Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-10
RAIL EMPLOYEES
DEFEND DEMANDS
Brotherhood Officials Deny that
Eight-Hour Proposition is Not
in Good Faith.
OVERTIME DUE TO OvERIoADs

CLEVELAND. o., Feb. 9.--The first
official statement on the impending
controversy between railroads of the
country and their train crews over
working hours, was issued here to-
night. II was signed by w. s. Stone,
grand chief engineer Of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers; w.
S. Carter, president OF the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen: l.. e. Sheppard. acting
president OF the Order Of Railway
Conductors. and w. G. Lee. presi-
dent of the Brotherhood OF Railroad
Trainmen. The organizations claim
to represent approximately 100000
employees on 52s lines Of railroad
The statement was headed why the
Eight Hour Day" and was IN the ma
ture OF a reply TO a statement issued
February 1 by the executive committee
Of the Association Of Western Railways
The brotherhood's statement said in
part:
The eight-hour day movement IL
based wholly upon the justice OF work
day OF reasonable hours. that will permit
the men further to separate the dead
line between work and wages. The rail-
roads say fn effect that men who have
put In a few years OF railroad service
have worked themselves out and viii
not be accepted ~ they lose their post
tions IL men are worked out IN few
years Under present service conditions
the demand TO extend their wage earning
years Is fully justified.
Overtime Due 20 Overload.
"overtirne IN road service Is due almost
wholly to the practice OF railroads over
reading trains 30 that they can not make
their mileage within their time limits
The railroads are doing this for profit
they do not deny &C. and II they propose
to demand extra service at the sacrifice
Of tho health and future earning ability
OF the men they should pay extra for II.
The payment OF overtime applies with
particular force to yards. WHARF the COM
panics can regulate their work so that
no overtime need be made"
The statement denied that 'the men
are not sincere In their demand for the
shorter work day" or that they want
wage Increase rather than a time de-
crease II also argued that any lnccn-
tive 20 delay railroad work 80 as 20 OBJ
tain overtime payment would be impos-
slhie, pointing out that discipline "a adj
ministercd by the roads
Rates OF pay IN the eastern territory
were quoted AZ length 70 illustrate wage
conditions. the statement saying In part:
1.-THE pay Of train service employees.
other than passenger. IL based on 100
miles or less ten hours or lcss. In the
eastern territory. for instance. the brake
man will receive the munificent sum OF
SEE for regular freight train service.
OFT OF which he must maintain his fam
SIS az home and take care OF himself al
she other end of the run. The 100-mile
trip IL what represents one days work,
and mcans that at lie expiration the man
must lay away from homo until he Il
dead-headed back or returned with a
train The conductors reoesvo approxl-
matoiy ono-third more than the brake
man. Wages ara trifle higher In the
southern and western torrltoriea.
'Forty-fivs per cent Of the earnings
81 tho railway companies are paid IN
wages" affords the opportunity 70 show
The sum total OF wages paid. what IN
terests the railroad empioye il not the
bulk sum paid 10 ali Of tho railway EN-
ployes. but tho individual amount that
goes 70 each man
THAT there Is not 20 much 3ustifica-
fion for the contention of the railroads
that the eight-bour day n impossible Il
proven by the fact that AZ present there
ara seven roads IN the southeastern and
one in tho western territory that pay
overtime on en- eleven miles per hour
basis. six roads IN the southern and two
In the western territory pay overtime on
twelve-nile per hour basis. Eight n
the southeastern and five In the western
territory pay overtime ON twelve ane
one-hhlf miles an hour basis. There Il
only one road in the United States Of
which we have knowledge that works
more than the ten-hour work day"
Not nasea ON Peak EarninEs.
The statement denied that tho present
demand lis based on peak earnings Of
the railways. due TO the present boom n
business" u said further that the fac
that roads in the hands OF receivers has
not cut wages should not be credited {
the companies so situated. but 10 th'
courts which have forbidden reductions
whether the controversy Is 10 lead 20 a
strike was pronounced a question that
At this time h not a part Of the discus
sion" The organizations ARE not op
posed TO arbitration. neither are they
pledged 20 accept H. said the statement
which added:
.'rhe railroad organizations are practt
cally pledged TO peace. but that doei
not mean peace AZ any price. means
peace with honor and not peace At th'
sacrifice Of justice.
No Grtevanee VITA Public.
The organisations do not desire 4
take Issue with the public they hav'
no disposifion 20 take undue advantag'
Of Il IA any sense; they accept ever.
public responsibility. They challeng'
even the inference that they have no
always been fair to the public. and the
ask only from the public that which
the public holds fast az its absolute riehi
namely. the liberty 10 make It's owl
terms OF service 20 far as Il has tn
power
1T h true that IN the past arbitration
the men were disappointed and TO som
extent lost faith In that method Of ad
iusfrpent OF differences but there 4
neither warrant nor authority for sayin
that arbitration viii or viii not be &C
cepted Circumstances win determin
the position Of the men when the nee