The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-03-21

day upheld the A~~mson eight-hour
law.
New York, March 29.-The railroads
have met the fullest demands of the
Adamson eight-hour law and thereby
averted the threatened nationwide
strike, with the country on the verge
of it's most serious crisis.
Patriotism, sWayed to its height by
the sinking of three American vessels,
brought from the railway managers
committee on Monday the announce
ment that they would accept the broth
erhood chiefs demands rather than
give the impression at home or abroad
that the efficient operation of the
country's railways will be hampered
or impaired in the face of it's latest
peril
The railroads surrendered complete
ly, leaving their end of the adjustment
entirely in the hands of President Will
sons mediation board. joint COM
mittee is to thrash out the minute de-
tails.
The railway managers agreement
Grafton the eight-hour day. on ten
hour pay basis, with pro rata pay for
overtime, means approximately $1,000
600 week added to the pay rolls of
the railroads. Thirteen million dol
lars extra back pay, dated from Jan. 1,
when the Adamson law was to have
become effective, will be distributed
among 100000 trainmen.
The decision means that the brother
hoods have won an important victory,
although it does not bring them all
their original demands.
Text of the Agreement
The following agreement was signed
by the railway managers committee
and the brotherhood chiefs:
In all road service, except pas
senger, where schedules now read:
Our hundred miles or less, nine or
ten hours, or less, overtime at ten
or eleven miles per hour eight hours
or less for basic day, and twelve
and half miles per hour for speed
basis for the purpose of computing
overtime to be paid for at not less
than one-eighth OF a daily rate per
hour. In all yards, switching and
hosting service, where schedules now
read ten, eleven or twelve hours or
less shall constitute days work, in
sert eight hours or less shall consti-
tute a days work at present ten hours
pay
Overtime to be paid for at not
less than one-eighth of the daily rate
per hour.
''In yards now working on an eight
hour basis, the daily rate shall be the
present ten hours standard rate with
overtime at one-eighth of the present
standard daily rate.
I'm case the law is declared uncon-
stitutional, eight hours or less at pres
ent ten hours pay will constitute a
days work in hosting service.
"In passenger service the present
milage basis will be maintained On
roads now having a fiat ten-hour day
In passenger service, the rule will be
amended to read eight within ten
hours
For all classes of employees in short
turn around passenger service, where
the rule now reads: eight within
twelve hours it will be amended to
read eight within ten hours
For such territory as has no num-
Der of hours for a days work in short
turn around passenger service, the
eight within ten hour rule applies
Overtime to be paid for at not less
than one-eighth of the daily rate per
hour.
1.-THE general committees on indf-
vidual roads may elect to retain pres
ent overtime rules in short turn
around passenger service, or the for
going provisions, but may not make
a combination of both to produce
greater compensation than is provided
in either basis
"In the event the law is held to be
constitutional, if the foregoing settle
ment is inconsistent with the decision
of the court, the application will be
adjusted to the decision. If declared
unconstitutional, the above stands
with all the provisions as written.
THE foregoing to govern for such
roads, classes of employees and classes
of service represented by the national
conference committee of the railways.
THE schedules, except as modified
by the above changes remain as at
Dresent