The Connecticut labor press., 1919-11-29
i 36,OOO,OOO RAIL
 PAY INCREASES
Hines Would EquaIize Wages Of Underpaid Men by Add
 ing 5000, ,OOO a Month.
UNIONS AGREE TO ACCEPT
Met, But Conferences Will Be con- tinued-WouId Pay Crews of
 Slow Freiqhts More.

Washington.-A proposition of time and a half time for overtime to train service employees in the slow freight service, including the urainmen and enginemen, has been made by the Unl1 States railroad administration to l.c four railway brOtherhoOdS, Ii was announced by Director General Walker D. Hines. It is estimated the net cost of the advance to the govern ment will be $3,OO0,OOO a month.
 This proposal, MT. Hines said, bears on the most important matter under consideration with the representa- tives of the train and enginemen's organi- zations during the conferences with the director general and other officials of the railroad administration in the last two weeks.
 In his announcement Mir. Hines stressed the fact that the proposal was for the purpose of making read Justments necessary to avoid unjust inequalities in the compensation of dlHerent classes of railway employees. It does not represent a departure from the stand taken by the railroad ad- ninistration, and approved by the president, in opposition to wage in- creases for entire classes until the whole question of the high cost of liv- ing had been thoroughly attacked, with a view to it's reduction.
 The concessions made, which are Tn the nature of a compromise with the demands, are for time required to make runs in excess of what would be required if an average, speed of 12k miles per hour was maintained. A provision is included that all arbitra- tion and special allowances now paid in various forms of freight train serv- ice are eliminated for the railroads as a whole. The time and a half for overtime does not extend to the pas Senger service.
 The increase would affect trainmen, hremen, engineers and conductors, but more particularly those employed in the slow freight train service
 These employees have all the disad- vantages of spending a large amount of time away from home at their own personal expense, and yet have not the advantages of the larger compen- sation enjoyed by employees in fast freight service and also in passenger service, making much larger mileage in the same or shorter length of time. It is these employees making large mileage in a comparatively short time who are frequently accepted by the public as indicating the standard of compensation for men in all train service.
 It is estimated that with the aver age speeds now made by slower freight trains, the net cost of this pro- posal will be approximately $3,OOOO per month. Undoubtedly, however, the proposal would have the effect of correcting many extreme cases of trains being kept an abnormally long time upon the road, and to the extent that this condition can be so correct ed the cost will be reduced
 There are many other questions affecting working conditions of train men which have not been decided and to which no reference has been made by MT. Hines in public statements.
 It Is understood that the proposal will be accepted by the brOtherheodS as it virtually covers the conclusions reached during the recent conferences.
 Explaining his reason for rejecting parts of the brotherhood demands, MT. Hines said that full time and a half for overtime in road service was not justifable as punitive measure, because as rule, it is not economical to run heavy freight trains at a speed as great as would be necessary to avoid payment of the overtime sought. He believed, however, that the plan submitted would mean the elimination of certain excessively long runs with a resultant decrease in hours of labor.