The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-05
vices, especially the airbrake and au-
tOmatic cnIInlnr tho haza rd In raflucad

tomato coupler the hazard Is reduced
to a minimum and the accident that
do occur are often the results Of neg.
ligence 10 obey plain rules of safety.
But few employees have ever been
able to get full justice from tho rail-
roads. Because Of their close organ
iZation The train operatives have come
nearer getting all they asked for than
any other class OF employees and It
would seem were less in need of leg.
islative help and yet were the only
ones considered in this beautiful bit
Of legislation.
There are employed by the roads
thousands Of persons in what are
known as continuous occupations
which must go on day and night seven
days week and this class at least
should be worked in three shifts Of
eight hours each In order that they
may have chance to be something
more than mere slaves. There are
many young men. mere boys, here at
Hoult 16 to Fl years of age working
at round house and shops, machinist
helpers, hostlers, engine washers, car
inspectors, air testers, oilers, etc.
Some day shifts many on night shifts.
They come home tired, hungry,
sleepy, sit down and perhaps fall
asleep before breakfast. They eat
their breakfasts. Soon go to bed, are
awakened about s p. m to eat their
suppers, get their dinner pals and
start for the round house or yards.
This same endless round these boys
keep up seven days week.
What does life seemingly mean to
them? What opportunity have these
boys just In the formative period of
young manhood to develop into ideal
American citizens? Yet these are not
considered at all in the Adamson bill.
Sen. Oliver Of Pennsylvania giving
reasons for opposing the bill said
among other things, sin express
terms, while assuming to establish an
eight hour basis. 1t abandons that ba.
sis with regard to three.fourths Of
the men actually employed by the rail.
roads,
But OUTSIDE from an these consider.
atoms. honestly believe the bill fails
OF its purpose because Of its unconsti.
nationality. It is not q real true
eight hour measure II I understand
1t right. 1t merely states that eight
hours shall be considered days work
in computing wages and the railroads
shall not pay less for the eight hour
day than the present pay of a ten
hour day, but no penalty is attached
for working more than eight hours at
the same pro rata pay. This Is mere
ly round about way of arbitrarily
saying that the railroads shall pay the
men an increase Of 25 per cent simply
that, nothing more. II Congress Is Civ
en- any power express or implied to
regulate the rates Of pay between cor
porations and their employees will
somebody please point out to me the
place and relieve my mind?
II it has such power is not this DOW
er dangerous to labor as we'll as cap
ital? II this congress has power to
say to the railroads you must pay
your employees 80 much" has not an
other Congress, unfriendly to labor,
power. in such crisis to, say to the
employees, you shall, under severe
penalties, work for SO much?" I ask
for information.
In an editorial today, Sunday the
Pittsburgh Gazette.Times intimates
that this bill is poor makeshift,
Says 1t is not real hour law, as it
merely autocraticaly raises the wages
Of small per cent of the railroad en-
ployes and predicts that 1t will still
cause trouble perhaps as great as a
strike.
Although not a lawyer nor proph-
ct I predict that the railroads will
refuse eventually to abide by It, ana
when prosecuted and fined under its
provisions VIII appeal to the Supreme