Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-17

contrary was conceded. Railroad runs
are made to division points. Men
select their homes accordingly. The
time of actual service may be more
or less than eight hours. This has not
been changed; it was not intended that
it should be changed.
The change Is in the wage scale.
not in the hours of labor. Railroad
wage schedules were based on hours,
and miles; that is ten hours and 100
miles. II man made his 100 miles
lin less than ten hours, that Is, In four
hours, he got days pay. If it took
him twelve hours, for example, he got
a days pay and two hours overtime.
Now, the change was not to limit or
alter the hours of labor, but to pay on
the basis of eight hours instead of ten
hours
Mere Increase Ct Wages.
1T is mere increase Of wages by
fixing a different basis for calculating
wages. Service over eight hours is
not prohibited. 1t is not penalized.
No penalty is provided for permitting
any one to work longer time. On
the contrary, such york is evidently
contemplated.
ed in any case, and under this bill, all
service over eight hours is simply 10
be paid for pro rata. The bill says
that for all necessary time in excess
of eight hours such employees shall be
paid at rate not less than the pro
rata rate for such standard eight hour
work day. There Is no increased rate
for additional hours.
1T is, therefore, wholly misleading
to refer to this bill as an eight hour
bill. Let the bill be called by it's right
name. What is fair and right can al
ford to be described correctly and can
stand on it's merits.
Shameless Perversion.
What is the purpose OF this at
tempt to make the public believe that
this bill fixes an eight hour work day!
Manifestly, in order to endeavor to
justify this extraordinary action of the
administration in its abject and hui
initiating surrender Of principle in
demanding and securing this legisla-
ton, without any proper inquiry, as
the price of peace.
Evidently, it is felt that a wage in
crease could not be justified in this
manner So it is sought to give the
impression that what was done was
to fix an eight hour work day and that
this was already approved by the judy
ment of society. A shameless perver-
sion, Even as an eight hour work day
the judgment of society has never
been passed on its application to rail-
roads with their road divisions and
tours of duty. The railroad employees
themselves would desire to be heard
on this point.
Shows Discrimination.
"If there were any such judgment
of society why did the administration
limit the application Of the bill to
these particular employees? Is not the
eight hour work day quite as import
ant for per cent as for 20 per cent?
What becomes OF the suggestions that
the eight hour work day was granted
not because it was demanded, but be-
cause ii was right? On this assump-
ton. why not grant il to all railroad
employees? Is there any special judg-
ment OF society for the 20 per cent?
The more highly paid? Why does the
bill except electric railroads and those
railroads which are less than 100 miles
in length?
IF the administration was giving
effect to the judgment OF society, why
did it not pass the measure at the be-
ginning of the administration, or GER
tainly a year ago? The president says
that the matter was agitated for over
a year. We might at least expect the
so-called judgment of society discov.
cred by the administration to appear
in the democratic platform. The an