Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-06-18
HAZARDS Of R. R.
WORK JUSTIFY
MEMS DEMANDS
Millions Paid by Brother
hoods Account Members
Killed and Disabled.

Cleveland, Ohio, June 1.-THE fol-
lowing statement was issued by the
four transportation brotherhoods, who
are campaigning jointly for an eight
hour day:
"Who pays for the depreciation in
human life, the result of railway
operation?
"When car or locomotive is smash
ed up, a fund has been provided fol
it's renewal, but when in the same
wreck, an engineer, fireman, conduc-
tor or brakeman has been crushed out
of all semblance to his former self
the other employees Of these classes
whose time has not yet come, dig
down into their pockets and pay for
this human railroad wreckage.
"The common law doctrine of cas-
sumed risk" has been forced on rail
road employees as part of their COM
pensation. TO use a Western express
sion, they have been educated to ex-
pect "to die with their boots on"
Gin no other industry. is. the. occu-
pational hazard so great as in the
making up and transportation of rail-
way trains. The railroad industry,
however, reflects no recognition of
this hazard in the wages of it's en-
ployes.
"The records of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
show that it has paid out to it's men,
bers the great sum of $2,270,279.92--
to the widows and orphans of it's mem
bers who were killed during that one
year and on account of injuries and
disabilities incurred.
"The members Of the Brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen during the year
Of 1915, paid out from their meager
earnings, on account of members
killed and disabled in service, the sum
of $2,421, 55S.17.
"Members Of the Order of Railway
Conductors put up 81, 761 ,417.49 fol
the relief Of their human wreckage
in 1915.
"The extra hazardous nature OF the
employe on a freight train, makes
absurd any comparison of wages re-
ceived, with railway clerks, section
hands and other employees.
"ConsiG cring the fact that train en-
ployes are the most skilled of all rail
road wage earners, and that they must
pay out such enormous sums as above
on account of "human wreckage,'
they are entitled to a work day suf-
ficiently short to enable them to per-
form their ardous duties with a rested
body and brain.
"Freight train crews should at least
receive as much as is paid in other
trades, so that they could better af-
ford to meet the losses occasioned by
deaths and injuries of their members
cit is certain that reduction ir
and recuperation will better fortify
the human mind and body against
accidents of personal nature ane
men in freight train service are now
determined to have shorter work day
and to have their working conditions
approximate, as far as possible, that
which obtains in other trades.
"Railroad officials claim that if the
demands of the train crews are
granted, it will mean an enormous in
crease in wages paid, and that the
cost of any increase will fall upon the
public.
! eff the officials really believe this
why their strenuous opposition? Does
the history of railroading show any
instance of any great anxiety on the
part of the railroads to protect the
public?
"The officials also make statements
that the cost will come out of. the
pockets of the stockholders, and in the
next breath they claim that the cost
will fall upon the farmer and shipper
"The employees claim that the truth
of the matter is that there will be
little or no increase in cost by grant
ing an eight-hour day, and in proof
of this claim, they cite the fact that
sworn statements of the railroads il
the recent federal arbitration case in
Chicago show that 70 per cent OF
through and irregular freight trains
now make the basic division of 100
miles in less than eight hours, which
would leave only % per cent of trains
whose speed would have to be accel
Grated in order to avoid the payment
! of overtime"
FARM COLONIES FOR