New-York tribune., 1918-02-22
X. r. Man Opposes
Time and a Half
Pay for Overtime
E. F. Potter, of St. Paul
Road, Up From Ranks,
Calls Plan Unfair

WASHINGTON, Feb. q. Requests
by employees that the Railroad Wage
Commission recommend time and half
tor overtime as a penalty for work be-
yond eight hours were answered to- day
by e. +. Potter, assistant to the gen
eral manager of the Minneapolis, st.
Paul e. Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, with
the assertion that such a proposal was
unfair and impracticable.
Mr.. Potter told the commission both
l~thc managements and the employees
agreed that it was impossible to run a
railroad without some overtime, be-
cause many delays were beyond the
control of either side. In the final
anal lysis, he said, reduction in overtime
work depended on the employees them
selves, and therefore penalty should
not be imposed, though the railroads
always had been willing to submit the
question to arbitration by govern
ment board
The railroads have not granted time
and half overtime" Mr.. Potter de-
clarcd, "bccausc it does not represent
a proportionatc increase in labor for
the money expended. and because it is
inconsistent for men working on a
double standard Of pay like train crews.
VINO hgurc their wages on a basis of
either hours or miles,
Overtime work was said to be caused
most frequently by delays, during
which the employees were idle, so that
the overtime did not mean a great
drain on their physical strength.
II believe in paying a man for every
minute of his time, but no more" Mr.
Potter added. 81 object TO the rule for
some workers that they receive no pay
icr overtime up to thirty minutes and
arc paid for an hour if they work
thlrty-one minutes. Perhaps | am old
FASHIONED, but believe in that phrase
OF the Lords Prayer which says Lead
US not into temptation.' and think it
IS putting temptation in the way of a
man to stretch out his task. We arc all
human. These men are my brothers.
came up through them and understand
their problems. All the officials Of my
road rose from the ranks. and the pres
ldent formerly was section hand"
The problems of tho low-pad man
held the closest attention of the COM
mission throughout the recital Of J. 7.
Morris, of Pittman, N. j., who asked
wage increases for railroad ferrymcn,
no" receiving from 0I.l to ooS cents an
hour His own pay amounts to S96.90
month, and there are four in his
family.
"How do you divide that money for
your expenses" asked Secretary Lane.
''Wcll, | pay $16 month rent" Mr..
Morris replied. 81 can't give you exact
figures on grocery costs without asking
my wife. but we buy at the cheapest
! places and always pay cash, to avoid
going in debt. We don't spend much
for clothes. paid SIS for the suit I'm
| wearing; and I've had it four years. Ny
overcoat was bought six years ago But
Of course, don't need many clothes
because | don't go anywhere. Once OF
twice month we go to picture show
We get free railroad transportation
but 1t costs money to use, SO we don't
have any trips"
Can you send US an itemizcd ac-
count of typical monthly expendi.
ture?" the Secretary asked.
"lll be glad to do so, but ! want to
explain that if ii runs beyond SS6.99 it
is because | work on my day off each