The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-09
RAILROAD EMPOYES
NOT SATISFIED WITH
WAGE PROPOSALS
Continued From Page ~


panieS, is TO take advantage OF tn
tWo-told embarrassment OF the gov
ernment-its need for the work an,
its ability to call in outside men
The commission does not believ
that the railroad employees reall.
want thus to hamper the transpor
tation facilities OF the country ii
its hour OF need.
"Manifestly, therefore. at thi!
time when men must constantly bC
taken from the railroads. as from al
other industries, to fill the growing
needs OF the nations army, hour.
Of labor cannot be shortened. While
the commission strongly favors a
standard day insofar as the nature
of the service will permit it, its firm
Judgment therefore is that the eX-
isting hours in effect in the railroads
should be maintained for the period
of the war.
But with this we earnestly urge
that most exhaustive study be
made of this matter Of hours of serv-
ice, not with a view to the adoption
of some arbitrary and universal
policy which shall have no regard
to the kind of work done, or the
effect upon the railroad service, but
with these very considerations in
mind.
with the matter OF overtime as
with hours of service, the commis-
sion believes that the existing rules
and conditions Of payment should
not be disturbed during the period
of the war.
Women in Railroading.
"Sln"" va war began women
ha the shops, have en-
d., u~.. ing freight and bag
gage and have even been employed |
upon the tracks. Much of this work
requires physical effort beyond the
strength of women, and some of it
IS carried on under conditions men
icing to health, safety and morals.
- lltS w a. ldhSS an luCl CdSllS
number OF men, women must to
'omc degree take the places Of men.
They should be cared for. Their
burden should not be such as to
lazard their health. Their hours
lad been reasonably short. Their
working conditions should be
calthful and fitted to their needs.
Md their pay, when they do the
ull work OF men, should be the
anne as that of men.
"Ihe investigation of the com
lission disclosed many inequalities ,
/ pay in the same branch Of serv-
e. In every case where the same -,
'rvice is rendered there should be ;,
le same pay without regard to sex "
+ race. Members OF organizations :
I'd non-mcmbers must stand upon :,
lc same footing.
Large Salaries of Officials.
Large salaries paid railroad Off :
ais received the close scrutinv OF !,
e commission which. suggested u
at some might be abolished. v
'lN commission recommends,
ld the report, that during the pc II
'd Of government conduct Of the
ilroadS, no salaries paid to Off 81
us who are not essential to the l.
erations OF the roads shall be ST
arged as part Of the operating eN- m
nSes, and that a careful study be 10
.de of the proper relation between
, salaries OF the higher officials So
d those of their subordinates with IA
lew to rcadiustmcntS.' H.
would be impossible to magni- -,
the importance of the American W.
tenn of railroads in the conduct -
the war the report said in CON ~
sion. That England should w
mt for bread because American hi
road equipment was unwiselv ch
.rlbuted. or unucceS sarilv immo- In
=, is thing not TO be explained ma
he EngliShman. who regards out
.cm Of railroads and our meth Di
OF railroading as the model of St;
world. For needs and for our i,t
lie this standard of superiority II,
,t be at least maintained. and to- ,l,,
end no one thing will so greatly H.,
ducc as 10 wisdom and Justice i'm ~
ing with the actual workers on as
roads COZ