The state herald., 1921-04-15
WHY EXCESSIVE
RAILROAD RATES
Continued from Page one.)

Western the decline in efficiency was
80 per cent.
"The necessary effect of the estab-
lishment of the eight-hour day and
decline in the efficiency of labor was
to cause large increase in the num-
ber of men who had to be employed
to do the same amount of work. The
percentage of increase in all the en-
ployes of the railways between 1917
and 1920 was 16 per cent, while the
percentage of increase in the num-
ber of shop employees of the classes
Just mentioned was 43 per cent
| might fill columns with testimony
before the board showing the absurd
rules and how they the robbing the
roads, and ultimately the whole peo-
pie, of millions of dollars. 1t shows
to what limits organizations some
times go when they get the upper
hand. !. is but an example of what
has been going on in the shops of
industry and in the building trades
so long that people are getting tired
OF it and crying aloud for the open
shop Space forbids using more than
"A few examples.
THE Shop Crafts Agreements pro.
vides that when employees are requir-
ed to check In and out on their own
time they will be paid for one hour
extra at the close of each week, no
matter how few hours they may have
worked during the week. This rule
in the first six months of 1920 cost
the railways s6,i45,65S, and at the
higher rates of pay now in effect II
is costing at the rate Of S14,500,00O
year"
Regarding Rule I, which provides
that "a for continuous service after
regular working hours employees will
he paid one hour for 40 minutes SER
vice or less: l2) employees called or
required to return to work will be
allowed hours for 3 hours and 20
minutes service or less. and (3) they
shall be required to do only such
work as held or called for, Mr. Whittier
showed the punitive effects of the
rule by the following example:
"A machinist was notified that he
would be required to work overtime
to finish up work already begun on
an engine. He was allowed to 20
TO his work at the proper time and
upon returning found other mechanics
working on the engine. Owing to the
nature of his part of the work he
could not begin until the other men
We're through. While waiting on them
he was ordered to inspect another
engine and make out report This
completed, he was allowed to return
TO the job for which he was held and
complete IL. IL was then ordered by
the foreman TO complete shift
THE employees position was that
he is entitled to Ga hours, ~. hours
Of, L..
turning for the lob for which he vas
held over. and hours Ia second calll
for the inspection job. with the differ.
entail OF 8 cents per hour. the hours
"a third calll for completing the shift.
The decision allowed the machinist
not less than l6is hours pay for
work performed within spread of
hours"
Rule 10 provides for the payments
to be made to employees sent out on
the road for emergency service. As
evidence OF the manner In which this
rule operates to increase labor costs
exorbitantly. Mr. Witer cited an in.
stance which occurred on the Atchi
son. Topeka a Santa Fe.
THE company was compelled to
pay four men total Of III hours at
Ga cents an hour. amounting 10 S75.Oi
for work which would have occupied
the time Of one man is hours and IL
minutes, which at 67 cents per hour
amounts to Si220. a difference OF
S62 2S4"
Ruic II provides for the payments
To be made when Il is necessary TO
MI temporary vacancies at outlying
points, even when such temporary
vacancies might be filled by man al
such local point
Recently on account of a shortage
OF men and heavy movement of
traffic on the Norfolk a Western ont
OF Williamson, w Va, II was neces.
sary TO send five machinists from
Blueileld, a distance OF iOl miles
Each OF these machinisis worked S
hours per day. first three days. for
which they We're each paid 72 hours
~ t!fnc and Ohc,haii fur "a hours
work, which gave TO each man ap-
proNimately S52 for no service per.
formed whatever, In addition To
S2a.92 paid for the q hours"
"lhg ~ PaB0 d Southwestern Ran.
road recently had an engluc set out
al Douglas, and about the time Il was
ready Ia go 10 its train II developed
that a window light was broken Ia
the cab, IS there were indications of
scyer" storm. the engineer insisted
on repairs being made There was
no engine carpenter ON duty nt that
time aud il was necessary for the
fircman to cnll ono To do the work
that he could have performed him.
self In few minutes. with the result
that the train was delayed one hour
and 30 minutes, and the cmployr
called tu do the work was paid 3
hours for work, requiring 30 minutes.
RuleH forbid the foreman doing tho
work"
An engine was placed In the shops
for certain repairs. Because Of the
provisions Of the National Agreement
II was necessary that members Of nNe
crafts perform parts Of this work.
Formerly. the entire operation was
performed iN .the members Of hut
two crafts.
How the rules 10 which the rail.