The Detroit times., 1912-11-25
ENGINEERS ON
EASTERN ROADS
SCORE VICTORY
Minimum Wage Increase for
10000 is Outcome Of
Arbitration
FIFTY-TWO RAILROADS
AFFECTED BY FINDING
Other Employees of Roads Are
Expected to Follow With
Demands

! WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The
board OF arbitration between 50 east
ern railroads and their 10000 locomo-
tive engineers ia Its award, made pub
lie Sunday. does not grant all OF the
engineers demands. but establishes
minimum wages, which amount 10
substantial increase on most OF the
roads.
The award probably brings the 52
railroads OF the east face to face with
demands for increases by the firemen
and other employees
| The board found that on anne roads
6nd for certain classes OF service, the
compensation was too small and there
| fore introduced into the award the
principle of a minimum wage for the
entire district The award, which
dates back TO May l last, and will
stand for one year, settles the most
important American labor dispute sub
mitted 20 arbitration since the an
thracite coal strike I'm 1902
The board suggests the creation OF
federal and stage wage commissions
which shall exercise functions regard
ing labor engaged upon public utilities
analogous to those exercised with re-
gard TO capital by the public service
commissions already in existence. The
representative or the engineers on the
board p H. Morrissey. dissented from
this suggestion, which, he said, in its
effect virtually meant compulsory ar
/ ~ nd mi ~
able.
Following are the more important
OF the boards awards and the re.
quests OF the engineers:
In passenger service a minimum
wage was granted OF $425 for 100
miles OF less: and an overtime rate
OF 90 cents per hour. with an average
speed OF 20 miles per hour. The, en-
gineers asked $40 and $3.50 per day
of 100 miles. according to the size or
the locomotive cylinder, with an over
| time rate OF 10 cents per hour after
| five hours.
In through freight service a mini
mum was granted Of s4.75 per day OF
| 100 miles or less. with overtime pro
rata after 10 hours. The engineers
requested rates OF s5.25. $500 and
1915 per day OF 100 miles, according
to size OF the engine; and 81 for Nal
lett engines: the same rates TO apply
to mine runs, work, wreck. helper or
pusher, milk and circus trains.
/ For local freight service % cents
| additional To the through freight rates
was granted. This met the full re-
| quest of the engineers.
In switching service a minimum OF
$40 per day OF 10 hours or less was
granted. The engineers asked $3.50
per day OF 10 hours In switching ser
vice and for belt line service.
All existing rates higher than the
minima granted by the board are con-
tinued in force.
In fixing the minimum wage in pas
senger service at $425 per day, a
higher minimum rate Is established
for the roads parties to the arbitra.
| ton with the exception of a few.
In awarding the minimum through
| freight rate of $475 per day, the
board establishes wages for the dis.
trict that measurably approach the
current minimum of roads now paying
the better rates.
In making the rate for local freight
service 20 cents higher than through
freight service, general increase or
compensation Is granted.
The effect OF the 20-mile per hour
basis OF computing overtime. In the
passenger service, the rules regard
ing final terminal delay, and other
changes in the rules of service are all
more favorable TO the engineers thsh
existing rules on many OF the roads
Warren S. Stone, grand chief Of the
brotherhood of Loo /iotive Engineers,
said, regarding the commission
award:
II have no comment 10 make on
the fairness or unfairness OF the de-
lcision. It speaks for Itself. On April
%. last. we signed articles OF arbitra-
ton and agreed absolutely TO stand
! by whatever decision was rendered
by the board. will say that |. per-
sonally am satisfied, and that the d.
rections will be put into effect ~
once
THE decision is far-reaching and
will effect thousands OF engineers. IL
dates back to May 1, and the increase
in pay will OF course, date from the
same time, thus assuring an increase
OF seven months back pay.
Under the conditions" said MI
Stone. that we consented TO arbltra-
ton OF the matter which, OF course
Affects the whole country. there Is
nothing for us to do but TO accept
the findings OF the body. This, We
do, cheerfully and will take steps az
once 10 put the decision into effect.
The decision affects about $1,000
engineers on the 81 railroads east
OF the Mississippi. BY its terms the
engineers are granted s4.25 for hun
dred miles or less. and so cents an
hour for over time. The engineers
had asked for $40 to $3.50 hun
dred miles. In the through freight
service they were awarded S4.75 a
hundred miles In local freight ser
vice they were awarded % cents ad-
ditionaI. meeting full demand& OF the
engineers for this branch OF service.
MOTHER OF TRIPLETS