Montana labor news., 1932-05-19
WORKERS DECLARE REFORM IS
NEEDED TO REVIVE INDUSTRY

The plea for a six-hour day for rail workers as officially laid before
the country last Wednesday with the Standard Railroad Labor organiza-
lions sponsoring the proposal and the carriers registering their objections.
obeying n order of Congress, the Interstate Commerce Commission
opened hearings to learn, if possible, from workers m the on side and
management OF the other, what would be the result If applying the pro-
posed reform to the railroad industry.
The hearings are in charge of Division Six of the l. c. c.; Commissioner
Joseph E. Eastman, chairman, with Commissioners Frank McManamy and
William E. Lee.
Sessions began in the main hearing room on the top floor of the l. c c.
building; a great, uncomfortable barn of a place, with windows OIL three
sides o that the sitting Commissioners must look straight into the light
poor acoustics, and a temperature that ranges from a little above freezing
to a little below boiling.
Hearing Draws Crowds
Wednesday the room wa fairly comfortable, and jammed to the doors.
Every seat was taken, and at one time 40 or so men were standing around
the walls, with half as many more waiting in the anteroom.
Chief executives and other representatives of all the 81 Standard Railroad
alert and faces serious IS they consulted from time to time with David B
Robertson, chairman of the Railway Labor Executives Association, and
Donald R. Richberg, their attorney.
One and all were very much on the job. They know that this is one of
the greatest cases in economic history; and they are determined that the
workers. interests shall be safeguarded in every particular.
The carriers were equally well represented with platOOns of lawyers
officials and economic "sharps"
Railroads Lead Off.
Mr. Aronson opened the proceedings.
@ou studies indicate" he said, "hat adoption of the principle of the
six-hou day will increase the payrols of Glass carriers about % per
cent. Applied to the year 1880, that increase would have been in excess
of seooOOoOo0, and weald have resulted in failure to meet fixed charges
by about $lOOOOOOOO"
Railroad counsel indicated that he thought the taking of testimony should
begin at once. Mr. Richberg had other ideas, and made a extended state
Employment Main Issue.
He commended that employment" W as the chief thing in mind of Congress
when the resolution ordering the present inquiry was passed. He explained
that the rail workers have n thought of demanding a rigid rule to restrict
employment to six hours a day in all classes of railroad labor.
1--WE define the principle of the six-hour day" said Mr.. Rehberg, "as
envisaging livelihood to the worker IS the product of substantially six
hours work per day for each working day, with recognition of the fact
that in many instances, existing and future conditions may require, AS
THE PRACTICAL MEANS OF APPLYING THIS PRINCIPLE, a different
allotment of time in each work week or work month than the mathematical
allotment of six hours of each work day."
In other words, a fve-day week in son railroad occupations, o a lin
tied number of days per month in others, might be adopted a a practical
application of the principle of the six-hom day.
1.-THE principle of the six-hour day" said Mr. Richberg, "s based upon
two widespread beliefs:
First, that it is necessary in order to provide employment for all who
must be ganfuny employed if we are to maintain national prosperity, to
shorten the hours of wage earning labor; and, second, that a better stand
ard of living car be obtained for the great masses of the people by this
shortening"
Mr.. Rchbgg went Oh to say, a the Railway Labor Executives had
said in their statement printed OF page A of this issue of LABOR, that
capital can only be cur when labor is provided with steady employment
Workers Come First.
The primary purpose of industry is to furnish a livelihood to the indus
tnous" declared Mr.. Richberg.
when a cobbler makes a pair of shoes, n o ne assumes that he engages
in the occupation to satisfy a craving of his felow-men. He may and
should desire to make good shoes; BUT HE GOES TO WORK TO EARN
A LIVING. So does everyone who is not supported by someone else.
"a corporation, a industrial enterprise, is only a medium for the CO.
operation of many men in working for a living. AN ENTERPRISE IS
NOT A SUCCESS IF IT FAILS TO PROVIDE A LIVELIHOOD FOR
THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN IT.
Involves All Problems.
eve must solve the problem of unemployment as a prerequisite to sov-
ing all other economic and political problems, and the problems of unem-
ployment a be solved only by shortening the hours of labor"
The first witness for the carriers, John G Walber, vice president in
charge of personnel of the New York Central, gave a summary of the
methods by which the railroads have tried to find the effect of the six
hour day. He said that the reform would require the changing of many
working rules; but added that this a true when the eighthour day was
adopted, and he testified that the labor organizations were reasonable on
that occasion.
Carriers Views Given.
George J. Ray, chief engineer of the Lackawanna, gave the first de-
tailed estimate of the effect of the sx-hour day-from the carriers point
of view, and presented figures from 2S railroads operating in eastern ter
rtory.
In 1880 these roads employed on IN average 100000 men in maintenance
Of way and signal work and paid them a total Of $lssSoeOoo.
Under the six-hour day, he said, it would require $4,000 men to do the
sam work, at a pay of $176O49O0O, o al increase in numbers of 296l
per cent and a gain in payroll of 80 percent
Robert F. Fairies presented a gloomy detailed picture of what would
the Pennsylvania if the six-hour day we're adopted. Instead of trying to-
spread the work over the year, they would keep a minimum force in winter
SWIFT