Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-02
JOHNSON ISSUES CARD
TO EMPLOYEES OF N. & ".
N"s"crs Statements OF Committee o,
Train and Engincmcn In
Detail.
SAYS DEMANDS UNREASONABLE
ohers to Submit Whole Question to
\, Interstate Commerce Commission
Tor Settlement or TO Arbitration
Under Newlands Act.


mat SSsteD, in reply to certain state
'thts recently issued by committee
II employees in train and engine SER
Nicc In regard to the cight-hour and
I gag" demands OF certain classes OF
employees OH Eastern railroads. Mr.
,oh9son takes up. in turn. each vara-
'raph or the statement of employees
replying to each in detail. He said, i'm
Dart.
believe that the demands present
7" arc unreasonable, excessive and dis
"a 'ualnatory against employees in other
,'ahches of the service. and unjust to
u" public. The railway companies
rave offered to Submit the whole uucs-
ION 10 the Interstate Commerce Com
MISSION for settlement, or to arbitra-
non under the Newlands act.
rho basis OF wage payments In
ram service has been built up on the
'uiHn"r or miles rim, with arbitraries
TO meat certain conditions an average
! p"eh ~ twelve and onc-haif miles per
'pur rs not. under usual conditions
'I.H 10 maintain when freight trains
~ rnnn'hw. Time is lost when freight
l"thS are waiting az meeting or pass
ne points to clear passenger trains
pr other, trains having right to the
rack Tho change In the basis of
pas demanded. from eleven miles an
i't- 70 twelve and one-half miles an
"1r' means Increased payments Of
wages or Increased trackaEe and other
aoi'i'ies- In either event. the expendi-
ur" or large sums OF money is do
nahded. Tho public must provide for
ne payments by increasing passenger
thd freight rates. or tho roads will not
90 able TO meet their obligations. and
-ece'verships will follow.
hoRE THAN DOUBLES
RATE FOR OVERTIME
INC Increase in tho overtirne rate
'-@'-' per cent more money in over
IN" Tor tn" same service az is now
| formed. and in order to reach ,bo
4 :;hTn"ncemnnt of the payment Of over
I'M" more quickly, ii is demanded tina,
u" same amount of money be paid for
-hour ser"ice an il now paid for
tihe-homr service. which is a basis OF
we've and onr-half miles per HORN
r against eleven miles per hour I'M
l"f ~" present working agreement.
no ahIc Ia borrow money for adj
| ll"nW facilities, tho railway COM
Hni"s inust bc alhln ia show that they
an earn = return OH the money so
borrowed The demand for these In
reaS"s In wages adds nothing To the
cNhnue Of the raiHay companies with
which To meet IT.
settlement by tho Interstate Com
1o-r. Commission or arbitration UNI
81 the N"wlands ;nct IL offered By Tho
"liN2' com pdHleH III of1er TO avoid
niictiu2 upon tho public tho en-
'loye"s, and the owners Of the prop.
nv IN" inconvenience. suffering per-
aps and financial loss resulting from
strike. Arbitration is not a legal
eht; II is an agreement to submit
u"stions ii disput" TO u selected tribu-
u rather than TO continue n con-
pversy. with It's attendant disasters
h" Interstate Commerce Commission
nnld act just as well as any other
n1y agrcod upou Tho Congress of
he United states is selected and elect
d 10 make laws under the constitu-
nn for the welfare az all the ucopiC
:. The dangers Of railway service are
Xasrernted. The Bureau OF Labor sth-
is'cs OF the United States Depart
lent Of Labor prepares statement
fatal industrial accidents in the
nlted states by Industrial groups
he last report that have seen. which
for the year 1913. gives the ratio of
atal accidents per 200 employees as
cllcws:
fetal mining 100
'pal mining ............... 2.5o
'.yheriaS .............. 3 90
'aHi sasion ....,........... 3 90
.Hilroad employees .......... 40
Electricians. light and power -. 9. %
ENORMOUS SUMS SPENT
For REDUCING GRADES
er train was 1851; in 1915. s41.43-
increase Of l59 per cent. To reduce
urvcs and grades. provide double
rack, heavier rails bridges, motive
over equipment. etc. TO enable the
oaa 10 increase the train load and pay
he present high standard OF wages.
cqulred an additional expenditure OF
io6.6l4 036.3S. which interest
harEes must be earned. and 10 which, !
Employees in train service contributed !
IL; one cent. on the contrary. their
ages have been steadily Increased, !
nd they have contributed no more |
IAN have the shop men. track men
nd others to building and maintaining |
he facilities necessary. About II per
snt OF the business of the company
The hauling of coal which means |
lat about 95 per cent of coal cars are |
aulcd back to the coal fields empty. |
,rning nothing. in 1897, the earn |
tgs per freiGht-train mile was 1.4353: |
1915, 3.i999--an increase OF 144 per |
.nt--wh!ch has enabled the company |
nay the present wage schedule, as |
eli ~ interest charges on the amounts !
spcnded in developing the property. !
err the demands of the men in train /
.rvice are just and fair to all en- |
loyees to the public, and to the own
- OF the property, and If there is no |
ssire ito disturb their peace OF mind
inti!ct upon them any inconvenience |
ere should he no hesitation about |
,cepting arbitration to settle these |
ferences The appearance of en- |
ovees and their families. the condl- /
on OF their homes, and the rates Of |
~ which have been agreed to in
,c past is sufficient answer that capt.
ls not attempting to cruelty labor
ne railway companies have offered to
limit these differences to the Inter
ate Commerce Commission for settle
emf. or to arbitrate under the New
nds act I wish to repeat my caution /
YOU to consider carefully and take
Tod counsel before YOU decide that
,u personally are willing to inflct |
ION yourselves, your families. your
,mpany and the public the want. the
ufcring, the Inconvenience ind the
,anclal disaster which must follow
Gould there be strike of trainmen
I'd yard employees IN this country.
I'd I see no way to prevent 1T except
n proposition Of arbitration offered
the railway companies, which will
fair 10 the public. to the employees