Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-24
.E|CHT-HOUR DAY GRANTED
TO SW|TCHMEN's UNION
Award Made by Federal Arbitration
Board In Controversy With
Railroads.
PRO RATA TIME FOR OVERTIME
Decision Affects Thirteen Eastern
Lines and About 5000 Men-ln.
terpreted by Company Officials as
Not Giving o. X. to AdamSon Law.

NEW YORK. December 23.--The
eight-hour day. with straight pro rata
time for overtime, Is granted to the
Switchmen's Union by the Federal Arbi-
tratiou Board in decision today in
the switchmcn's controversy with the
railroads. The award gives an in
crease OF cents per hour for both
forcmcn and helpers.
The switchmen had asked an advance
OF 10 to 10 cents. They had demanded
also time and a half pay for overtime.
James II. Connors and w. y. Titus.
representing the switchmcn. dissented
as to the 5-cent increase. TO the denial
of time and a half for overtime and
TO the award giving overtime a; the
pro rata rate.
t.. +. Potter and +. W. Evans. tho
railroad representatives,. disscntcd to
the award Of the eight hour day.
Charles r. lIowry was chairman OF
the board and j. W. jerks was tho
sixth member.
The award affects thirteen Eastern
railroads and about 5000 men
1t was said here to-day on behalf
"f the railroads rnnt the award was
interpreted by them mot giving an
O. X. to tho Adamson law"
This decision in tho switchmen's
controversy with railroads has an i'm
portant bearing on tho Adamson law"
il was stated here to-day by an Of
fetal spokesman for the conference
committee of managers of tho rail-
roads. III does not q. X the Adam
son act. in our opinion. The Adamson
legislation gave the mon ten hours
pay for eight hours OF work. or an
increase Of about - pcr cent In wages.
The award to-day gives tho switrhmcn
only ninc hours pay for eight hours
of work. ar between IL TO Is per cent
in Increased wages. We get a great
deal of satisfaction out OF this award
The meetings between the confer
once committee of managers arr, the
brotherhood chiefs to discuss the Adam
son act have been in allegiance pending
tho settlement of the switchmcn's ~
mands. With this controversy out Hr
the way. il was stated by railroad Of
hcials to-day. the Adamson conference
Will he resumed after Christmas It
VAS said. however. that the situation
VIII probably remain in statu quo
until tho United states supreme Court
ha" determined the constitutionalIty Of
'he .Adamson act.
STATEMENT APPENDED
by NEUTRAL. MEMBERS
In statement appended 10 the
award by Judge Tiowry and Professor
Jeremiah w. jerks, tho neutral mem
bcrs of the board Of six. it is de-
clared that the long hours Of switch
men do not imply excessive physical
labor" that it has been established
! 1T Will not he possible to make the
! actual working eight-hour day effec-
/ tive in the case Of more than n
small percentage Of the switching
crews. and that with the execution
OF one experiment. ihe testimony was
/ unanimous Ia the effect that the cf-
ficiency OF switchmen on the shorter
workday would be only slightly in
! creased, so that the burden OF the
shorter hours would fall almost entire
! ~ upon the railroads"
Nhlie the switchmcn asked for a
lucent increase, the statement empha =
sizes the point that the scent ad-
vance Is the largest given in any ar
duration. The Increase was granted.
the neutral arbitratorS explain, be-
cause of the high cost of living and
the hazardous work
The increase" they state, Imposes
heavy burden upon the railroad dis,
which. owing In the interstate com
'h"fre law. they are unable to transfer
20 the shippers and then TO the publi,
They add that 1T is the dutv OF
every properly constituted govern
mental authority TO protect railway
interests i'm this regard so far. as il is
! necessarily
The board held it's first meeting her.
November 13 last. Public hearings
were held from that date to Decemhc,
\. and 1895 pages of testimony were
taken. The award makes no mention
OF the date the new wage scale he.
comes effective. but II was assumed Nv
railroad officials that 1t would apply