Number of cases held up or covering which additional data has been requested (Nos. 194, 274, 279, 297, 312, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 322, 327, 329, and 331)...

Number of cases on docket under General Order No. 27.

Number of cases on which recommendations have been made..

Number of cases held to determine jurisdiction..

NOVEMBER 30, 1918.

RAILWAY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT NO. 2.

This board was established in accordance with the understanding reached in General Order No. 29, dated May 31, between the Regional Directors representing the railways which may have, or may hereafter have agreements with the International Association of Machinists, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America, International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and Helpers, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America, Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers' International Alliance, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the officers of those crafts.

The Director General of Railroads issued a circular dated June 21, 1918, on the organization of this board.

The first meeting of the board was held in Washington on June 21, with the following gentlemen present, representing the various railways and crafts:

Mr. A. C. Adams, superintendent of shops, Readville, Mass., New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

Mr. H. J. Carr, member chief executive board representing International Association of Machinists

Mr. Otto E. Hoard, vice president, Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers' International Alliance.

Mr. F. H. Knight, acting president, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America. Mr. W. S. Murrian, ex-superintendent motive power, Southern Railway.

Mr. F. J. McNulty, international president, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who was elected vice chairman.

Mr. W. H. Penrith, assistant general manager, Chicago & Alton Railroad.

Mr. E. F. Potter, assistant to general manager, Soo Line Railroad, who was elected chairman.

Mr. G. W. Pring, vice president, Railway Employees' Department, American Federation of Labor, representing International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America.

Mr. E. A. Sweeley, master car builder, Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

Mr. R. J. Turnbull, inspector of transportation, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Mr. G. C. Van Dornes, general vice president, International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths and helpers.

Mr. McNulty on August 19 advised the board that he would be temporarily absent in Europe on Government work, and Mr. G. M. Bugniazet, vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was appointed to act in his stead as a member

of the board during his absence; Mr. G. W. Pring being elected acting vice chairman in the absence of Mr. McNulty.

Regular meetings of the board began on Tuesday, July 2, 1918, and have been held practically continuously from that date.

The board to date has had 147 controversies presented to it for adjustment and has rendered 128 decisions. The board has been obliged to hold up some of the cases pending decisions of the Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions, and others pending further information from the parties to the controversies.

In addition to the controversies above referred to, the board has had considerable correspondence both with the railways and the crafts, endeavoring to guide them right in the presentation of matters which would properly come before this board, there seemingly having been more or less misunderstanding on the part of both the railways and the crafts as to how the controversies should be properly submitted. At this date there seems to be a better understanding on the part of both the railways and the crafts, and the controversies are reaching us in very much better shape.

The decisions of this board are based on the orders of the Director General of Railroads and agreements between the crafts and the railroads, and as almost every railroad had a different agreement with the crafts on their respective lines it was necessary for this board to make a careful collection and compilation of the agreements in force on the various railroads.

While much time has been expended in considering some of these controversies, it is felt that on the whole it was well spent, and, so far as the board is aware, its decisions, taken as a whole, have met with the approval of both the railroads and the crafts.

It is further felt that the creation of this board has had a stabilizing effect as between the railway employees and railway employers.

During the first two months of the existence of this board the controversies were slow in reaching the board, owing to the fact that all concerned had not yet become familiar with the manner in which these matters should be submitted.

RAILWAY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT NO. 3.

General Order No. 53 created Railway Board of Adjustment No. 3 under date of November 13, 1918. The board was organized in accordance with the order, consisting of the following members:

Mr. H. A. Kennedy (chairman), terminal manager, Twin Cities.

Mr. T. H. Gerrey (vice chairman), vice president Brotherhood of United Mainte nance of Way Employees.

Mr. S. N. Harrison, receiver, Wisconsin & Michigan Railroad.

Mr. F. Hartenstien, superintendent Washington Terminal.

Mr. E. A. Gould, formerly general manager Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail

way.

Mr. G. E. Kipp, vice president, Order of Railroad Telegraphers.

Mr. W. A. Titus, vice president, Switchmen's Union.

Mr. Richard P. Dee, vice grand president, Brotherhood of Railway Clerks.

But one case has been submitted to the board, upon which no action has been taken (Dec. 1, 1918) due to additional information being required.

