Oxford eagle., 1916-05-18
CRISIS FOR ROADS
IN THE MOVEMENT
FOR HIGHER WAGES
Would Add Millions TO Expenses OF
Southeastern Lines-Publie
vitality Interested.

the engineers, airemen'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 Brutherhoods
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 al the end Of eight hours. as
they realize that this is not praeti-
cable in road service. and the form in
which the demands have heen 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 II
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 a half for the two additional
hours
There is not q 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
demands In the official Journal Of the
lrainmen's organization, the follow
ING explanation OF the demands is
given by one Of the vice-presidents
OF that Brotherhood:
There appears to be some diHer-
encs OF opinion as to what such A
proposal involves, therefore il NAV be
seasonAole to say that there is Quite
4 elnsrence between an eight-hour
zl ~oLlA-1ay and an eight-hour basic
The first eontemplates that eight
nouTs shaU be the maximum working
tilne, and as a rule where the eight
hour work-day obtains through con
tract relations between employer and
employees, it Is the constant endeavor
% prevent working overtime except
n cases OF necessity. II appears thar
some OF the men in the train service
are OF the opinion that this is the
proposal Of the organizations. How
ever. This Is not the case. The sec
ond, the eight-hour basic workday
eontemplates that eight hours shall
De the basis for & days work and
any time In excess thereof shall BE-
pald Tor as overtime, consequently
under such provision there is no
limit TO the hours worked. The Iat.
ter system is the one proposed bv
tne train service Brotherhoods and
IS In accord with the action taken bv
TIE delegates, at the Eleventh Bien-
nal Convention of the Brotherhood
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 thex shall ha -=a4
more money than at present for the
sane 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
TO the present conditions Of work 1
would mean an increase ranging from
Il to 40 per cent in cost, as the roads
would be compelled in most cases IN
continue the present hours Of ouera- /
tons since changes to escaua the
payment Of overtime would causa +.
higher percentage Of increase than
the figures already given.
The railways OF the southeast ara
IN no condition TO stand any increase
IN their operating expenses nncb
less such Increases as wouId rasrI,
from granting these demands Thsv
already pay higher wages TO train
and engine employees than are naid
IN other sections Of thu countrx
where traffic Is much mora dan.s
and they have had no part I'm tbs
rate increases which recently bava
been granted by the Interstate Cor.
merce Commission to railways In 9TH
sr territories.
Preliminary estimates show ,h,,
On some lines the increases askas hv
me employees would more than win
out all income after naxnen, =,
operating expenses, fixed charges
and taxes The railways would hs
forced either TO secure increases IN
tneir rates or to lower their cos, :,
operation by curtailment Of train ssr.
VICE and reducing the outlay for mar
tenance and improvement necasS.-r
70 meet the transportation nsas. =,
me rapidly developing southeastsrn
territory.
This Is question In which -,
whole public has a direct ana v,,.1
interest The raff- 4. I