The New York herald., 1921-04-27
WHY 1T COSTS SO
TO RUN "A RAILROAD
"McAdoo Mechanics" Double
Pay for Sleeping and Won
derfuI Bonus Hours"

IHdMUeT OF IoWUcfCr uNd GHSpfi ca
unanimously By committee cosststtn0
OF L. p. Rerford Chamber OF Commerce
Traffic Bureau; J. n. hurn, president OF
tha SO. Louis-SGn Francisco Railrood;
W. p. Cldrkson, president OF the Mcnu-
lecturers Association; A. @. Luekist0,
vice-pressdent OF the Ely Walker Dry
Goods Company. and John n. Shepiey,
president OF the st. Loats Trust Con-
po,sy.
@. Is II true that under the present
classification rules of the Shop Crafts.
In order TO change q nozzle tip in the
front end OF a locomotive. II is neces-
sary to call a bollernisker and his helper
to open the door. because that is boiler
makers work: to call pipeman and
his helper to remove the blower pipe be-
cause that is pipemen's work, and to
call machinist and his helper to re-
move the tip. because that Is machinists'
work. also for the same force to be
employed for putting In the new tip?
A. Full compliance with the national
agreement requires the procedure out
lined in the question.
Q. Is 1t true that before Federal con-
troll a machinist's helper or handy man
could put in this nozzle tip alone?
A Yes, at number of points a ma
chinist and helper or machinist alone
would put in the nozzle tip, and at
larger points there were handy men
working for less rate OF pay than
regular mechanics who did steam pipe
work exclusively. handling all eteam
pipe work, including the changing OF
nozzle tips.
Q. Do similar classification rules exist
for all other shop work?
A. Yes. Prior to Federal control II
was not an uncommon practice for ma
chinist and his helper to take care Of all
of the work necessary on an electric
headlight OF a locomotive. Under the
national agreement the work Is so clas-
sifed as to distribute same among three
crafts, namely. machinists. sheet metal
workers and electricians. If each OF the
mechanics performing the work has
helper. this has the effect OF six men
performing a piece of work that could
be and was formerly taken care of by
two men.
9. Is It true that men working on
trucks. spring work and kindred occu-
pations, and paid before Federal con-
troll, handy mems or helpers wages, or
shade above common laborers pay, were
made mechanics by supplement No. 4,
issued by Mr.. McAdoo. and are now re-
ceiving So cents an hour, mechanics
pay?
A. Yes.
Q. Is it true that all OF these me-
chanics are referred to as "McAdoo
mechanics" because they were made me-
| chanics by the Director-G General OF Rail-
roads and not by experience?
A. Yes.
9. Is 1t true that men employed to
couple and uncouple hose between the
cars. not as difficult or hazardous q task
as hitching a span of mules, are now
classed as car men, receiving so cents
an hour. with time and one-half for
sundays and holidays. averaging about
S2l5 month for working seven hours
and forty minutes day?
| A. Yes.
@. Is Il true that before Federal
! control these same employees received
| from 28 to 81 cents an hour and
straight time for Sundays and holidays,
averaging about s96 month for a ten
hour day?
| a. Yes. to a certain extent
| Prevailing rate prior to Federal con-
troll on some railroads for car inspec-
tors in question was "a to 3s cents an
hour, with straight time for regular
SHIFT OF eleven hours and on punitive
time for Sunday or holiday work.
| 9. Is 1t true that when a wrecking
crew, usually consisting OF ten men.
called after its regular hours for a
stated job IN the yard, is assigned to
two other jobs. all of which Ia done In
seven hours, from start TO finish, these
men receive not less than fifteen hours
and possibly eighteen hours pay for
seven hours work. because the two last
jobs did not develop when the crew
was first called?
| A. Yes. The following illustrates
method OF paying a wrecking crew un-
der tho national agreement when per-
forming road service:
wrecking crew composed az six men
ieaNSs lss nome terninal at a. NJ, goes
distance OF fifty miles TO clear UP a
wreck work OF clearing main track Is
completed at 0 r. M: e;~w ties up for
sleep and rest from +. Nj. to "A. M.
next morning (wrecking outfit is equipped
with sleeping faciiitIes) resume duty
| a. NJ, pick up refuse and arrive at
home terminal p. M. Under the ma
tional agreement II is necessary 20 pay
tho entire crew continuously for the first
tweaty-four hours from tie time they
leave their home terminal. computed as
follows:
From A. NJ. to p. NJ. eight hours
straight time 4 r.. VI. 10 II midnight.
eight hours OF time and one-half, or
twelve hours.
| IL midnight to A. NJ, eight hours at
double time, or sixteen hours.
A. NJ. to +. NJ. six hours Mt
straight time.
Total OF forty-two hours paid. although
crew actually performed service from
IL noon 20 p VI. first day, six hours,
and from A. NJ. TO 10 a. NJ second
day. three hours. II will be noted actual
time worked during the entire period was
nine hours; balance OF the time was con-
sumed In waiting and travelling; and Il
will be further noted they were released
| entirely from p. M. TO A. NJ, during
which time they were paid at time and
one-half and double time while actually
off duty and sleeping.
Q. Is 1t true that II a mechanic Is
called after regular hours for a stated
Job, and Is assigned to two other Jobs
all Of which is done In seven hours. from
start TO finish. he would receive not less