Norwich bulletin., 1919-07-18

Rust was accommodating Thursday on the tracks of the Shore Line Electric Railway company. In some places they were covered with sand and gravel brought down by the rain of Wednesday.
 The clerical force of the company [ was catching np on it's accumulated Large numbers of the motormen, conductors and other employees who were on strike were to be seen at tending the movies.
 Westerly in the afternoon mad in Nor wich infthe evening, without any new statements forthcoming from them. President Robert w. Perkins of the Shore Line issued a new statement in which he gave the figures of wages re- 1 ceived in the past year by men on the road.
 Norwich people seemed to be com placently deciding to stay at home and there was little indication of many walking to the center from the outly- ing sections, except at the regular times of going to or returning from heir places of business
 The Norwich stores had a minimum of customers, and the public service auto buses and jitneys which had anticipated a rush of business found comparatively little to do. The people were staying at home Meanwhile there was nothing to in- OlCAl6 any C1dnS0 III the dCIltude or either side to the controversy between the officials and the striking employees of the Shone Line.
 Such seemed to be the developments the second day which not a car has been run over the lines in eastern Connecticut.
 Statement By President Perkins.
 President Robert W. Perkins of the Shore Line road gave out the follow ing statement on the situation Thurs day morning:
 The people of eastern Connecticut are vital1y interested in the outcome of the strike of our employees now in progress, for on the outcome depends largely the future of their street rail- way transportation = and they and not the company, pay the wages of the men and the controversy is now almost wholly about the matter of wages we feel that it is not only prop CT and right, but necessary for them to understand just what the demands represent in wages and what the men are now getting.
 We have stated that the average wage paid our platform men was s25.26 per week = of course to pro- duce that average some received more and some less. but that average rep- resents s1.31S.52 for the year. and the average hours required to produce this wage were 62 per week. Because of what is called the loading of the pay roll as result of the operation of the working conditions that provide for paymen for dead time lapsed time, meal checks and so forth. the hours do not represent time actually worked nor does the hourly wage rate represent wages paid. The amount which man may earn in year is of real importance for it is yearly and not hourly expenses that must be met.
 For obvious reasons we do not care to use names. but from the list kept in connection with our report to the Federal tax commissioner, let us give you just a few examples of what the present wage rate enabled. our motor men and conductors to earn for the calendar year of 1918:
 416-26: c, s1.2s6-eo; D, s1.2es-1o: E, s1,22.47: F, s1.s2o.s4: G. s14S43s: H, s1,eso.5o; I, s1.241-s5; J. s1,sso17; K s1ssaso: l. s1ss4 sss 10; o9 9 s1ssSde o. s1.262.7o: R. s1.21O.7o; S. s1-sss.90; T. $1.121.o0; U. s1.305.62; V. s1,2e6.s7; W, s1.427 20; x, s1,41s12; Y, s1-5ss.71; Z s146184; others, s1,313.47; s1,3se.2L $1,530.49.
 Since the alphabet has given out. let us say that six in the above list are the members of the committee, and the average earned by them from the company was S1,418.20. Tn ad- dition to this they were paid by the association for the time they did not work but were on committee duties Many of these men listed above were off duty for vacations and one on the list, we happen to notice, for seven weeks.
 If the present rate had been in ef- feet all the year instead of from June 1 these amounts. would have been considerably higher. The demands now made upon us are for increase in the hourly rate and other loading l that means at least a 50 per cent. in l crease. so that if it were accepted and the men in the above list were to work | the same number of hours as they did 1 last year. their earnings would be in | creased just one-haf. A would earn g 224.41 and so on down the list.
 We have many friends and ac- quaintances among the citizens clerks l and merchants, as well as professional | men, who would find it much easier ! to make both ends meet on what our 1 men claim provides for them only |. a miserable existence"
 Using the long tried and proven l rule of supply and demand unaffected 1 by artificial control. our wage is high | enough to secure the men we need. l when we, during the existence of a | wage agreement, advanced the rate in l order to secure men. Why should it | not apply now?
 We are charged with violation of l agreement expired June 1st, 1919 |
 nopxAJ(L MAI