Arizona republican., 1916-12-24
AN E|GHT-HOUR
 DAY |S ORDERED
 FUR S|N|TCH|NEN
TRerubIlcar A. p. Leased Wirel


 NEW YORK, Dec. 23. - An eight hour day, an increase in wages of , cents an hour and straight proratst overtime was granted to the members of the sWitchmen's union employed by thirteen eastern and middle west crn railroads in an award filed here today by the federal board Of arbi- tration that heard their differences.
 The decision of the board had been eagerly awaited by the railroads in general and the four major brother hoods of railroad trainmen for what bearing it might have on the con which the eighthour day is a ques- ton al issue.
 The decision says that eight hours or les>' shall constitute days work" gives "an increase of } cents an hour un the present rates of pay, and rules that overtime shall be paid at prorata rates to be computed lon the basis of the actual minutes worked
 Switchmen at present receive a maximum hourly rate of 40 cents. The award increases this rate to 45 cents, SO that, as explained tonight by Judge Charles B. Howry, chairman ot tte board. on the eight hour b1s's they will receive S3.60. for a days work, 40 cents less than they re- ceived under the ten-hour basis.
 By working ten hours, under the new rate they will receive s4.50, or SO cents more than under the old rate
 In a statement appended to the award, Judge Howry and Prof. Jere- miah w. Jenks. the neutral members. of the board of six. it is declared that the long hours of switchmen Go not imply excessive physical labor" that it had been established "it will not be possible to make the actual working eight-hour day effective in the case of more than a small per centage of the switching crews, and that with the exception of one ex- pertinent, the testimony was unan- iInous to the effect that the efficiency of sWtchmen on the shorter work day would he only slightly increased SO that the burden of the shorter hours would fall almost entirely upon the railroads
 While the switchmen asked for a 10-cent increase, the statement em- phasises the point that the scent advance is the largest given in any arbitration. The increase was grant ed, three neutral arbtrators explain. because of the high cost of living and the hazards and hardships or the work
 The increase" they state, imposes a heavy burden upon the railroads, which, owing to the interstate com n1erce law, they are unable to trans fer to the shippers and thence to the public.
 Trey add that "it is the duty of the properly constituted governmental
 
 ests in this regard So far as it is necessary"
 The arbitrators were not unan- imous in arriving at their decision. although all six signed the award. James B. Connors of Chicago, assist ant president of the sWitchmen's union, and W. A. Titus of Cleveland, vice president of the union, who rep resented the switchmen's board. filed a minority report, dissenting from the awards of the cents an hour and the prorata overtime. E. F. Potter of Minneapolis, assistant general man. ager of the Minneapolis, St. Paul SS Sault Ste Marie railway, and T. W. Evans, assistant manager of the New York Central, representing the rail- roads, also filed a minority report, dissenting to the eight hour grant.
 The board held it's first meeting November 13, last. Public hearings were held from that date to Decem- ter $, and 14e6 pages of testimony were taken. The original agreement to arbitrate provided for filing the award within thirty days from the date Of the first hearing. When the board found it could not live up to the agreement, a supplemental one was drawn. extending the time to December 20. Just about that time the differences between the memf g were still so great it was learned another extension was arranged, eX- piring today.
 The award makes no mention of tho date the new wage scale hec1mes effective, but it was assured by rail- road officials that it would apply at once.
 Proceed With Necotistions
 CLEVELAND Ohio. Dec 23-The railroad trainnen next week will pro- ceed with their eisht-hour day nego-
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