Evening journal., 1915-03-04
TELECRAPHERS lose
FIGHT FOR DAYS OFF.
House Defeats Mr.. Lether-
bury'S Bill, 10 Yeas TO Is
Long Discussion
RAILROADS OPPOSED
INCREASE IN EXPENSE

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER. DEL March l-Represen-
tative Letherbury's bill TO require
railroads to give telographers and
clerks sending or receiving train or
ders at least two days OFF with pay
each month was defeated after spir-
tied fight in the House yesterday af-
tcrnOon. The vote was 10 yeas. TO
10 nays, seven members not voting.
Al present the telographers get but
one days rest a month with pay. For
more than an hour the bill was dis
cussed before It went down TO de-
feat.
John Biggs and Andrew E. San
born. representing the Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington Railroad
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
respectively were given privilege Of
the floor and opposed the bill.
They contended that according TO
the decisions in other states the bill
would be unconstitutional. Mr.. Biggs
stated that the bill if enacted would
mean an additional expense on the
Delaware Division of S5.6l5.76 a year
and on the Maryland division of ST.
913.2S additional year. Mr.. Biggs
asserted the bill was unjust and that
while the railroad company was will
ing TO treat its employees right the
company did object to an arbitrary
law of this kind.
II. Thomas Truitt, former officer
of the Telegraphers' Union, appealed
for passage of the bill.
Mr.. Letherbury. sponsor for the
bill. in bringing Il up made the follow
ing statement
This bill explains itself, but | wish
TO call attention to what, in my esti-
nation. and / hope in the estimation
Of each member of the House. are the
reasonable requests contained therein.
"The telegraph operators in lever
towers, clerks and others mentioned
ask for two relief days per month with
pay; and il is certainly proper that
men such as hold the responsible po-
sitions they hold should have this re-
| lief. otherwise. they are compelled to
/ work every day in the year, which IS
not required OF any other class of men
in the country. l feel sure that had
this feature been noticed as lacking
! from the law which exists all over the
United States. known as the ninc-houI
/ law for tower operators, some proVl-
sion would have been made IN thai
! law similar to what this bill covers.
THE clerks referred TO in this bill
are the telegraph operators who arc
/ located in depots and sell tickets II
connection with their duties, receiv'
/ ing kilograms, some of which have t1
do with the orders and instructions e
trains Affecting their movement, stops
etc.
~rhc men claim they have bear
given relief days at times, but tina
this is not usual OF regular thine
but only when the company sees IL
way clear TO give them
"Thc expense 10 carry out the pro
visions of this bill is scarcely con
sidoration when the justice and als'
the benefits that will accrue both e
the men and the company, are real
izcd.
'"The overtime refers TO cases wherl
operators are called upon TO wort
over the nine hours on account o
| emergencies such as are mentioned II
the present bill before the House
The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Mcssrs Cubhage, Dickey
Hance, Hoch. Milbourne, Richards
Short Webster, Williams and Spcako
Grantlsnd-10.
Navs-Messrs. Bender Daley
Donovan. Downward, Elliott. Hall
Hastings. Hill, Jones, Kenney, Davis
Rash, Roach. Letherbury and Sauls
bury-15.
Not Voting-Messrs Allen, Carey
Daisey. Evans, Lingo, Mabrey and
Saleyan-7.
Representative Letherbury change
his vote to mo- for purpose of re
consideration.