The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-29
TAFT'S SCHEME
To Prevent the Passage of an
income Tax Now.
IS AN .ARTFUL DODGE

That Black and White Firemen Must
Receive the Same Pay for the
Same Work-It Denies the Senior.
ity of the White Firemen Over
the Negro Firemen.
The board Of arbitration appoint
ed to settle the trouble between the
Georgia Railroad and it's white fire
men, which met in Atlanta, Saturday
night decided against the seniority OF
white firemen over negroes. The arbi-
traitors, however, placed premium
on intelligence among firemen, which
it is believed, will ultimately result
in the gradual elimination of all
except the most expert negro fire
men.
The arbitration board was COM
posed of Hilary Herbert of Alaba-
ma, representing the Georgia rail-
road; Congressman Thomas Hard
wick of Georgia, representing the
firemen, and Chancellor David c.
Barrow of the Georgia university as
umpire. Their decision was worded
gradually and did not in any case
deal directly with the race problem.
Their most direct reference to the
senitoriy was in the words:
I'VE find against proposition c.
This proposition read: All fire.
men when hired shall be placed in
freight yards or hosting service and
senior white fremen shall! have pref
erence of engines and runs
The award made the pay of negro
/ ffiremen equal to that of whites. The
negroes have been receiving from
about 20 to so cents per day less
than whites.
The award was as follows:@
(a) The Georgia railroad. when
using negroes as locomotive firemen
on the road or in the yards, or as
hostlers, or as hostlers' helpers, shall
pay them the same wages as white
men in similar positions. Concur
ed in by Messrs. Herbert and Bar
row; Mr.. HardWick dissented.)
(b) Firemen in the line of pro-
motion to the position of engineer
shall have three years experience
before being promoted to the posit-
ion of engineer and shall be pro-
noted in the order of their seniority;
provided they are able to pass all
reasonable requirements and exami-
nations. If they refuse or fail to
pass the first examination they will
be reduced to freight runs without
losing their seniority, and the next
senior man in trun will be called
on pass. Failing on the second en-
animation the employe will be reduc-
ed to the bottom Of the extra list or
disposed of as the company desires.
Firemen now in the service who are
physically incapacitated for service
will not be subject to this rule
When Gfren1cn are, promoted to. the
position OF engineer, they shall be
given certificate of promotion
signed by the engineer. (Concurred
In by all three arbitrators.) The
decision against proposition c was
nv Herbert and Barrow, with Hard.
wick favoring it.
(d) This proposition covered only
minor points in dispute and was
concurred in by all the arbitrators
(e) In assigning vacancies to fire.
men seniority alone shall not con-
troll. though it may be considered
in connection with the efficiency ;,hd
with the necessity. where ii exists
of giving experience to candidate!
..rr p-rno.iun to the pos ION OF el:'
gineer. (Concurred in by all ar
hitrators)
Mr.. Hardwick in a dissenting opin,
ion from proposition \, fixing na
croes wages the same as those OF
whites, said:
"In so far as the above finding
permits the continued employment oI
negro fremen, dissent, because.
believe from the evidence that SUE!
employment is a menace to the safety
of the travelling public. In so tai
as such finding required that wher
negroes are so employed, they shai
receive wages equal TO those pac
white men. | concur, believing tha'
such requirement by removing the
principal incentive TO their employ
ment will result in the speedy cllmi
nation of this cheaper labor and
consequent Improvement Of the Serr
ice"
The arhitra,ors reached theiI
decision after about thre" hours
conference. but it required lont
time to draw up the agreement
Arguments in the case were he
gun Saturday before the arbitration
board which is to settle the strike.
II. l.. Dickson. general counsel fo1
the brotherhood Of LocOmotiv" Fire
mon and Enginemen. declared tina
this is white mans country ant
that the negro is a mcnac" to ta'
safety OF the travelling public whel