The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-10
observation-disclosures
BNlL8LHQ!U!RtIIDI DAY
Official Statement of Just
Why the \ Zen Want a
ShorterSD Day. .3I55

CLEVELAND. I O., Feb. 1o.-The
tirst sofficial statement ofyemployees on
the impending controversy between
railroad the country and their train
crews over working hours, was issued
here last night. It was signed by w.
81. Stone, grand chief engineer Of the
BROTHERHOOD OF Locomo tive Engineers;
WIS. Carter, presto lent of the Brother.
hood of sLocomo tive Ftrement and En-
ginemen; ( u. d. Sleeps acting presi:
dent OF the Order Of Railway Conduc-
tors, and w g. Lee, president Of the
'Brot herhood Of Railroad Tratnmen:
These sorganizati ions claim to represent
approximate ly 400, 600 employees on
528a lines of railroad
The brotherho DDS announcement
stated in parts:
THE eighthours day movement Is
based wholly. upon the Justice Sofs q
iworkday Of sreaso nable hours that will
permit the men further to separate the
dead line between work and wages.
The railroads say in effect that men
who have put in a few years Of rail-
road service have worked themselves
out and will not be accepted II they
lose their positions. IfSmen are worked
out ina few years under the present
service conditions, the demand ito ex-
tend their wage-earning years Is fully
justified.
"Oyertime in road service is due al.
most wholly to the practice OF rail,
roads overloadtng trains SO they can
not make their mileage within their
time limits. The railroads are doing
this for, profit, they do not deny It,
and IL they propose to demand extra
service at the sacrifice Of the health
and future earning ability Of the men
they should pay extra for 1t.
Rates of pay in the eastern territory
were quoted to illustrate wage conal'
tions the manifesto stating Ga &
""The pay OF train service employees
other than passenger is based on lQO
miles or less, 10 hours or less. In the
eastern territory the brakeman will
receive the munif cent sum OF 81. 7sfor
regular freight service out Of hich he
must maintairi his family at home and
take care Of himself at the other end
OF the run. The 100-mile trip is what
represents one days work and means
that at its expirat lion the man must
Law away from home until he is dead
headed back or returned back with a
train. The conductors receive approxt7
mately e.third more than the brake.
men. Wages are a trile higher In the
southern aud western terrtto les. !.
n The brotherhoods denied that other
employees should suffer reductions to
meet any extra exp nse, that the eight
hour day for trainmen might involve.
The fact is that dividends might, be
reduced. The fact that dividends might
be reduced, they. state was 9 m n at,,t
with which we have nothing do do
4 they argued that freight rates need
not necessarily be increased, Shut said
theyssfayored such increases IT, me ne
roads 8need the revenue. "A. question
whether roads SHOULD cut down expen;
ditures; for socalled inon.pro ductiyes i'm;
provementsssSis omethtng entirely
within the Judgment of the compan-
ies,'l according to the statement, which
added that a S20, O00, 900 passenger sta;
zion erected "in comp lying with public
demands home the same reIat Tons g Y 70 70