WOMEN'S SERVICE SECTION, SEPTEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 1, 1918.

This section was created August 28, with Miss Pauline Goldmark as manager, to "give consideration to conditions of employment of women on railroads under Federal control."

In view of the growing importance of women in the railroad service and the diverse problems which follow their introduction in a new field of industry, it was deemed advisable to create this special agency. For the first time women were entering new occupations side by side with men, and it was important to determine whether such work was suited to their strength and aptitudes, or whether it was too heavy or performed under undesirable conditions. If this proved to be the case, then it would be necessary to discontinue their employment in certain occupations and to transfer them to other more suitable fields. Moreover, there was need of more careful provision of the comfort facilities which were often overlooked when women took the place of men. And finally, it was important to insure observance of wage orders giving women the same rate of pay as men for the same class of work.

NUMBER OF WOMEN EMPLOYED IN THE RAILROAD SERVICE.

The first statistics of the number of women employed in the railroad service were collected as of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, and showed the following increases:

TABLE I.-Number of women employed by the railroads according to territory.

Further classification according to occupations follows:

TABLE II 1.—Number of women employed by the railroads according to character of

occupation.
[First-class roads.]

SUMMARY OF EASTERN, SOUTHERN, AND WESTERN TERRITORY, 1918.

1 Further subdivisions of this table appear as Appendix 1.

The greatest number, as might be expected, are employed in the clerical and semiclerical occupations. Of the 101,296 employed October 1, 1918, 73,285 were working as clerks of all kinds, stenographers, accountants, comptometer operators, etc. In this class are employed for the first time numerous ticket sellers and bureau of information clerks. They were found well fitted for this type of work, and special instruction agencies were opened by the Government in several cities to give them the necessary training.

The next largest group of 5,555 appears in woman's traditional occupation of cleaning. They clean stations, offices, etc., and are employed in the yards to clean coaches and Pullman cars, both inside and outside. For the first time, beginning about a year and a half ago, they were engaged to do the heavier work of wiping locomotives in the roundhouse. These engine wipers increased from 215 in January to 881 in October. Roundhouse work of all kinds employed 354 January 1 and 1,365 October 1.

In personal service, including work in dining rooms and kitchens as matrons, janitresses, laundresses, and hospital nurses, there were 2,796 employed October 1.

In railroad shops, women entered the greatest variety of new occupations. Approximately 5,000 were employed, ranging from common laborers to skilled mechanics, earning the machinist's or carmen's rate of pay.

Only 100 women were found in actual train service.

WIDE RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS.

The variety of occupations is surprising. One of the railroads reports the employment of women in 99 different positions.

The following list covers in general the occupations in which women are employed outside the clerical and semiclerical and common labor:

Turntable operators.

Packers of journal boxes.

Attendants in tool rooms and storerooms.

Telegraphers and telephoners in block-signal work (including interlocking

switches).

Lever women in signal towers.

Checkers in freight houses.
Car clerks.

Operators on bolt-threading machines.
Operators on nut-tapping machines.
Operators on car-bearing machines.
Operators on turret lathes.

Operators on angle-cock grinders.

Hammer operators.

Crane operators.

Air-brake cleaners, repairers, and testers.

Electric welders.

Oxy-acetylene cutters and welders.

Core makers.

ORGANIZATION OF THE WOMEN'S SERVICE SECTION.

In order to get first-hand information as to actual conditions under which women were working, four field agents were appointed on the staff of the Women's Service Section (Miss Rose Yates, Massachusetts; Miss Edith R. Hall, New York; Miss Helen Ross, Missouri; and Miss Florence E. Clark, Indiana). They were engaged early in October and have been occupied approximately six weeks in making field inspections.

The general directions for the employment of women were given in General Order No. 27, Article V, as follows: (1) That where women are employed "their working conditions must be healthful and fitted to their needs"; (2) that "the laws enacted for the government of their employment must be observed"; and (3) "their pay, when they do the same class of work as men, shall be the same as that of men." To insure that these general directions are being observed by the railroads is the special function of the Women's Service Section. The scope of its work, therefore, includes supervision of all the factors affecting the industrial welfare of the women employees.

The field agents are reporting on the exact character of labor required, the suitability of the work, and the environment, including