The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1916-05-10
CRISIS FOR ROADS
in The MOVEMENT
FOR Higher WAGES
Would Add Millions to Expenses OF
Southeastern Lines-PubIic
Vital!y Interested.

have Joined in a nationwide effort to
force the railways of the country to
grant further wage concessions,
which would add millions of dollars
to the payrolls of the railways with
out enabling them to earn a cent
more than under present conditions
or to in any way give better service
to the public declares a statement
given out by the executive committee
of the southeastern railways.
THE demands of the Brotherhoods
are generally referred to as demands
for an eight hour day and time and
half for overtime, but they are not
in reality for an eight hour day in
the sense in which that term Is COM
monty understood" the statement
continues. The employees are not
asking that they be relieved from
service at the end Of eight hours, as
hey realize that this is not practi-
cable in road service, and the form in
which the demands have been made
clearly shows this.
More Pay For Overtime
THUS the language of their own
proposed demands is that on runs OF
one hundred miles or less overtime
VIII begin at the expiration of eight
hours. This simply means that IL a
freight train requires, as 1t usually
does, at least 10 hours to run 100
miles, the train and engine employees
shall receive their days pay for eight
lours OF work and shall receive time
md half for the two additional
hours.
There is not a line In the pro-
poSals concerning road service that
IN any way limits the number of
hours the employees are to work,
anu their proposition simply resolves
itself into liking the period at which
overtime begins to accrue and after
which they shall receive time and q
halL instead Of their regular hourly
rate.
In a discussion Of the proposed
demands in the official journal of the
iranmen's organization, the follow
ing explanation of the demands is
gwen by one OF the vice-presidents
Of that brotherhood:
mere appears to be some differ
ence or opinion as to what such
proposal involves, til "refore it may be
seaSonanle TO say that there is quite
uiIiCreEce between an eight-hour
Work-day and an eight-hour basic
& The first contemplates that eight
hours shall be the maximum working
tiIle, and as rule where the eight
hour Work-day obtains through con
Ta't relations between employer and
employees, ii is the constant endeavor
10 prevent working overtime except
IN cases Of necessity. 1t appears that
some or the men in the train service
proposal of the organizations How
ever, this Is not the case. The Sec
ond. the eight-hour basic work-day
conlemp;atcs that eight hours shall.
be the basis for days work and
any any TINE fnn in .t,l. excess thereof shall be
under such q provision there Is no
limit to the hours worked The lat
Ter system IL the one proposed by
the train service Brotherhoods and
1s In accord with the action taken by
the, delcgates, at the Eleventh Bien.
OF Railroad Trainmen.'
Same Work, More Money
"The proposals Of the employees,
as in reality formulated and official
ly explained in the above citation,
simply mean that they shall be paid
more money than at present for the
same work they are now doing. The
matter, therefore, resolves itself
primarily into question Of wages
and consequently Of increased cost.
Applying tho proposed demands
10 The present conditions Of work
would mean an increase ranging from
j 10 10 per cent in cost, as the roads
would be comp6lod in most cases to
continue the present hours Of opera
tons since changes to escape the
payment Of overtime would cause a
Eiahcr percentage Of increase than
the figures already given.
"Tho railways Of the southeast are
in no condition 10 stand any increase
In their operating expenses, much
Jess such Increases as would result
from Granting these demands. They
already pay higher wages to train
and on@ine employees than are paid
In other sections OF the country
whore traffic is much more dense,
ard they have had no part In the
rate increases which recently have
been granted by the Interstate Com
meTcc Commission to railways in 9th.
er territories.
preliminary estimates show that
on som" lines the increases asked by
the employees would more than wipe
out all income after payment of
operating expenses. fixed charges
and taxes. The railways would be
forced either 10 secure increases In
their rates or to lower their cost of
operation by curtailment of train SER