Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-24
ENGINEERS AND
RAILROADS AT
lOGGERHEADS
WAGE DISPUTE REACHES GRIT
IcAL STAGE AND SUDDEN
BREAK IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
ARE EXPECTED AT ANY TIME.

Chicago, Dec. 23.-The wage dis
pute situation between the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and the
sixty-one western railroads today be-
came critical, and it was admitted IN
all quarters that a sudden break in
negotiations would not be entirely un-
expected.
There is only a slight difference be
tween the opposing sides on the wage
question, The engineers will arbitrate
this difference, but the railroads. 1t IS
said, now want the whole matter to go
to arbitration under the Erdman act.
United States Labor Commissioner
Charles P. Neill held conference
with the general managers committee
until midnight last night. At the close
he sent communication to Grand
Chief Warren 8. Stone of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers Offer-
ing arbitration in behalf of the rail-
roads.
Whether this will be accepted by
the men depends upon the conditions
the general managers are willing to
accept. Grand Chief Stone declared
that arbitration will not be considered
unless the present offer OF 91a per cent
increase and number OF rules cover
ing conditions of employment are al
lowed to stand. He added that an In
crease Of 10 per cent will not be con-
sidered by his committee as basis OF
settlement.
Get Nearer Open Break.
Arbitration will be accepted by the
engineers only on condition that the
difference between the offer of the
railroads and the Is per cent increase
demanded be the basis of arbitration
It. is understood that the dispute Is
nearer an open break than at any time
since the mediation conference began
last Saturday Commissioner Neill met
the engineers committee in two ses-
sions during the day. In spite of argu-
ments and pleadings advanced by him
the men remained firm.
Five Chief Points in Dispute.
The present deadlock is caused by
dispute over five principal points,
which are:
Rate of pay on Mallet type of en-
gines. Men now get $540 a day of 100
miles. They demand $S. The railroads
have offered $6.15.
Rate of pay on engines in the freight
transfer service in Chicago terminals.
Men now receive 81 day. They want
SIS and have been offered $3.50.
Rate of pay for preparatory time"
The, men demand that all time put in
by the engineers in preparing the loco
motive for the days run should be paid
for.
Pro rata pay for overtime. This de-
mand means that the men shall be
paid at regular rates for all time
worked after the days run is finished.
Jurisdiction over operators of gaso-
line motors. The engineers claim con-
troll over. all classes of power and In
sist that gasoline motor operators on
railroads shall be members OF the
brotherhood. The roads insist these
employees are not engineers.
Demand Wage Arbitration.
While the managers say there is
little danger of strike, Stone is en-
phatic in his stand that, although the
engineers fully recognize the effect OF
such a move, the are not willing to
give in one iota.
They are not willing to wipe the
slate clean on the wage increase ques-
ton, but want the matter arbitrated as
to whether they shall be granted the
91h per cent increase offered or the II
per cent demanded.
In regard to working conditions,
computation >of pay and jurisdictional
questions the engineers demand that
the concessions they have offered along
these lines be settled before arbitra-
ton proceedings are instituted.