The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-11
RAILROAD NEWS.
Engine Men Satisfied Over Re-
suit of Big Increase.
Over $4,000 Men Affected by
Recent Decision.
ARBITRATE DEMANDS.
Firsmen on 49 Roads Granted
so Per Cent. of Demands.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

Members Of the Brotherhood Of Lo-
connective Firemen and Enginemen on A
roads west of Chicago will benefit by
the decision of the federal board of ar
bitration handed down recently at Chi
cago who have been in cesSion there
some weeks taking testimony in the
wage controversy between the employ
ers and the employees. Over $1,000 men
are affected by the decision of the
board, including all of the locomotive
firemen employed out of this city on
both roads.
The arbitration board granted en-
ployes so per cent of their demands
for q 1914 per cent increase.
The men involved in the wage con-
troversy are members OF the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
gineers. Under the ruling of the arbi-
fFation board the wages of the men
vary with the different classes of SER
vice. Following are the increases an
nounced by the board:
B1remen-Main line and branch pas
senger service, increase 10 cents per
hundred miles or less.
F1remen = Through and irregular
freight, mixed work, wreck, gravel,
helper, pusher, snow plow and branch
service Except smallest type engines),
sncrease Of is cents per hundred miles
or less provided that on coal burning
engines fremen in this service shall re-
ceive additional increase of Is cents per
hundred miles or less.
On simple engines having cylinder "a
anches or over in diameter and on COM
pound engines weighing 215,000 pounds
or more on drivers, firemen shall re-
ceive not less than 1915 per hundred
miles or less; provided, that where
rate Is now paid on engines with cylin-
ders less than "a inches in diameter or
compound engines weighing less than
$4,000 pounds on drivers, in excess OF
S8.75 per one hundred miles or less there
shall be no increase.
Firenen-Local or freight service;
Increase Of 25 cents per 100 miles or
less, except on roads having eight hour
day twelve and a half miles per hour
basis.
Firemen-On smallest type engines.
81 per 100 miles or less in all classes
Of service.
Firemen-Yard service, increase of %
cents per day.
Switch engineers and engine dis
patchers, increase of 25 cents per day.
The hearing before the arbitration
Scores of witnesses testified regarding
the high cost of living. The railroads
opposed the increase on the ground
that they could not afford to meet it.
number of Frisco officials were
called before the board of mediators
to show cause why the demands Of the
firemen should not be granted. The
officials of the Frisco and other roads
affected were asked particularly re-
garding the cost of living and the ad-
vances within the last few years.
One OF the main arguments advanced
by the firemen was that the cost of the
necessarIes of life had increased to
such an extent that a raise of wages
was the only thing that would give
them relief. Clarence Darrow, who was
leading counsel for Haywood and Petit
bone in the great labor trial in the
west two years ago, represented the
hremen in the hearing.