The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-05
NO STRIKE ON THE
 WESTERN ROADS Controversies With Conductors and Trainmen Adjusted MEN GAIN 9-H0UR DEMAND Agreement Is Reached Through Ef- forts of the Government Officials,
 Chairman Knapp and Com
 missioner Neill.
MEN GAIN 9-HOUR DEMAND

Cnlcago, AprH 4.--lne ohepcnce pe- tween the western railroads and the members of the orders of conductors and brotherhood and trainmen were fully ad- l justed today The men gained their de- mand for nine-hour work day and the | railroads made an advance over their previous propositions in the pay of bag gagemen of $7.5O per month, and fagmen and brakemen of $50 per month The original demand of the men was for an increase of 12 per cent and for a working day of nine hours. The managers offered an increase of 10 per cent and declined to grant the nine-hour day
 1 The agreement was reached mainly through the efforts of Chairman Knapp of the interstate commerce commission and ! Chairman Neill of the United States labor commission. They formulated the final proposition on which both sides were brought together and the final adjustment was chiefly due to their labors.
 The new agreement which-goes into eff feet on April l of this year follows
 Pay Increased. The pay of conductors in the passenger service to be increased Sl0 per month; ; that of baggagemen $7,5O and that of hagmen and brakemen $6.5O per month as applied to the schedules in effect November l. 1906. The railroads are not to make any reduction in crews or n- creases in mileage for the purpose of onsetting the increase given the passen- ger trainmen.
 Over time in the passenger service to be allowed on the basis of fifteen miles per hour to be computed for each part of the run separately. This to be based on the same schedule for leaving; or if they are called. from the time hey are due to leave, to the time when they are relieved from the train. The pay to be 80 cents per hour for conductors, 23 cents for baggagemen, fagmen and brakemen. Thirty minutes or less is not 10 be counted over thirty minutes to count as one hour The pay of conductors and brakemen. in through interior freight local freight and mixed train service to 1 be 10 per cent over the rates of pay in November, 1906. One hundred miles or l less ten hours or less to constitute 6 day and interior freight, local freight and mixed train service.
 Exception to Be Raised. ] Overtime to be paid pro rata in through and interior freight scervice except when the schedule time of the train is used as ! q basis the present hourly overtime rate plus the ratio of increase granted by this agreement Is to be paid The exception above mentioned Is to be subject to revision later.
 Overtime to be paid pro rata in local freight and mixed train service except when a schedule time is used as a basis . t..,, the ratio of increase granted in this agree ment is to be paid This exception Is also subject to revision.
 One hundred miles or less, ten hours or less, are to constitute q days work in helper, "pusher" and construction train service, overtime to be paid pro rata.
 Roads on q ten-hour basis or less than ten hours for day In helper or con struction train service on November l. .1906, are to increase by 10 per cent the rates paid for such service.
 Roads on q basis of more than ten hours for day in helper or construction serv- ice are to make to increase in the rates paid for such service.
 The increases granted in the agreement are to apply also to rates for special serv- ices specified in the individual sche- dules.
 Upon roads having better basis for a days work, or for payment of over time, or other allowances, in all branches of train service, the acceptance of this agreement is not to act as a reduction.
 In his letter to the general manager and to the chiefs of the two organizations, Commissioners Knapp and Nell paid a high compliment to the spirit of fairness in which the differences between the rail- roads and their employees had been treated on both sides.
 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire men were also granted today an increase of 10 per cent.