Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-02-20
RAILROADS SAY
 E|GhT.h0UR DAY COST 100 NILS.
Declare Granting Train mems Demands Means 25
 Per Cent Wage Increase.
(By Clio HarLer.)

At a time when all ArkanSas Is grateful to the railroads of the state for their efforts to relieve suffering among the flood victims of Eastern Arkansas, and when the railroads themselves a.e .sorelyIstricken by the high waters, comes an appeal from the executive committee of the as- sociation of Western Railways, which includes all Arkansas railroads, fog public favor in the crisis now pend ing between the railroads and the F employees.
 q. The employees of railroads of the United States, and most of Canada, whc are members Of the B. of L. E.. E. of l.. F. and E.. o. R. c. and B. R, r., have, requested an eight hour working day, and a general strike is promised unless their demands are acceded, to. The statement issued Dy the railroads-is made because they feel that the general public is deeply Absolutely paralyze all industries Of the United States.
 According to the statement, 2S0,- coo miles of railroad, with 300,00o employees affected, are threatened " ith an increase in wages of $100, 100000 per annum. These same em- ployes have received an increase in wages of from 30 to 42 per cent in the II years between 1903 and 19f4' The increase asked for is 25 per cent. and it is impossible to grant it, say the railroads, at the present passen- ger and freight rates.
 They say that the eight-hour day for trafnmen is impracticable, and the demand in this form is merely 70 secure public favor, when it is IT. reality only demand for additional compensation. The railroads claim that it is impossible to stop work ac nhe end of eight hours, for trains must be taken on to their destina- tion, as they cannot be left where they might be at the expiration of the working day.
 Train schedules are prepared to al- lew freights to move 100 miles in 10 hours, and overtime is allowed for delays. The proposed schedule would men an increase in overtime of S7 f-2 per cent.
 It is claimed that the proposed schedule would give employees now earning $4 per day of 10 hours the same amount for s hours, and they would have to be paid overtime for the other two hours required to com plete the work. In industrial work 9the employer can arrange for his overtime and charge for it. but this is impossible in the railroad service. The railroad must pay money for de- lays, but cannot collect more than a certain rate for the freight hauled.
 The only way to prevent overtime, if the dmands of the employees are granted, is to reduce the tonnage of the trains, in order that they may make the distance which now requiresN ten, in eight hours, or to lessen the distance between terminals. This would require a general rearrange- ment, and many towns which are now ing place of many trainmen, would points.
 No demand is made in behalf of passenger trainmen, and the schedule, according to the railway officials. IS discriminating, for some classes are given higher rate of increase than others.
 1He only way pOSSDle to grant t~N demands will be to increase passen- ger and freight rates. and the train men insist upon early compliance, while it would take several years for the railroads to secure permission to increase rates generally.
 \ "No new conditions affecting either wages or conditions,' says the state >iment of the association, "of employ ment have arisen since these previous, advances in wages were adopted to justify rates of pay higher than the men are now receiving"
 Should the railroads be forced to lessen the distance between terminals for freight service, in order to keep down the overtime, it would serious ly affect Fort Smith, Bonneville, Tex arkana. DeQueen, Pine Bluff, Helena, Rrinkley, Lexa, Jonesboro and quite a few other towns Of the state.