New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-06
ADVERTISEMENT


freight train mile The average ton mile rev
enue received was slightly less than in 1910,
being only .613 81 cent per ton mile which
freight rates paid on either tho German or
French Roads in normal YEAR, and they
have the additional advantage Of much low
e. wage. taxes. and other operating COSTS.
Tho number Of passengers increased rs per
cent. passenger mileage 10 per cont. pas
seugers per car ~ per cent. while passenger
train mileage increased only per cent.
THE EIGHT Horn Law
Tho employees in the train service on most
OF the railroads iu the United states sub
mitted demands through their labor organ
izations for an eight hour basic DAY a. the
existing rates OF rsy. and time and one hal :
payments for al Overtims In freight and
yard service Although many 81 the men IN
the train service do not work eight hours
per DAY. this reduction in the time consiitut-
Ing q basic work day meant In effect an un-
lust liable increase Of pay for most or these
employees. Conferences extending over sew
eral months were held between the repre-
sentatives Of the railroads and Tho train
mems organizations. with the hope that ny
arbitration. in which the public would nave
been represented, some reasonable SOLUTION
could he reached for the 70 roads felt that
as compared with other employment IN and
out Of the railroad service. these men were
literally treated. ~ not. in some cases over
paid. TIE traiumeu would not consent 10
arbitration. or other investigation. and or
ders for a strike were given in case tho 70 u
roads refused To accedc 10 their demands.
The transportation service ~ the country
was threatened with stoppdge a. tine
when Industries In general had reached their
greatest production and the food supply ana
other nee eSsarics OF Nfc. especially in inc
larger cities were absolutely dependent on
the continued operation OF 40 steam rail-
road systems. ID is questionable Wn"inef
many Of the men. especially those IN YOUR
service who have faithfully served me CON
uauy for many wears would finally have de
serted their positions. yet the untold suHei .
Ing and disruption OF business mat ""lIu
have resulted from The execution OF thlS
threat. made by the trainmcu through thelI
leaders were so evident that the Eight
Hour Law" was enacted by Congress IN the
brief period OF few days. Ihe threatened
strike was averted, but in the hssty proceed
ings leading TO it's enactment the principle
of arbitration IS the paramount and equi-
table method Of settling labor disputes. vas
sacrificed. not IN the public interest. nor ior
the benefit of majority Of railroad en-
Moves but FOR a group o. men constituting
only "a small percentage o. the totsl num-
her and no action was taken hy congress
TO prevent or settle future strikes.
This law provides that beginning January
T. 1917. eight hours shall in contracts FOR
labor and service be deemed q days Moik'
and the measure or standard OF 1aS >
work Tor The purpose OF reckoning com
pensatiOn for employees engaged Ia the opera
lion OF interstate trains. and provides .
Commission OF three 10 observe The eHects
months. and report iis findings 10 the PIesl-
dent and Congress but it also requires INA i.
pending the report OF tie commission anu
for thirty days thereafter, the eAlsiihk stahd
srj DAYS wage shall be paid for an eight
bour ds, and for overtime tine euplo>es
shall be- ia Id not less than th" pi" rata rate
for such standard eishi ""ui "J' ~
wages are Increased Dog IT'S provisions. mere
is apparenfly nothing to prevent AN elnplolt
working more OF less than eight hours per
day Your Management being unable 10
il NFaH III
law. and having grave doubts a. 10 its con
.titutionality. has instituted proceedings 10
f,-t its validity in the Federal Courts. -,
The Federal and STATE laws and the public
-..fs.re reouire Railroad Companies 10 render
q continuous and adrqust" tlans'oI latloh
service and it should be equally obligatory
that no disruption oi that service ioni az; az
cause be tolerated Therefore. in the pubic
Interest which * paramount. future siIlhrs
or loci. Oa.s should be prevented uhth 'ne
differences between the railroads ehH tnrl
employees are first submitted q" ind'p'hue"l
ami impartial review aud arbitration
FEDERAL TRANSFORMATIONS Inquiry.
A Joint Congressional Committee has been
sptoIufed upou the recommendation Of tue
President 20 Investigate the eitoirntl OF me
existing system Of public regulation ~ pro
tectlng the rights Of shippers ana Garner -
and bon promoting the public interest
The Railroads will assist this investigation
and have already Submitted evidence lnal ,ne
uIe,ert system % Federal and state reguld %
o.
The, have. therefore. requested CONSIDERATION
of "a program which 60 substance. covers
Federal supervision % The issue OF Iai
road secufitIes. -
3 Federal Incorporation Of interstate rail-
roads. ...
a regional and functional division OF the
work. ol Tine ufcr.taf" Commerce '"nhIN-
E4gfi.tiug rate suspensions by he Com
mission fo not more than sixty days
O. Giving The lnters ate Commerce com
rni.-ion .he power 10 prescribe minimum a.
u,.I .t UIa.iWum rates.
.rhe aim Of constructive legislation should
t D.. allow the railroads 10 conduct the
trsusuortatlOn service under such conditions
a. aim pr.sart- their credit so that they can
" Iii mos efficiently and economically carry
'te commerce Of the Country. and be its
r,o,f available and effective Instrument for
Sstioual defense nder The existing con-
Gi.flne sgstema Of public regulation BY the
t,t.,II and STATE Governments the railroads
tsve moi been allowed 10 earn su'icient prof
a. &C. rlace them IN that position. ana,
,,E...forr there has been "a serious decline
IT, constructing new mileage. new equipment
.-fy,iert facilities TO accommodate the
.t'l,,,.rs and the public with the increased
.-a,,, In Inc past eighteen months this con
di,I,, vs. somewhat improved. but the needs
- a.. sltuaflon have not yet been salts
r,oritv mo- The common carriers 49,
,'hoI. Ia, many years have had 10 depend
o. no, capitai on the Increase 81 their
srockHOLDERs MAY OBTAIN GO