Evening star., 1916-08-24
SEVEN POINTS AGAINST
8-H0UR-DAY PROGRAM
Jules Kruttschnitt Contends De-
mand Of Railway Employees Is
Intrinsically Unfair.

IL
sons plan for settling the strike con-
troversy are stated by Jules Krutt-
schnitt. chairman of the Southern Pa
ctfc, who calls the plan spurious"
He argues that the scheme would not
establish a satisfactory wage basis.
and means only more pay for over
time.
1T is not true that the railways are
holding out against an eight-hour day
in train service" he says. What they
would say if asked to grant a genuine
eight-hour day in train service nobody
can now say, but. all assertions to the
contrary notwithstanding, the train
employees have not demanded a day re-
qutring efght-hours work: therefore.
acceptance by US Of President Wilson's
proposal would not establish an eight
hour day. The result would be that
trainmen would work just as many
hours as they now do but at q much
higher cost to the railroads"
Seven Reasons Advanced.
The seven reasons he gives are as
follows:
First. The men do not ask that
wages be based exclusively on hours,
but both on miles and hours. They de-
mand that eight hours or less, 100
miles or less, shall be paid for as day.
as against the existing ten hours or
less, 100 miles or less
Second. Nothing under this spurious
plan would prevent any number Of en-
ployes from working more than eight
hours. Their trains have specified
runs, and the number OF hours en-
would depend hereafter. on the time
required to make their runs. The sole
dfnerence between existing and pro-
posed arrangements would be that over
time would begin two hours earlier,
with corresponding increase in
operating expenses.
'Third-Nothing in the proposed ar
rangement requires the men to work
as much as eight hours for a days
wage. In other words, the railways
would have to pay a days wage in a
large proportion of cases in which they
would not get eight hours work for a
days wage. All who ran 100 miles or
more in less than eight hours would
eight hours work.
Thousands Of trainmen now work
less than eight hours a day. Practically
all passenger trainmen make their runs
IN less than eight hours. the average
being only about six hours. Many men
In freight service. regularly, and many
others frequently make their runs in
less than eight hours. Under the pro-
posed arrangement all these men would
continue to work less than eight hours
for days wage The companies
would pay genuine money for a coun-
terfeit day, known to be such when
rendered.
Result Easily Foreseen.
"Fourth-In brief. the plan of the
men contemplates that all men who
now work more than eight hours a day
shall receive days pay for the first
eight and overtime for all additional
hours. but that none Of those who now
work less than eight hours should be
required to give the companies any
additional service. 1t is easy to fore
TT would be that, without any
change in actual working hours. there
would be established in railway train
service plan which would result in
a days wage being paid for much less
than an average of eight hours work.
No train employe would work more
than eight hours for a days wage.
while thousands would work less
Genuine pay for counterfeit day.
"Ftfth-In the existing as well as
under the plan proposed. if any excess
mileage were made the extra miles
would have to be paid for at the same
rate as the regular miles. But If less
than 100 miles were made in eight
pay the employees their full days wage
nevertheless. On the other hand, if
more than eight hours were consumed
In running 100 miles. the excess hours
must be paid for al a rate of so per cent
higher than the regular rate per hour
Fears Delays in Trains.
''sixth-The question at once arises:
II the wage per hour after eight hours
were increased so per cent. would not
the men covet and naturally seek to
gain the higher rate by remaining more
than eight hours on duty? Certainly. |
Being in charge of the train. with am
pie opportunity to delay it's movement, |
The railways would have to pay the |
men men, premium rSaiuf to encourage inefn-
eged aim to shorten their working |
lay would be defeated by a powerful |
Incentive offered them to lengthen it |
oy delaying trains: this is strong evi- |
ience of the dishonesty Of the eight |
hour day as proposed.
'Seventh-The railways believe the
,ight-hour day, as understood by the |
employees, ts extremely unfair to the |
carriers. They believe its adoption
would unduly favor a class who are now
he highest paid workingmen in Ameri- |
"a, and place an unreasonable burden |
IN the railways. and an unreasonable
burden of increased rates on the pub
ic. which ultimately would have to pay |
he bill. There can be no social or
economical Justification for fixing a
,asis of wages which would enable men
n train service to earn a days wage
or an average Of much less than eight
,ours work. The railway employees
lnow, the railway managers know. and |
he public ought to know. that the
rain employees are asking for an enor-