Evening journal., 1916-01-20

means an increase in working ume for
those who now complete their runs in
less than eight hours.
"rhe proposition docs not mean a p
per cent increase for all tram and Gu
gine employees. because if 100 miles are
run within S hours, the rates of pay will
be as at present, on the basis OF miles
or hours, whichever produced the greater
amount. But for many employees 1t
means an increase of even more than -
per cent. in pay without any more work.
The man whose run now takes 10 hours
for 100 miles or less, OF the man cn-
ployed in yard, worktraii. wreck, pusher
or helper service, who is paid on the
hourly basis, at a rate, for example, Of
81 day or 30 cents an hour, would be
paid for s hours at so cents. plus = hours
at IS cents, or $3.50. which is an in
crease of 81 - per cent. IT his run
takes II hours he would receive 50. plus
hours at - cents, or 81. instead of 81,
plus 2 hours al 40 cents, an increase OF
over As per cent.
"The brotherhoods have dropped
the plan Of asking an increase for
employees IN the passenger service. In
view of the fact that the hours of
work in passenger service are now
considerably less than in freight SER
vice, and especially in view of the
high earnings of employees in pas
senger service shown in the recent
western engineers and fremen's
arbitration case, il is not surprising
that the new campaign should be
confined to the freight service, but
in hn "a
IL will be difficult to show any
changed conditions justifying rates
Of pay higher than they are now re-
ceiying as the result of recent arbi-
trations.
"As to the proposed demand for
time and one-half for overtime, the
situation in railroad service, with its
dual standard OF payment for miles
or hours. is not at all comparable with
that in the industrial field. The rail-
road engine or train man is guaran-
teed payment for a full day, and is
assured payment for more than a
minimum day II he either works more
than ten hours, regardless Of his mile
age, or II he runs more than 100 miles.
regardless of the time required. The
Industrial worker ordinarily does not
earn a days pay unless he works a
full day, and usually cannot make
more than IA days pay without work.
ing outside OF his regular hours. In
railroad service overtime cannot be
controlled to the same extent as an
industrial work. II a train movement
is not completed within the time limit
the train cannot be left standing
where it is. Under the proposed rules
the crews would have to be paid for
the additional time at penalty rates. or
II the regular, men were relieved by
extra men the latter would have 10
be paid full day for a few hours
work.
"rhe proposed demand has the vir-
tue of presenting a single clear-cut
issue as to whether or not the highest
paid classes OF railroad employees are
entitled to still more money for the
service they render. The issue is. Sc
Specific that the railroads can give
but one answer to the demands unless
the public should signify in some way
that it is willing to pay more for rail
road transportation.
''In the event of general strike
the public might like to know that tn,
business OF the country was beinl
stopped for the purpose OF increasing
the pay OF engineers. who. according
TO the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion reports. in 1914 averaged 1924 q
day; conductors who received an ave
rage Of s4.47 a day; firemen who re,
ceived an average of 1922 a day. ant
other trainmen paid an average ol
$500 a day"