Evening journal., 1916-04-24
EIIjoff's sArgumenfNof Conclusive

Several days ago THE EVENING
JOURNAL republished a long article
written for The New Republic by
Elisha Lee. general superintendent Of
The p, b. and W. Railroad, relative
to the present controversy between
the railroad companies and their en-
ployes. On Saturday a committee rep
resenting employees In this section
called at this Office and requested tho
publication Of the following, from the
columns Of the Boston American, say
ing it represented their views:
President Howard Elliott. OF the New
Haven Railroad, declares that ii the de-
mand OF the railroad employees for
shorter hours Of labor Is granted, il will
increase the cost OF living by limiting
production.
Mr.. Elliott may be right. and he may
be wrong. lut in any contingency this
is not conclusive argument against the
wisdom OF granting this demand OF the
railroad employe.
OF course. If all other things remain
would mean an increase in the cost OF
railroad business, which would have TO
be met by the public through increases
in cariaros and freight rates, or through
decrease in the quality of service
which the railroad renders TO the public.
But in this day of wonderful inven-
tions. OF wonderful organizings, of in
crcasiug general intelligence, it Is not
necessary 10 assume that all other con-
ditions affecting the railroad business
will remain fixed and unchangcablo
/ There are a great many conditions which
can be changed and which by changing
will very strongly tend to offset this
loss in the hours of labor.
First During the last quarter of q
century, since labor organizations began
! TO demand decrease in the hours Oi
toll by workmen. their employers hav,
met this demand by the same argument
which Mr.. Elliott now advances. IN
fact, the manufacturers, who were usu
ally the employers involved, had even &
stronger case than the railroad man
ayers. because the legislature whicl
! proposed to reduce the hours of labol
was always a State Legislature, and the
manufacturer was able to say that Z,
reduce the hours OF labor IN the factOric.
of the State would result in handicap
ping the industries of the State in com
parison with the industries Of anothe
State. where no such law was in force.
This is always a serious argument TO
the state Legislature TO consider. Blu
the labor unions always met this argi
ment with the contention that tn
] 4
law ot diminishing returns applies "a
forciblv 20 the workman's body as i
does 10 tho titled fields that the NOR
intensely YOU work il, the less in pro
portion YOU produce by il. They con
tended that by shortening the hours o
labor you could speed mp the workman
and put more intelligence into his work
and. therefore, more economy and NOR
productivity.
Nobody doubts that the labor organi
zations were right The history of th
shortcr-hour legislation has proved II
Certainly there is limit beyond whic
this rule will not apply, and the limi
is not incommenHrable: but we hav
not vet reached that limit How ia
the rule viii apply 80 the railroads
not certain. Probably tho decrease j
the hours Of work will not be complete
~ Offset 10y the increase in the ciiicienc
q Of the workmcn. But it will have som
effect II will be one of the element
q which will contribute TO keep down th
. cost Of operating railroads at the publ
, expense.
Now. the railroads have not any sue
, argument as the manufacturers. in
state opposing a State law which woul
? raise the standard of any other Stat
! because this demand is upon all the raj
: roads alike. and is not giving any raj
road an advantage over its competitor.
Second Mr.. Elliott assumes. natr
rally enough as railroad manager. tina
the cost Of operating a railroad in Oh
other dcnartmcr Is than labor will r.
main fixed and interchangeable. But NJ
Elliott assumes too much. II may r,
main fixed. but IT. is not interchangeable
and il IL remains unchanged. IT, will I
the fault Of the railroad manager
There is vast difference in the cost {
production hetween railroad operate
as railroad for the benefit Of its stock
holders and of the public and n railroa
operated as an instrument Of stoc