The Harrison times., 1916-05-06
Railroad Wage Controversy
Committee of Trainman Make Statement
of the Issues in the Matter.


ginemen and Trainmen Sl253 ayear.
The article purportS to come from
the Executive Committee of the
Association of Western Railways and
is general Misrepresentation. The
Trainmen and Enginemen through
out the United States are asking for
an eight hour day, with time and one
half for overtime yet the article in
question makes not the slightest men
tion of such thing but says the en-
ployees are asking for an increase in
wages Of 25 per cent, when in fact
they make no demand for an increase
in wages in any branch of the service.
In order that the people of Harrison
and the surrounding country who
may have been miSled by the article
in the TINES may understand the
position of the employees, this COM
mittee has been appointed we will
endeavor to set forth the facts so that
all may understand.
What do we mean by an eight hour
day? DO we mean to work eight
hours and then tie up wherever we
may be? Most certainly not. If the
employees win their contention there
will be nothing to prevent them work
ing l6 hours, or the limit of the law
as they do now. Then what is it?
Do we want overtime after s hours
regardless of how long the district
may be? No, we do not claim that
either, This is what we do want. We
want eight hours or one hundred miles
to constitute days work.
If the district should chance to be
just one hundred miles long, overtime
to commence after eight hours on
duty, which would be an apportion-
ment OF 1917 miles for each hour. If
the district is $50 miles long overtime
would not commence until u hours
on duty, or $50 miles divided by u
70 miles the apportionment for each
hour service. Now it must be plain
to you that if the demands of. the
railroad men are acceded to that it
will not cost the railroads of the
United States one penny more to run
their trains if they make an average
speed of u p miles per hour.
Is not that enough for a railroad
train in this day and age? Do you
want your goods transported at a
slower rate than that? You say,
what is the reason for this slow
movement" There is a reason and
we will give it.
1t is the desire of the railroad COM
panies to add one more car to the
train until the engines have hitched
behind them all they can grunt and
groan with from one end of the road
to the other, regardless of how long
the employees may be kept on duty;
regardless of how long your stock may
be on the road to market or how long
you may anxiously wait for a ship
ment of goods. The railroads charge
that the men are not sincere in
the movement, that they really do
not want the hours cut down nor the
overtime done away with, but that it
is only ruse to get an increase in
pay. Let's illustrate to you why we
are sincere in wanting the hours re-
duced: A certain crew running out
of Harrison Ark, averaged IA hours
and Al minutes, per day for every
working day in the month of Decem-
Der 1915. Now let us see what that
means.
A rule of the company is that crews
shall be called as near as practicable
one hour and thirty minutes before
leaving time, suppose this crew is to
leave town at 5 a. m. then it follows
that they would be called at $3.50 a
M. and being on the road IA hour,
and Al minutes, they would arrive at
their terminal at al p. m. With the
engine crew the engine has to be
thoroughly inspected, work report
made, the stains toll removed, clothes
changed and supper eaten, which will
consume one hour and 80 minutes
at the least calculation and that
brings the time to 9:l0 p. m. Natur.
ally these men are very hungry since
but one meal has been eaten since
$3.50 II, m. and any school boy car
tell you that it is detrimental tc
health to go to bed Immediately after
eating heartily, but what are they tc
do; for the caller will be after them
again at 3 80 only little more thar
6 hours away. Now you know why
railroad Companies draw the line on
hiring men over 45 years old, for il
takes the superman physically tc
stand up under the strain for any
number of years, and that is also the
reason WHY the different orders hay,