The Sauk Centre herald., 1916-04-27
SERIOUS LABOR
TROUBLE AHEAD
SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND
TRAINMEN THREATENING
TO STRIKE APRIL 20.
Eight HOUR DAY DEMANDED
RAILROADS ARE WILLING TO
SUBMIT ENTIRE QUESTION
TO ARBITRATION.

1
Railroads of the country, now con.
fronted with general demand fol
wage advances by their trainmen, are
eager for the public to know the true
facts of the situation. They have is.
sued statement covering their side
of the controversy which follows:
"That the railroads, unlike other
lines of industry, cannot close up shop
at the end of eight hours each day is
manifest from the fact that to do So
in many cases, would mean that their
freight trains would be left on sidings
many miles from division points. It
would be impossible in many cases to
regulate the movement of such trains
so as to bring them into stations dur
ing the eight hours.
'If the public understands that the
present controversy applies to passen-
ger service, the railroads feel it their
duty to say that no passenger trains
are effected. Therefore, the passen-
gers are not subject to any risks due
to employees working longer than
eight hours a day. AS a matter of
fact, most train crews in passenger
service work on the main line less
than Z hours and 80 minutes and, of
ten their runs do not require even six
hours of their time, although they are
paid for whole days work, which is
ten hours.
$50 far as freight train men are
concerned, their work is rarely con-
tinuous. When conductors and train
men are employed loading cars the en-
ginemen, including both engineers and
firemen, have ample time to rest.
Likewise, when these trains are NOV
ing between stations the conductors
and trainmen have no arduous duties
to perform.
So, the contention that the
feight crews are averworked does not
hold good inasmuch as they all en-
joy time for relaxation at alternative
periods.
GAS for the trainmen themselves,
they would be the first to decry an
eight hour working day whereby they
were to labor eight hours and no long
er. What they really demand is pay
ment on an eight hour basis. This
virtually means 25 per cent increase
in wages, no matter how greatly this
real issue is beclouded. For expe-
diency it is declared the eight hour
day is wanted, and not higher wages.
This is not so. Payment on a basis
of an eight hour day, with time-and-a-
half for overtime is their desire and
this would amount to $100,000,O00 an
nually in increased operating cost.
"The railroads have, as most every
body knows, been operated on very
small profits for a number of years.
True, they are at present enjoying a
good stage of prosperity. But who
knows how long it will last? Would
it not be fair to devote part Of the
earnings, which it is hoped will accrue
from this industrial rejuvenation, to
stockholders, who for the last few
years, have derived very meager re-
turns from their investments. 1t is
these investors who have made it pos
sible for railroads to do business and
supply the life of trade that has
meant much in developing other COM
mr. ol n1oic cSo 10
the country's welfare.
''The trainmen, in the opinion of
railway managers are among the very
highest paid Of laboring men in Amer
lea, Surely, they are the aristocrats
of the railway world. Why should
their salaries be increased again at
the expense of other railroad workers
when increases averaging from 80 to
AZ per cent have been granted them
during the last IL years?
"The railway managers are making
an honest effort to please the public
however much they may be maligned
by agitators. They are striving to
give even better service than is at
present offered their patrons, the pub
lie. Conditions are vastly superior in
this respect than they were only a few
years ago, but it cannot be denied that
to maintain such standards requires a
good deal Of capital, probably $1,000,-
100000 each year. The railroads owe
a duty to the public and to their
stockholders, as well as to their train
service employees, class that is al
ready enjoying good salaries and
working conditions.
"While the railroad managers be-
lieve that they are right they admit
that both sides should be entitled te
have their arguments considered anC
the railway managers have, therefore
repeatedly said they would refer their
side to an arbitration tribunal rather
than to permit strike to tie-up the
country's commerce. They feel that
unless the trainmen so fear the weak
ness of the Brotherhood's argument
their leaders should, likewise, submit
to arbitration.