The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1921-03-31
LOWER FREIGHT RATES
IMPERATIVE
But Reductions in Transports
ton Charges Depend on
Wage Adjustments.
Especial Correspondent, Boise)

Especial Correspondent, Boise)
The strongly expressed desire of
Idaho shippers for freight reductions,
has veered to a large measure Of CO.
operation in solving the problems up
on which rate reductions rest, notably
the wage situation. The advance in
rates was based ON an advance in
wages, the two going together, rep
resenting over $500, 900 900 in the ma
ton, but the railroad administration
during war time federal control put
into effect agreements Of q uniform
nature that have proven immensely
expensive. The national labor board
has been holding hearings on these
questions and serious study of the ev-
,idence is being given by Idaho ship
pers and others interested in this vi
tai subject. With both shippers and
railroads agreed that rate reductions
that would prove ruinous to the car
riers are desirable in the interest of
tonnage movements and general de-
velopment and prosperity, the mutual
consideration being given the elements
entering into any ultimate decision,
it is the conviction of leading author
tiles that nothing will be permitted
to stand in the way of fair official
adjustment.
The evidence adduced at the labor
board hearings is being carefully read
in Idaho and various bodies are !ex-
pected to express themselves so soon
as possible analysis as possible. One
of the interesting developments at
the hearings show that the wartime
agreements operate adversely because
of their lack of uniformity and elias
ITCHY, not being adaptable to the
widely variant conditions existing in
different parts of the country. The
urgency of modification of the wage
scale for common labor was also dis
closed in view Of the apparent neces-
sity of a parity in wages paid gener-
ally by other Industries and railroads.
Nothing was brought indicating that
the carriers advocated readjustment
Of wages paid skilled labor, although
q desire was set out for modification
of the wartime rules 80 rs to facili-
tate the movement Of traffic, provide
proper control and produce practical
efficiency.
The rules themselves were present
ed as showing necessary costs that
initiate against rate reductions. For
| example, under one rule covering con-
tinuous and called service, there was
cited an award to machinlst Tor
161k hours pay for work performed
during a spread of eight hours
Such cases, it was pointed out, were
numerous. Under another rule, COW
ering emergency road service, in one
case a company was compelled to pay
| four men a total of 112 hours, at 81
cents an hour each, or $75.04, for
work which would have occupied one
man 18 hours and IL minutes, which
at 81 cents an hour would have
Iamounted to 1920, a difference OF
1924. One car repairer was paid
$1,000 under one of these rules for
services never performed and the
Esfne amount of overtime was paid
lhis force. With storm in sight, an
Ienpineer insisted on repairs being
| made to a window light in his cab.
Under another rule it cost five hours
for what could have been done in 30
minutes besides the train was delayed
/ an hour and half This was due to
the restrictions as to who should per-
form that particular work.
"A leak in boiler, trivial matter,
under one rule called out three skill
ed men and three helpers whereas it
is claimed one man and helper could
do the work in the same time. The
mere matter Of adjusting headlight
called similar large service into play
under this rule Many hundreds OF
such cases were cited in detail. There
are 1872 of these rules, as reported by
Idaho shippers who have gone over
them. The enforcement Of these rules
has not only resulted in Inefficient
service to the public, as claimed, but
is known to have cost heavily. For
work not performed at all it was brot
out at the Chicago hearing the rail
roads paid $500 900 in six months
under the punitive payment rule.
The interest of shippers, as stated, IS
to aid in securing such equitable
changes as will affect rates down
ward