supplies have been boosted. but ssfe to say not oe.ow the average increase in other costs app icahle to living expenses.
 Railroad men with their service de- mands to meet require good hous- Ing. food. clothes and necessary rest periods. consequently they must be paid higher wages or the service must 1eteriorate for the lack of thrse ac- sessories to good service III norr- shed. poor,y housed. weary and worn nut emp.oyes cannot give good ser
 What they are asking for now is a wage rate for a days work that vii assure good living, proper rest and rec cation. the opportunity to save sor-e- hing seainst mental and physical de- erforation, wages that VIII compen- ate for responsibility and hazard as veil as recognize their general earn-.l ng c7pacity. They must be paid though for a days work to let them i've longer than a day and not be | Lsked to work a day and a half to 1 i've properly for only one day.
 Railroad companies provide from heir earninss for the depreciation of | Quipment and natural betterments. 'ut who dare affirm that wa-es maid | lsve ever allowed for the mental a-d | 'hyslcal depreciation of the employees. |
 Railroad companies have invested | heir earnings In building up their roperties until today they are in bat- | CT condition than they were but rail- | oad wages have not permitted the nen to do anything of the kind: they |