The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-06-09
Crisis FOR ROADS
IN the MOVEMENT
FOR HlGHERWAGEESS
Would Add Millions to Expenses Of
Souihes stern Lines-PubIic
vitality Interested.

, Washington, D. C.-"The railways
OF the southeast are facing a critical
situation in the proposed demands of
the engineers, fiiremen's, conductors
and trainmen's Brotherhoods which
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
2 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
they 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
will begin at the expiration of eight
hours. This simply means that if a
freight train requires, as it usually
does, at least 10 hours to run 100
miles, the train and engine employees
shall receive their days pay for eight
hours of work and shall receive time
and 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,
and their proposition simply resolves
Itself into fixing the period at which
overtime begins to accrue and after
which they shall receive time and a
half instead of their regular hourly
rate.
IN a discussion of the proposed
Trainmen's organization, the follow
ing explanation of the demands is
given by one Of the vice-presidents
Of that Brotherhood:
mere appears to be some differ
ence Oh opinion as to what such
proposa! involves, therefore it may be
seitsoLia0le TO say that there is quite
a nltference between an eight-hour
WoIk-4ay and an eight-hour basic
WCrA-day.
The first contemplates that eight
hours small be the maximum working
time, and as rule where the eight.
hour Wcrk-day obtains through con
trait relations between employer and
1alployes, it is the constant endeavor
to prevent working overtime except
In cases of necessity. 1t appears that
some OF the men in the train service
are o. the opinion that this is the
proposal of the organizations How
ever, this is not the case The sec
ond, the eisht-hour basic work-day
contGemplates that eight hours shall
be tie basis for a days work and
paid for as overtime, consequently
under such provision there is no
limit to the hours worked The lat
ter system is the one proposed by
the train service Brotherhoods and
IS IN accord with the action taken by
NAL Convention of the Brotherhood
CT Railroad Trainmen.'
Same Work, More Money
The proposals of the employees,
as in reality formulated and official
II 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 a question of wages
and consequently of increased cost.
Applying the proposed demands
81 to the present conditions of work
would mean an increase ranging from
II to 40 per cent in cost, as the roads
would be compelled in most cases to
continue the present hours of opera
ions since changes to escape the
payment of overtime would cause a
higher percentage of increase than
the figures already given.
The railways Of the southeast are
In no condition to stand any increase
In their operating expenses, much
less such increases as would result
from granting these demands They
and engine employees than are paid
In other sections of the country
where traffic is much more dense.
and they have had no part in the
rate increases which recently have
been granted by the Interstate Com
merce Commission to railways in 9th
er territories.
preliminary estimates show that
on some 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 to secure increases in
their rates or to lower their cost of
operation by curtailment of train ser.
vice and reducing the outlay for main.
tenance and improvement necessary
to meet the transportation needs of
the rapidly developing southeastern
territory
''This is question in which the
whole public has direct and vital
interest. The railways of the south
east merely ask OF the public that it
Inform itself Of the real nature of the
proposed demands. and of the ability