The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-21
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.

An Interesting Session-ChicfA Arthur
ofthe brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers Observation-Disclosures OBJ
Scrvations.
WASHINGTON, April 2O.-.The indus
trial commission to-day heard state
ments from P. N. Arthur, chief Of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers,
and p. ]. Mcclure. secretary OF the
organization OF Carpenters and Joiners
Of America. y
Chief Arthur covered much Of the
ground heretofore gone over by f. E.
Clark, of the railway conductors order.
In addition he described the status OF
the locomotive engineers as quite satIs-
factory In most respects, both as to
the organization and relations with the
railway companies. His order has writ
ten agreements with 30 per cent OF the
railways. as to the conditions OF work.
Strikes have been severe and generally
successful In the past. but are on the
decre2se. Their strike fund has not
Deen touched FOR several years, and
now amounts to 100000 Two other
penses and the other for the relief OF
widows and orphans. or the latter
$4,000 was disbursed last year. The In
surance feature of the order was I'm
portant, $4,000 having been paid on this
account. The men took pride In their
own Insurance Institution, but had no
prejudice against insurance institu-
tions established by the railroad com.
panles when membership In these was
not compulsory.
The pay OF engineers was about the
same as for the past fifteen years. but
the added purchasing power of the dol
lar made 1t practically larger.
Certain practices of the railroads In
putting age limits to employment and
In enforcing extra severe physical eX-
aminntions. were not approved by the
Brotherhood, but the strength of the
organization made the railway compan-
les reasonably considernte in dealing
with Its members.
Mr.. Arthur said that 20 per cent of
the 10000 locomotive engineers OF the
country belonged to the Brotherhood,
The order was strict In maintaining a
high standard Of morals and efficiency
discharginS In one year 172 members
for cause. This evidence of desire
to furnish only high class men made
| all the railroads look with considerable
| favor on the order.
AT the afternoon session Mr.. Mcclure
said the carpenters and joiners' organ
ization had been known and more or
less dreaded as u striking organiZatin
because 1t was chosen by the Fedora
tion of Labor to inaugurate the great
strikes for the eight-hour day from
1882 to 1887. Since 1883. Mr.. Mcclure
said. the carpenters had participated
In 1925 strikes, had won 99S. compro-
missed G7 and lost G1. The necessity
for striking had decreased, owing to
the strength and determination OF the
organization. In the past three years
they had struck only So times, losing
| twice, winning 6i times and compromise
ing {.
Computed In purchasing power. the
carpenters wages were 30 to 40 per cent
higher than thirty years ngo. The So
Cial conditions of the workers. as a
rule, had improved in the large centers
They lived better. In better houses, and
wore better clothes. Still there was
! 4 fierce struggle for existence In the
business Improved machinery had
replaced hand labor. throwing an i'm
| License nunberaof men out of work, and
| employment was so Irregular that men
were forced to move frequently to keep
in touch with work. and In the of sea-
sons hau 10 seek other employment.
Child, labor and unrestricted immigra-
ton, he regarded us the two great evils
yithe labor world, and he was in ia
vor of well considered, but decided, re-
strlction In both cases.
He had tried cooperation. and was
well satisfied that 1t was impossible
under present conditions. Profit shnr-
Ing he regarded as a makeshlft device
for settling the problem Of labor the
ultimate solution OF which he thought
was still beyond the grasp of men.