Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-31

| by Federal control and pernetuated by tho
| national working agreement"
With Il view to establishing tile facts, not
for the benefit OF the railroads OF their en-
roycs, but for the freight-paying public.
the ST. Louis Chamber OF Commerce recently
placed questionnaire in the hands of II
nonpartisan committee of representative
business men. Their answers, after rigid
! Investigation, are enlightening as TO some
of the causes which are bringing the rail
roads TO financial ruin. and as to the final
destination OF many millions of the dollars
the public is forced to pay for its transpOrta-
ton service. Here are some Of the typical
leaks which the demands of labor have con-
verted into veritable deluges OF waste:
II nozzle tip OH n locomotive is TO be
changed. 81 boilermaker and his helper must
be summoned to open the door, pipema!i
and his helper must remove the pipe, and
Il machinist and helper must remove the
Tip. The same procedure in reverse order
is followed in putting OF the new tip. Be
fore Federal control 4 handy man would
have performed the whole operation Similar
classified service exists for all other shop
work
Before Federal control, handy men OF
helpers worked on truck. spring and similar
jobs. but Under the national agreement"
they are mechanics" at mechanics wages
Specialized men must couple and un-
couple hose between cars at S2I5 Il month
for hours and 40 minutes day. Before
Federal control they received 500 month
for ten-hour day.
If wrcckng crew is called after regular
hours for stated job and is assigned two
other jobs. all of which requires seven hours,
the men receive pay for Il minimum of fifteen
hours The same sort OF pay holds good
for mechanic called after regular hours,
while IL shopman held after his eight-hour
assignment for hour and 10 minutes would
receive pay for six and one-half hours I'm
der the old practice he would have received
pay for ! hour and 50 minutes
All shop employees are allowed one hour
week without service ION pretcxt OF check
ins themselves iii and out OF the shop"
This bonus hour costs one railroad alone
Sl2.00O,o0O year.
Under tie national agreement piece work
was discontinued with marked decrease in
production, and foremen are forbidden to
do any work except that of supervision
These are only few illustrations which
show the Wastage OF railroad money really
The pubics money. But il is sufficient to
demonstrate tie methods under which the
roads are compelled TO operate. That they
are neither cilIcient nor economical the nun
lie will be convinced, but the railroad; ara
helpless. prevented from installing real bust
ness management by the order directing
them 10 continue the rules and regulations
set up by the Federal railroad administra
ticn.
Little wonder that the railroads are beg
gns for relief! Nomnally ,hey are under
private control. Actually they are staggcr-
ing under Federal domination which makes
possible labor's unmerciful gouging Until
such restrictions are, removed and the roads
really returned ~ private control. with
power TO regulate their own operation. econ
omy ana efficiency are out OF the uuee,ion
ana the public will continue 10 bear the
IHfIen oi an extravaganza if not IA broken
down, service.