The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Threatened Strike Is Averted ThTOughEffortSOf Charles
 ?. NGiIl
EMPLOYES OF RAILROADS
 YIELD AFTER CONFERENCE
erb0Od of Locomotive Engineers Explains Position of the
 Employees

Chicago. December 24.--(Special)-- Four million dollars increase in wages was granted today to the locomotive engineers by 61 western railroads. This is an average advance of Sf0.19 month- ly 10 32,1s0 men, or an increase of l0.3 per cent on the pay rolls of the roads involved. Peace between the en- gineers and railroads Is now assured for several years to come.
 The Brotherhood of Railroad Train men and the Order of Railway Con- ductors have asked for an increase for 75,o00 members on the same lines and 1t is understood the railroads are will Ing to grant an advance aggregating nearly $5000.000. The controversy will be settled Tuesday as it is admitted there are no serious difficulties be- tween these two organizations and the general managers.
 The sch hedule given the engineers provides for these advances:
 Engineers on Mallet engines will be paid $1 more per 100 miles on heavy Mallets and 75 cents on the smaller eers on passenger, suburban passenger
 
 blow work and mixed trains, 40 cents more per 100 miles. A differential on s5 cents Is given engineers on way freight trains besides the 40 cents pro- vided for the others. This makes an advance of 65 cents on way freight engines. All switching and transfer engineers will be paid 50 cents a day more. The demand of the engineers for preparatory and new method of com putting overtime was dropped by the employees.
 United States Commissioner of Labor Nell brought about the settlement.
 After both the engineers and general managers had refused to make any concessions the government mediator prepared a statement and presented it to both sides. with the ultimatum that 1t was the last he would present The general managers, after some discuss sion, assented to the proposition and tier in the day the general managers committee. headed by ". B. Scott of the Union Pacific lines, met and signed the agreement.
 In a letter to United States Labor Commissioner Charles r. Neill. who as mediator under the Erdman act. brought the settlement out of what seemed d sure disagreement. Grand Chief Engineer Stone of the brother hood said the reason for accepting the terms offered was the suffering and loss which would attend a general west ern strike.
 Numerous specific working conditions are improved by the agreement signed late today and engineers are given con trol of electric and gasoline motor cars used as locomotives, with an increase of 50 cents R day In present wages. Hostlers under the protection of the engineers get an increase of 25 cents day The new rate Is effective with the | signature of the agreement today. | Warren s. Stone. grand chief engi- neer, wrote Mediator Nell in part as follows:
 After thoroughly considering the proposal and the question in it's en- tirety, we are of the opinion the offer will not yield the engineers compensa- ton commensurate with the service performed. and 1t isnwith extreme re- luctance we inform you 1t will be ac- ceptcd.
 Tn this connection we are prompted to accept the proposition through the influence of yourself and a desire on our part to avert a calamity that would bring suffering and loss on a large number of people who are not parties to this controversy"
 Asked for an interview on the settle ment, MT. Stone replied: My whole statement can be found in the letter. We had in mind the suffer ing 1t would entail if we struck, and we are not so selfish to use it as d means of personal gain. We have thought of the country and settled, that's all"