Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-10
Argument Advanced.


wholly due to the practice of railroads
overlooking trains. The railroads are
doing this for profit. and if they pro-
pose to demand extra service at the
sacrifice of the health and future earn
ing ability of the men they should pay
extra for it.
1.-The railroads contend that the men
are not sincere in their demand for
the shorter workday. and refer to
small number of the men who prefer
companies desire to test the sincerity
of the men, let them establish the
eight-hour day. SO that the men do not
have to make a min lite of overtime.
The statement has been made that
the payment of overtime is an fncen-
tive to delay work during the regular
working time. If delays are made
without reason. the men are called to
account for it; if at fault they are dis
ciplined.
Answer Railway Statement.
1.-The railways have introduced state
ments in which green brakeman Is
quoted at $500 a year. A ripe brake
man does not get any more for the
year than the green brakeman, except
that the ripe brakeman has a regular
job, while the green brakeman must
take his chances when the regular
man lays off. Instead of getting $500
a year. at times he will be fortunate
to make trip once "a month.
Eight hundred dollars means that
the brakeman who receives that
amount must work 100 miles or less
for every calendar day in the year
The railroad men are piece workers:
they do not get paid by the year, but
by the days worked. Whatever wages
earned because they have worked over
time.
The statement has been made that
this present demand for the shorter
workday is based on peak earnings
of the railways, due to the present
boom in business. The shorter work.
day movement was started before the
present earnings of the railways were
thought of. The demand is based on
the belief Of the men that the eight
hour day is the proper workday.
The fact that wages have not been
reduced on roads in the hands of re-
ceivers is not to be placed to the
credit of the companies, but to the
courts that have denied the right of the
railway companies to reduce wages of
employees.
"'Forty-five per cent of the earnings
Of the railway companies are paid in
wages affords the opportunity to show
the sum total of wages paid"
Roads Alleged to Be Prospecting.
The statement calls attention to some
railroads that are prospering under an
eight hour day. The question of fed
eral regulation of wages on railroads
is for future consideration, according
to these labor leaders, who also say
the question Of government ownership
does not enter into this controversy
That this shortening of hours and
pay for overtime should not effect any
reduction in the wages Of other rail-
road employees is emphatically stated
by those signing this paper.
Regarding the question whether the
railroads should seek another increase
in rates the reply is made:
The men are not asking for more
money. They are asking for a shorter
workday. If the railways insist on a
longer day. then IL will mean increased
pay. II the railways need revenues to
meet their increased costs of operation
yes. There is no other business in the
United States that is not at perfect
liberty to adjust its revenues to meet
it's cost of operation s'he fact that the
railway companies lust first secure
authority from the interstate commerce
commission to raise rates places them
in a different position entirely from the
remainder of the business in the coun-
try. This. however, is not the fault Of
the employees. and 1t Is wholly unfair
to expect that approximately eight mil
lion railway employees and their de-
pendents must sacrifice their interests
to the general betterment and well
fare Of the remainder of the popula-
ton"
Position on Arbitration.