Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-07-06
CRISIS FOR ROADS
IN THE MOVEMENT
FOR HIGHER wages
Would Add Millions to Expenses OF
Southeastern Lines-Pubiic
vitality Interested.

situation IN the proposed demands OF
the engineers, firemen's, conductors
and tranmen's Brotherhoods which
have joined In a nationwide effort 10
force the railways Of the country to
grant further wage concessions,
which would add millions OF dollars
to the payrolls Of TIE railways with
out enabling them to earn a cent
more than under present conditions
or to in any way give better service
to the public declares a statement
given out by the executive committee
OF the southeastern railways.
THE demands Of the Brotherhoods .
are generally referred to as demands
for an eight hour day and time and .
a half for overtime, but they are not I
in reality for an eight hour day in .
the sense in which that term is COM
monty understood" the statement +
continues The employees are not
asking that they be relieved from |
service at the end Of eight hours, al
they realize that this Is not practi-
cable in road service. and the form In
which the demands have been made
clearly shows this
More Pay FOR Overtime
Thus the language Of their own
proposed demands is that on runs OF
one hundred miles or less overtime
will begin at the expiration Of eight
hours. This simply means that II
freight train requires, as It usually
does, at least 10 hours TO run 100
miles, the train and engine employees
shall receive their days pay for eight
hours Of work and shall receive time
and a half for the two additional
hours.
There IL not lire In the pro-
posals concerning road service that
In any way limits the number OF
hours the employees are to work,
and their proposition simply resolves
itself into fixing the period at which
overtime begins to accrue and after
which they shall receive time and a
half instead of their regular hourly
rate.
In a discussion Of the proposed
demands In the official journal OF the
Trainmen's organization, the follow
ing explanation OF the demands Is
given by one Of the vice-presidents
of that PRO herhood:
There appears TO be some differ
! ence Of opinion as TO what such q
+: proposal involves, therefore Il rlay BE-
seasonable to say that there IL quite
a difference between an eight.houi
work-day and an eight.hour basic
work-day.
4 THE first contemplates that eigh
4 hours shall be the maximum workinl
4 time. and as rule whore the eight
! hour work-day obtains through con
tract relations between employer ant
employees. II is the constant endeavo
TO prevent working overtime excep
= In cases OF necessity. II appears tina
some OF the men In the train sersic'
are OF the opinion tina. this II IN,
proposal OF the organizations. How
ever, this Is not the case. The sec
l Nond, the eighthour basic work-da
contemplates that eight hours shal
be the basis for a days work an
any time In excess thereof shall b
paid for as overtime, consequent
under such provision there IL n
limit TO the hours worked. The lai
4 ter system Is the one proposed b
the train service Brotherhoods an
1, In accord with the action taken b
H.. the delegates, at the Eleventh Bier
NAL Convention Of the Brotherhoo
= OF Railroad Trainmen.'
Same Work, More Money
"The proposals Of the employees
II as in reality formulated and ofhcia
r iy explained In the above citation
-, simply mean that they shall be pal
more money than at present for tn
l. same work they are now doing. TIL
II matter. therefore. resolves itse
/. primarily into question Of wage
and consequently OF increased cost
Applying the proposed demand
3 20 the present conditions OF wor
would mean an increase ranging frol
70 to 40 per cent In cost, as the road
' would be compelled in most cases
continue the present hours OF oper
1. tlons since changes to escape u
=. payment OF overtime would cause
- higher percentage Of Increase tina
the figures already given.
$. "The railways OF the southeast al
n in no condition to stand any increa'
in their operating expenses. nut
" less such increases as would resu
;. from granting these demands. TIT
IS. already pay higher wages TO ira
and engine employees than. are pa
- in other sections Of the count
lis where traffic is much more den'
/. and they have had no part In q
-, rate increases which recently Ia
been granted by the Interstate Co
NJ merce Commission TO railways In oil
Is er territories
Preliminary estimates show n
on some lines the increases asked
'u' the employees would more than wi
e. out all incope after payment
n, operating expenses, fixed chars
:. and taxes. The railways would
- forced either to secure increases
zen their rates or TO lower their cost
I'd, operation by eurtailment Of train $
u ! vice and reducing the outlay for ma