Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-09
RAILWAY WORKERS


Officials of the Railroad Wage Com
mission pointed out today that the m
creases recommended are probably no
greater than the railroads would have had
To pay under private operation, since tho
rising level of wages in other Industries
would have made them necessary, II the
workers were to be retained.
Men who have left the railroads since
January to enter the army or navy are
entitled to increases accruing To the tune
they quit work. IL was explained To-Day
SOME OF THE INCREASES.
Increases which would be allowed en-
ployes in train and engine service, most
of whom are members of the tour Leading
railway brotherhoods, il developed today,
are rs follows:
Freight engineers. Is per cent; tireinen
and helpers. "a Der cent; freight conduc-
tors. 20 per cent; freight brakemen and
fiagmen. 80 per cent; passenger engineers,
II per cent: passenger trcncn and helpers,
% per cent passenger conductors, /" per
cent passenger baggagemen, ~ per CEN, !.
passenger brakemcn and fiagtnen, ~
per cent. =,
REQUEST for nm S-hour day for all rail
road employees and for time and hall ~r
overtime were not acted ON by the com
mission.
report snys, 1T was manifest that the
matter of hours of service is lodged deep
IN labor mind 4 standard day OF reason
ably limited length is rs much Il part OF the
measure Of Justice with the Nottingham
MS is his rate of wage
SHORTER DAY NOT FAVORED.
"The railroad employees have asked for
tho shorter day. saving frankly that they
did not wish any increased rate for over
time save as means of completing the
Observance of shorter hours a pfnall5inR
of the employers for too long workday
1t this tune. however tn penalze the
government for working its men n long ~
they have been IN the habit OF working
under thor private EMPLOYERS, the rall-
road companies IS To cake advantage 81
the two-fold embarrassment of the govern
mcnt its need for tho work and IFS IN
ability tn call IN outside men I he conn
mission does not believe that the railroad
employees really want thus Ia hamper tn"
transportation facilities of the country ~
its hour Of need
''Nanifretlv therefore ~ this timc when
men must I've constantly taken from The
railroads rs from All other Industries -
I'LL the growing ntsflS ~ tiF' ffH'ii 7
army. hours Of labor cannot he shortened
With the matter Of overtime as with
hours of service tho commission bchcNee
that the existing rules and conditions 81
payment ,hnlld be not disturbed during
the period If the war
SAME RAY ron wpNtN - ~IN
Tho employment of women IS on" oi
the important Problems confronting thns'
IN charge ~ the operations ot the rat.
roads Since the war women have entered
the shops, have engaged ~ handling freight
aud baggage. and have even been employ
cd upon the tracks
Much of this work requires phvElcal
effort bcvond the strength ot women,
and some ~ II is carried on under con
dltlons menacing to health, safety and
morals
rs the war takes an increasing uumh"r
~ men women must 81 some degree
take the places Of men They should he
cared tor Their burden should not be
~,,ch As ia hazard thclr health lhcrr
hours should he reasonably short Ihclt
working conditions should be hcalthiuI
and fitted IL their needs Md their pay
when thcv do the full work 81 men, should
bc the Same rs that Of men