Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
FIREMEN CONCLUDE TESTIMONY
BEFORE ARBITRATION BOARD
Road Will Probably Complete Its Testimony by Friday at Noon
and Decision Expected SaturdayMore Witnesses Declare
Negro Servceone Witness Says Only About Per
Cent of Negroes Employed Are Safe.

So far as introducing testimony is con-
cerned. the iremen rested their case al
IL O'Clock Thursday morning in the hear
ing before the arbitration board Of three
which is to decide the differences OF the
Order of Locomotive Enginemen and Fire
men and the Georgia road. The road put
its first witness upon the stand at the
beginning of the afternoon session. which
was opened at 2 o'clock. II the cross
examination is not too lengthy II viii
have completed it's testimony before the
close of the afternoon. 1t is believed that
In any event II will have rested its case
by the end of the morning session an Fri
day. II is probable that by Friday even
ing argument and testimony will have
been concluded and the board Will have
gene into executive session TO make its
decision.
The fireNen introduced about forty wit
nesses, the major portion Of whom are
fremen and engineers on the Georgia
road. The burden OF their testimony was
that the negro is incompetent as fire.
man. Many said that It is unsafe for
him to be put to use as fireman. The en-
deavor Of counsel for the firemen has
been to draw out the fact that the ne
gro. through unreliability and lack OF
intelligence and training, is a menace to
public safety when used at the employ
menf OF fireman. and that for that rea-
son should be eliminated from such en-
ployment
They have stressed the fact that the
position of fireman is important and that
its importance on the Georgia road is
moderated. Their contention as shown
in their testimony is that the fireman's
duties go further than merely shoveling
coal Part OF the session Thursday morn
ing was taken up in showing the high re-
gard in which fremen are held on roads
in the north and east.
Unless they have the privilege OF re-
buttal, the firemen will introduce no
further testimony. They will be granted
this privilege only in case the road al
lows its testimony to go beyond reply
and introduces new facts.
ROADS WITNESSES.
The first witness put upon the stand at
the afternoon session was John s. Cook,
master mechanic of the Georgia road.
About twelve witnesses will be introduced
by the road, all OF whom are railway Of
ficials When the road has completed its
testimony, argument will be heard from
counsel for both firemen and road. This
should not take over four hours.
The attitude OF Chancellor Barrow will
determine whether or not the arbitration
board will be long in arriving at a de-
cision. There is no hope that it WIFI be
unanimous. Congressman Hardw1ck will
stand with the firemen, Hon. Hilary A.
Herbert with the road The direction in
which Chancellor Barrow casts his favor
viii determine the nature Of the decision.
Practically everything rests with him. He
has so far given no indication of inclining
10 either side.
The session Thursday morning began
at -s~o,clock
E. j. Webb. former fireman, was put
up as witness. He said that in his opin-
ion about per cent OF the negro firemen
employed are safe. He gave It as his
opinion that so per cent are incompetent
RULES ARE READ.
Rules were read by Attorney Arnold
to show that on the Pennsylvania road
and other roads IN the north and east the
requirements of firemen are vastly great
er than in the south. He showed that
seniority governs on the Pennsylvania
road.
The road has entered the new defense
that the increase that has been made in
recent years in the size and weight OF
engines has rendered firing a work that
suits better with the endurance of the
negro than with the white man. Counsel
for the road is asking all witnesses IL
they do not think that a negro can better
endure the hard work of flremen than a
white man.
Rules governing hremen on the New
York Central road were read by Counsel
II. L. Dickson, OF the firemen. These
rules stipulate that hremen on the New
York Central shall pass a written and
oral examination at the end of their first
year Of employment and again at the end
Of the second year. Firemen who fail TO
pass both of these examinations are DROP
ped from the service of the road. Those
who make a record Of 80 per cent are
given diplomas.
ALLEGE INADEQUATE RULES
The plaintiff is endeavoring to impress
on the board that there are no adequate
rules in force on the Georgia road ia
regard to the use Of firemen. The effort
is being made to show that, while on
the Georgia road the fireman is consid-
cred as an unskilled and unimportant la
borer, he is held in the highest regard
on the larger roads OF the country
The rules read show that the fireman
in the north and east is not required
simply to DO the work OF stoker, but
is also required to read signals and to
answer to other duties necessitating intel
ligence and training
Rules obtaining on the Rock Island lines
were read by Mr.. Arnold. Examination
are held on those lines similar to the ex-
sminations on the New York Central
The high requirements Of fremen on the
Norfolk and Western was shown. In a
contract read, IL is stipulated that fire.
men on that road are to take the place
OF engineers in case Of emergency. This
contract showed that seniority prevails
on the Norfolk and Western, by which
the oldest fireman gets the best runs
Failure TO pass examinations however
results in a mans grade being reduced,
no matter what his length of service.
While Attorney Arnold was introducing
rules In force on the Erie road, he read
inJunctions as TO what must not be done.
QUERIES FROM CUMMING.
That shows that there are some poor
firemen on the Erie. does 1t not. Mr..
Arnold?' asked Major Cumming.
1T does" said Mr.. Arnold.
And only white 1remen are used on the
Erie7'
They are"
Then. there are some poor white as
well as negro hremen?'
we admit that" said Mr.. Arnold. but
our position is that are few poor white
firemen and few good negro"
Rule books OF the Burlington. Boston
and Maine. Chicago and Northwestern.
Kansas City Southern. New York, New
Haven and Hartford. and Santa Fe roads
were submitted as evidence showing the
high importance in which firemen on
these roads are held. II was said that
the rules on these roads are In substance