Evening journal., 1909-12-23

md throws an interesting side light on
he relation between strikes and increas-
ID cost OF living, says tho Baltimore
SUM
Causes Of the Strike.
The article IN part follows:
Railroad employees in certain branches
of the service have decided to request
In increase in wages. The reasons there
for are the increased earning abilities OF
each empioye. the difference in higher
wages paid TO other occupants wherein /
responsibility, extra hazard |
and length Of the work day do not enter |
the constant demand made on the mental |
and physical health OF the employe. the
employment OF young men with the GER
tAinty that none of them can expect en- |
ployment n he loses his position after he |
has reached the age OF IS. tho exacting |
physical demands made on men entering
the service, which equal those OF the
army or navy; the right 20 be paid wa
ges sufficient 10 allow the employe 10
save something each year 10 copensate
him for tho depreciation OF his mental
and physical machinery. the right 20
maintain his customary standards OF iiv-
ing with the increased costs thereof. and
the belief that the railroad companies
can AFFORD 10 pay their employees better
wages because, according 10 re~orts, they
are earning more money for the COM
panies.
The earning capacity Of each train and
yard empioys has been increased; just
how much Is difficult to estimate, for
conditions vary on different systems. But
It is safe TO say that each employe in
America Is handling three times more
tonnage IA a given time than he did i5
years ago, while the comparative NUM-
Dor OF train and yard men has been re-
duced about one man per crew. Wage
payments have not increased in any such
proportion.
II is the usual practice when refer
ring to railroad wages. TO quote the
sum total of day and overtime rates
as wages for the month. without refer
ence TO lost time. leaving the impress
sion that each man earns that amount
monthly, and to disregard the import
ant fact that railroad men usually do
not make every day in the week. which
materially reduces their average
monthly wages. Train and yard men
are pieceworkers and are paid only
for the time they make. and were IL
not for extra time made on regular
trips their monthly wages would be
low.
The extra hazard and responsibility
Of the service have never been taken
into the calculations IN arranging the
rates of pay as they have I'm rules for
discipline, by virtue of which service
exactions are greater than in any other
/ general service in the world.
I TFrop. fhr hrnfnnfucr hourly f1rro Il
wages in train and yard service have
been ridicuously low. but have been
made 20 appear high because the longer
hours Of employment FOR a days work
naturally earned higher daily wages,
/ but really were no higher hourly rates
than were paid unskilled and less re-
sponsible employments.
The rule OF the majority OF the COM
/ panies not 10 employ a man who has
passed the age limit. which varies any
where from 2S years upward. Is pretty
/ conclusive evidence OF their opinion
that the service demands exhaust the
/ physical and mental abilities OF the
men in a very few years. This rapid
deterioration OF men particularly ap-
plies to yard service. where constant
attention to duty is imperative and
where safety demands continuous
alertness, for there are no rest periods
/ in yard work. IL IS the rule not to
employ men who have had service ex-
perience after they have reached the
age Of 80. II the railroads are willing
to acknowledge they have worked the
life out Of a man at that early age
is It unfair 10 ask them to pay the
man something for the remaining years
of his life, which they frankly tell him
are against his employment in rail-
awy service? Thus far they have had
his best years for nothing.
Railroad companies refer TO the de.
creased risk in railway employment
AS long as one man out Of every eight
employed is injured each year and one
out of each 12S employed is killed an.
nually. IL is not convincing to poin
to the decreased hazard OF railway
service. The men have never beer
paid for this extra hazard; to.the con
trary, the companies have opposed
every effort to make them pay for IN,
jury and death sustained in the ser
vice.
The increased cost OF living cannot
be overlooked. Market reports ar,
authority for the statement that sine,
1896 flour has increased more than 10l
per cent: beef. so per cent: pork
about $50 per cent; hams, 80 per cent
bacon, II per cent; lard. $50 per cent.
butter. 20 per cent, and potatoes, NOR,
than 1870 per cent In the past yeai
flour has advanced 60 per cent: pork
20 per cent; butter. IS per cent, an,
coffee, over % per cent, while Heaver
alone knows to what figures rents ant
other supplies have been boosted, bu
safe TO say not below the average in
crease in other costs applicable 10 liv
ing expenses.
Railroad men with their service de-
mands 10 meet require good housing
food, clothes and necessary res
periods. consequently they must b.
paid higher wages or the service mus
deteriorate for the lack Of these ac
cessories TO good service. III nourished
poorly housed, weary and worn on
employees cannot give good service.
What they are asking for now Is
wage rate for q days work that vii
assure good living, proper rest an
recreation, the opportunity TO saw
something against mental and physica
deterioration-wage that will be com
pensate for responsibility and hazar
as well as recognize their general earn
| ing capacity. They must be pai
enough for a days work TO let then
live longer than day and not be ask
| cd TO work a day and a half to liv