National news. (Chicago, Ill.) 1915-19??, 1916-04-12
WHY RAILROAD
MEN DEMAND
EIGHT HOURS
The Ralroader is on
Duty, Day and
Might.
Oy The transportation Brother
hood S Publicity Bureau)

rhe railroad Brotherhoods who are
saking for AN eight hour day, claim
hat il would be- great benefit to the
Dsblic who ship and receive freight.
Some Of their reasons are that in
tAese days of keen competition and
saiek changes of styles in manufa~-
nred goois. merchants are sadly
handieapped by the fact that freight
shipments are so slow that the styles
change and discounts are lost through
aelay IN receiving goods.
All merchants and most manufac
tsep try 10 buy in as small quaint
u As possible and make quick turn
WIS in their stock. but with slow
fwight shipments i, is impossible to
b this.
Railroads. in order to increase their
earnings per train mile. are loading
tAeir locomotives with every car that
tAsy can possibly pull.
Trains are not made up at division
= terminal points until = sufficient
Mmeef Of loaded cars are accumula-
~ IN the terminal to make up the
tn tonnage Of the locomotive. Cars
ssstainink merchandise are held up at
6sninal points until enough other
sss show up at that terminal poin,
= make up long train.
Long SAipaents.
When il is remembered that ship
ments, say from New York to towns
IN the middle west pass through from
10 to 20 terminal or division points,
meaning delays at each point. il can
nadily b. seen how serious the ag-
pegate Of time lost would be to mer-
chants and jobbers. When these long
Trans arr finally made up at each
6vis'on point they are loaded TO full
capacity and drag along the road at a
nails pace. The trains are SO long
hat oftentimes the sidings will not
~ them and at meeting points be-
tveen two trains on single track rail
fseds more time is lost by the trains
AeSing to saw" by.
Another factor of railroading today
y the fact that in these long trains
niy cars that are in perfect condi-
uea can b. used, because of the strain
upon the couplers and understanding
vAseh result in pulled d-out drawheads.
essken car frames. etc. This is one
u the reasons for car shortage. be
eause. as soon as the car begins to de
'erora,e, II must b. placed on the side
uack and taken out of service.
" trains were moved more rapidly
ears would reach their destination. be
snloaded and put back in service
salcker. The train crews in asking
ior basic eight hour day, means that
height trains must make an average
u l2's miles per hour in order to
svo'd payment Of overtime instead OF
ne 10 miles per hour as at present.
There is no demand for any change IN
the passenger service-only freight.
Under the present ten hour day sys-
lem there is no penalty for working a
man overtime, consequently. if tram
crews are kept on the road longer
'han ten hours there is no extra pay
ment made for overtime other than
he regular payment per hour that the
lrainmen got before the ten hours es-
P'red. Under the present way OF pay
ng for overtime II is Of little eonse-
Iuence to the railway companies
whether they work the crews ten
'ours or fifteen hours and fifty min
'tes, - one more ear Of freight added
. Toe train will more than make up
or the wages paid the men by keep
ng them on the road long hours.
The Eight Hour Day.
II the demand Of the men for an
iGht hour day, with payment of time
nd one-half for overtime, is granted,
he railroads will see to il that there
} very little overtime and will move
heir trains faster. and IL necessary