Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-05-10
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THE ;RAI II ADS and !
THEIR EMPLOYEES s n
Published by request of
B. Of L. Fl &. E. No. 95

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4 3. Of I. f S:E.: No. IS
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Punitive ovcrtime-Was It Forced up.
on the Railroads?
Representatives Of railroads, testi-
flying before the Senate Committee on
Interstate Commerce, the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Uni
ted States Railroad Labor Board, have
stated that punitive overtime was for
ced upon the railroads during Federal
control. ...
] John c. Walber, Secretary of the
Bureau of Information of the Eastern
Railroads. put forward by the Asso-
citation of Railroad Executives to test
ify as to the operation and results of
the labor policy Of the Railroad Ad-.
ministration, gave testimony tending
to show that the wage orders of the
Administration had imposed great and
unnecessary burdens upon the rail-
roads, particularly the Pennsylvania
and the Philadelphia and Reading
On page 537 of the Senate Hearings
he is quoted as having stated that pun
tive overtime rates were established
on these roads against the wishes Of
their, officials.
The facts, as they were developed
by William Gibbs McAdoo, former dir
ector general of railroads during Fed
eral control, in his testimony before
the Senate Committee on Interstate
- Commerce (February 2, 1922, directly
contradict this statement. They are:
CD When the railroads were taken
over by the Government great maj
GRITTY Of the first-cIass railroads were
making punitive overtime payments
to their employees.
icy The Railroad Administration,
through its Railroad Wage Commits
sion, made an extended investigation
Of punitive overtime, to determine the
ACCESSIBILITY of extending it to all car
riers under Federal control.
~ While this investigation was be-
Ing made, President Rae, Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, earnestly urged the
Railroad Administration to establish
punitive overtime on that system.
(4) President Rae urged in support
Of his demand for the establishment
Of punitive overtime that it was in
force on practically all railroads in the
great Eastern region with the excep-
ton. of the Philadelphia and Reading
and his own road.
z. %(5) That before the investigation
was completed, and without authority
from the Railroad Administration
(Which had refused Mr.. RAGS re.
quest), Regional Director A. n: Smith
(before and since Federal control
President of the New York Central
and one Of the chief spokesmen for
the railroad interests), gave permits
sion to Mr.. Rae to establish punitive
overtime on the Pennsylvania railroad
~ Railroads Don't Tell Truth
Mr.. McAdoo, replying directly tc
Mr.. Walber's testimony preferred tc
above) said:
"Mr. Walber failed to tell the Com
mlttee that time and half for over
time was granted by Regional Directoi
Smith president of the New York
Central before and since the termina
ton of Federal controD, without au
thority from the Railroad Administra
ton, At THE REQUEST OF PRESl
DENT RAE AND UPON THE REC
CONTAMINATION OF Mr.. WALBEF
HIMSELF" -.
Mr.. McAdoo presented to the Com
mittee correspondence bearing upo1
this subject. =
On March e., 1918, Mr.. Rae wrot,
to Regional Director Smith:
1--WE understand that the Contra
Railroad of New Jersey has recent.
adopted time and one-half time TO
overtime in their shops on account o
a recent arbitration award, so that il
this immediate territory IT WOULl
APPEAR THAT THE PHILADEL
PHIA AND READING AND oURsEL
YES ARE ABOUT THE ONLY
ROADS WHICH DO NOT PAY TIL
ADDITIONAL RATE FOR OVER
TIME IN SHOPS. This being GEN
ERAL CONDITION, and in the natur
Of wage agreement, before concet
ing their request, we bring it to you
attention for your advice, which W
would be very glad to receive"
DCOIII TC TI.II