Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-13
INDlSCRIM|NATE
Violation 16-Hour Law
Charged by Shea
Declares Government Must Remedy
Conditions and Pay Living Wage "
Success Is to Be Made of Railroad
Operations

Success Is to Be Made of Railroad
Operations
Washington, Feb. l2.-Indiscrimina,
Violation of the 16-hour law. especial
ly since the government took over the
roads, was charged 10 the railroad
arrangements today by Timothy Shea.
acting president of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen. Enginemen anct
Hostlers in picturing to the railroad
wage commission working conditions
which he said drove the men into 9TH
er employment
Should Remedy Conditions
II the United States government
does not remedy these conditions" he
asserted 1t will not make a success
of railroad operation Tor no railroad
can survive if managed in such fash
ion
The witness said present conditions
actually constituted a menace to hu-
man lives because men engaged in op
GRAFTON of trains cannot be held re-
sponsIble for disaster if worked to the
point "f physical exhaustion. He quot
ed partial reports to show l23 viola
tions Of the I6-hour law. between Jan.
, ana Il, as compared with 50 during
the whole of 19l1
1t doesn't seem TO me that 1913 Nip-
lations are extraordinary, considering
the weather Of that period remark
ed Secretary Lane. chairman of the
Commission
You don't sanction violation of the
Law. do Nou"" asked Mr.. Shea.
Il don't think that question proper
ly can I've addressed To me- answered
the secretary.
Mr. Shea said perhaps the question
should not have been asked. but re-
fused To drop the subject.
since the government took over op-
Grafton Of the roads he said. they
are At liberty Ia violate the law, Whom
are you going to prosecute."'
Commissioner McChord, a member
of The Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion which is charged with enforcing
the i6-hour law, interrupted to state
that government operation made no
difference in enforcement of the law
and thai he daily was approving pros
ccutious Of violations.
We've got the law, but II seems i'm
possible TO get it complied with, Shea
continued. Since the government took
over the roads the law apparently is be-
Ing disregarded indiscriminately and the
time is coming when that will result IN
a wreck. / think it is time to call halt.
We hope the government can demonstrate
that trains can make an average OF ia
miles an hour and avoid overtime. The
government will have the united cooper
alton Of all classes OF employees to accom-
rlish that end
The long hours were said to be onl. one
reason why many switchmen have sought
other employment. Mr.. Shea contrastcd
/ The labor of stokihg one of the great
modern machines on fast train with the
old days when mail engine pursued itx
peaceful way through the country and
the fireman was at liberty to take off
his boots and go to sleep in the sun when
a siding was taken.
Wages of $26 a day do not cover the
actual living expenses Of a married man.
Shea said. Our men can leave the rail-
roads and get work 10 factories at 81 a
day under better conditions and working
shorter hours. Yet we are performing a
service tlat Is vital 10 the country 0 well
faro"
Shea made an especial plea for the host
lers who take care Of engines while not
in actual service, The fety OF train.
he said depends largely on the hostlers
treatment Of an engine. The witness also
said that minimum wage Of SO be
given hostlers to obtain a good class Of
men A general increase of 10 per cent.
and minimum wage of $50 asked for fire
men, he said should apply to Negroes
in the southeast as we'll as to the white
hremen elsewhere. When ne suggested
+ that the benefits OF the Adamson law
should he extended to the Negro firemen.
! Commissioner Covlngton interrupted 10
say there was no doubt as to the appli-
cation of the Adamson law to all classes
Of tiremcn
How can we enforce ito asked Shea
Apply to Director General McAdoo."
answered Secretary Lane.
! Mr. Shea reiterated that time and
half for overtime was desired only
penalty to discourage long hours of work.