The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-19

In the case OF railways, this control
over fixing price Ia denied them At the
present moment, the locomotive en-
gineers. fireman. the conductors and the
trainmen, Involving SCOTIA mem have
united in a demand for an increase of
wages of about Is per cent on ali the
railways in the United States. 1t Ii said
that they will call a general strike IL
their demands are not met The wages
of these men in 1914 amounted to about
S4o0, 100000. The increased wages would,
therefore, raise the expenses Of the rail-
ways by about 800, 900
From the point of view of the railway
brotherhoods 1t Is desired to secure a
basic eight-hour workday, with a nav
ment of one and one-half time rates for
any excess Of hours over eight That Is.
the operation Of trains Is admitted to be
so different from work in a shop that
railway employees cannot stop at the ex-
act end OF eight hours; hence the ar
rangement for time at higher rates over
eight hours. At present men are paid
on the basis of 100 miles or less. ten
hours or less. II they run less than 100
miles In ten hours or less they get full
pay. II they run $50 miles in ten hours
they are paid one and one-half days pay
Under the proposed increase, a yardman
receiving now 10 cents an hour, or $500
day OF ten hours, would be paid fifty
cents an hour, or 800 for eight hours
IL he worked ten hours, he would receive
10 cents an hour for two overtime hours.
or $50 per day. II Is urged that the
hours per day are excessive.
In Western territory So per cent of
the men worked over ten hours a day;
50 per cent over twelve hours; and Z per
cent over fourteen hours. In yards,
shorter hours could be arranged by max
ing three shifts instead of two; but on
trains It ls not possible, because of the
nature Of the work, easily TO reduce
hours OF runs Cases can be cited where
men work excessive hours. As things
go now, In Western territory. engineers
get 1913 daily for ten and one-half hours
per day, and run az days in the month,
obtaining $3.50 a month. Firemen work
ing the same number of hours a day, got
AG. on 1913 days, or 1914 a month. IN
der the new demands, these wages would
be increased more than Is per cent. The
longer hours, moreover, are charged to
the Increased length Of trains.
Railway Employees Well Paid.
On the side Of the railways, it Is said
that rates have remained unchanged, and
consequently the great increase In ex-
penses had to be met by economies that
would reduce the operating expenses per
train mile; hence the larger locomotives,
and longer trains. 1t Is added that rail-
way employees are now better paid than
men of the same skill in other employ
ments; and that. IL hours are TO be re-
duced, the real point of the demand is
for higher wages for present hours of
labor. If there is a natural sympathy
among the public for the demand for
shorter hours, then the public should
allow the railways to raise rates. In case
wages are raised. If the men are to re-
ceive Sl00,ooo,0oo more, will the public in
sist that the commissions allow the in
come of the railways to be increased by
s1oo,0o0,0oo?
Higher Wages Mean Higher Rates.
What is the upshot of the whole mat
ter? The railways are between the devil
and the deep sea. On the one hand, the
commission refuses an increase of rates;
while on the other. the unions demand
higher wages. with the threat of stopping
the whole trade of the country until their
terms are accepted. Where does the pub
lie come in? Has It no rights which
others are bound to respect? If railways
are quasi-public utilities and therefore
subject to regulation. then regulation
clearly should include the protection of
the public.
II unions interfere with the running Of
an organization which the State has taken
under its wing. how can the State stand
idle while the public is injured? Obvious
ly, the question of rates is tied up with
the question of wages II wages are to
De raised. rates must be raised at the
same time. If rates are not to be raised,
then wages cannot be raised. II a set OF
conditions has arisen which oblise the
government to regulate rates, then Il ia
equally obliged, on the basis of economic
analysis. to regulate wages accordingly,
Having taken one step, It must take the
other. The logic Of events Is forcing this
dilemma on the government. II Is the
public which sooner or later must pay for
the Increased expenses OF transportation,