Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-30
rockefeller HEARS
FROM railroad MEN
M. L. Hobbs, Conductor OF
Wilmington, Writes About
Present Situation
TELLS OF LONG HOURS
IN FREIGHT SERVICE

NJ. l.. Hobbs, OF this CITY, con-
iuctor on the Pennsylvania railroad.
and chairman of the Wilmington Di-
vision. No. 224, Order of Railway
Conductors, yesterday sent the fol
lowing appeal to J. ID. Rockefeller,
Jr.. Of New York City, and copies OF
it to President Wilson, A. B. Garrett
son, Order Of Railway Conductors,
Cedar Rapids, Ia; w. g. Lee, grand
president, Brotherhood of Railway
rrainmen, Cleveland, o.; W. S. Stone,
grand chief engineer, Brotherhood Of
Locomotive Engineers; w. S. Carter,
president. Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen; George
Gray this city; Elisha Lee, chair
man general managers committee;
and to several newspapers:
Dear Mr.. Rockefeller: Shortly af-
ter the settlement of the trouble OF
the Colorado Fuel g. Iron Co., of Col
orado. there we're certain negotiations
between you and myself relative to
the settlement, and a brief change OF
views as to the solution of the labor
problem as it affects our nation. At
the close of these negotiations | had
gained a considerable amount OF
friendly feeling as to your attitude
toward the labor question.
Il do not know that you have been
vitality interested in the great strife
between the train service employees
and the railway companies of the
United States. but ] presume that you
have read and have been constantly
in touch with this great strife during
the past few months. II is my pur-
pose. from a fair and impartial stand
point. to bring to your attention and
% state some facts which warrant
this condition that cannot be dis
1uted.
THE demands which have been made
by the railway employees of this coun-
try were brought about from the long
excessive hours which the freight SER
vice men OF this country have TO I'M
dcrgo. You remember that few years
ago a Federal law was passed that all
train service employees should not re-
main on duty or be allowed to remain
on duty over sixteen hours. Before that
time there was no limit TO the hours Of
employment. After this law was estab
lshed as a Federal act, the railroad
companies of the United States appeared
10 take the position that in theil
freight service a sixteen hour um'
limit. as established Dy the Fedora
law. would be service period for th'
employees. and in fact, in the arrange
ment of our winter and summer seized
ues in service, our train crews are q
arranged that after being called from
their home terminals they are SEIZED
uled for sixteen hours on the trip ava.
from home on duty, eight hours of dut.
without pay away from the home ter
uinal, and many times eighteen hours
and then ordered TO return home, con
suming sixteen hours on the return tri
and with about eight hours home.
These long hours in freight servic
became so mbearable TO the freigh
service employees that they decided 4
strive for a shorter working day, an
this is why the demands for an eigh
hour day and time and half time wer
made upon the railroads of this country
'qt is a fact that the freight servic
cinploves Of this country IN railroa
se-vice do not want eight hours tim
and half time. They believe, as the.
have always believed. that placing
heavy penalty upon long hours of ser
vice would do away with the over time
which is made by long hours in the seI
Vice. and ] hereby appeal to you tina
YOU exercise every effort possible. to i'm
press upon the minds Of the president
Of the railroad companies in the Unite
States the importance of accepting I'll
suggestion Of the President Of our ma
ton in the settlement Of this Dispute
namely, granting the eight hour day a
basic paw. and arbitrate the time an
half time, or in other words, the big
rate hours.
"I sincerely trust the statement
that you made in the settlement o
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
panys dispute will come afresh 4
your mind. and that is, that a recur
renee Of that kind should never hap
pen AGAIN and the parties responsible
therefor would have to suffer, and
feel that our attitude in this disput
should be the same.
1T is true. however. as the com
panies have said that they pay mini
NUNS. but the minimums are YER
small when compared with the lon
excessive hours. For instance. on
rates are 40 to As cents per hour for
ten-hour day or less, as compare
with the rates received by the ordi
nary mechanic or man in re
sponsible position, which averag
about 80 cents per hour for an eight
hour day.
Personally I am opposed to strike
md always have been, except as las
resort TO settle our differences. an
do feel that the demands of tn
train service employees for an eight
hour day are fair II this wer
granted it would simply bring th
hourly rates OF the train service en-
ployes somewhere on an average wit
other working men of this country
responsible positions.
Our companies have said in pull
lie columns that they do not want
destroy the earning capacity of thei
employees. wish to explain thi
earning capacity:
I'VE are a low-paid set of men pc
hour and work the long hours q
above stated, which is the reason fC
our earning capacity being highe
per month than any other worl5in
set OF men I'm the country, and TIL
is why some of our enginemen an
conductors draw more money tina
some of the bank presidents in th
towns through which we run as hs
already been stated by the differeI
companies.
at would be glad to hear from yo
as soon as possible, as TO your fee
ing in the situation. and remain
Respectfully yours,
M L. Hobbs. Chairmal
wilmington Division. No. 224. ord'