The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-08
ROADS
ARE THREATENED.
They May Be Tied I'd
by Strike Of En-
gineers.
VOTE TO QUIT
WILL BE IA KEN
Lines West, South and North
of Chicsgo Affected by Failing
to Meet Demand Of Men for
More Wages and I'm
proved Working
Conditions.

Chicago. November IA strike vote
will be taken among engineers of sixty
one railroads, west, south and north Of
Chicago, including the Illinois Central,
following t!ie termination to-day Of
the negotiations between the roads and
grand officers of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. which has been
in session since September 20. Differ
ence in wage increases OF approximate
.ly per cent, and alteration of work
ing conditions stood between the nego-
iatorss
Grand Chief Warren S. stone, of. the
brotherhood. who has been leading the
railroad men in their demands, said
tonight that he believed the strike
vote would be unanimously in favor of
suspension of work, and that the en-
ginemen would have expressed their de-
sire by December 10. Immediately
thereafter, he said, last opportunity
would be given the railroads to meet
the workers. and ii they ignored that
opportunity within FIVE hours every
engine west of Chicago, on all branches
OF service gould be stiiled.
Decision of Enginemen.
The whole question arose from the
decision of the enginemen themselves
in convention at Detroit. Mich, lasi
spring. In three weeks session II
was decided that the existing wage
scale, in effect since February, 1907
was unsatisfactory and that working
conditions had been imposed by rail-
roads which should be eliminated. The
grand officers were named 10 meet the
railroads and present the demands.
The general working conditions OF
which the engine drivers complain ir-
cluds, among other things. the follow
ing:
Drivers OF the Mallet compound en-
gines, which do practically the work
of two engines, and entail a corresponds
tngly greater responsibility and capa,
biltty. receive the same wages as cthar
drivers of high power engines of much
lesser capacity.
Engineers wish to be relieved of tha
toll of preparing their engines for
travel and of caring for them after
runs.
Switching time should be paid for on
a different basis.
The magnitude of the wage question
is evidenced by statement that the
a per cent. wage difference now stand
ing between the drivers and the rail-
roads means approximately s2,S0o,0OC
a year. The cost of alterations of the
working conditions, minor considera.
tions in the conference. would be less
than 100000. 1t was asserted.
Could Not Concede 1t.
when the conferences began said
Chairman w. B. Scott, Of the confer.
ence committee, ''the engineers de-
mands approximated "a per cent In.
crease. This finally was brought dowr
to II per cent. We finally agreed to a
10 per cent. increase. totaling s3,S40,00t
for the slxty-one roads we represent
and here we both stuck. The $685..
300 increase they stuck for was more
than we could concede."
Later it was made clear that TIL,
roads. which are parties to the wag,
conference did not include all -line!
west of Chicago. but the chief road
west. south and north, and from For
Williams west in Canada. excepting
the Wabash lines and several mino
systems. This wage increase demant
OF the engineers was referred to by rep
res entatlves of the railroads before tn
Interstate Commerce Commission I,
Chicago recently as one of the reason
why higher freight rates ought to b
charged by the railroads In view o
this. the sudden cessation of confer
ences between the enginemen and tn
roads to-day caused considerable sur
prise, since before the Commerce Com
mission the roads used the fullGfigure
of the enginemen's demands-27 pc
cent. iscrease-as basis for rate ar
I igument.