Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-30
MINIMUM WAGE
FOR ENGINEERS
$4,000 Locomotive Drivers
to Benefit.
AGAINST GENERAL INCREASE
Arbitrators Point Out Danger to Public
OF Strikes and Federal and State
Commission Suggested as Remedy.

Commission Suggested as Remedy.
Thirty thousand locomotive engi.
neers on hfiy-two eastern railroads
gain a partial victory in their demand
for more wages. under the award an
nounced by the board OF arbitration.
In its decision. however. the board
holds that the public. which had nc
voice in the controversy. and nc
choice but to abide BY the decision,
had more at stake than either cngi.
neers OF railroads. and the report
emphasizes the necessity OF plans &c
safeguard the public against the posi-
bility OF future strike. whose conse
quences II depicts in somber vein.
1T would be diflcult to exaggerate
the seriousness OF such a calamity.
reads the report. 1T is safe TO say
that the large cities OF the east would
find their supply Of many articles OF
food exhausted within a week. or sc
important a commodity as milk they
would have no more than days sup
ply II strike OF the character last
ed for only single week. the suffering
would be beyond our power OF descrip-
ton. The interests Of the public so far
exceed those OF the parties TO a con
troversy as to render the former para.
mount To this paramount interest
both the railroad operators and the
employees should submit.
To place such a strike beyond the
realms OF probability. the board advo
Gates the creation Of federal and state
wage commissions. These commits
sions. the board suggests should be
vested with practically the same pow
srs over organized labor as public
utilities commissions now Exercise
over quasi.public corporations.
1T is the belief Of tho board. con
tlnues the decision. that in the last
analysis the only solution Is to qualify
the principle OF free contract in the
railroad service"
From this suggestion p. II. Morris
sey. the representative OF the engi
neers on the board. dlssents.
While the award increases WAGE
on some railroads and for some lass
es OF service, II holds that a genera
increase on all roads is not warrant
ed, The award dates back to May !
last. and will hold for one year from
that dac
Mr. Morrissey. representing the en-
gineers. has already indicated doubt
rs to its renewal. In the past, Will
several notable exceptions. the con
tracts between the roads and the en-
gineels have been renewed annually
Following are the more impor ant
Of the boards awards and the requests
OF the engineers:
In passenger service. minimum
wage was granted Of Si25 for l0g
miles or less: and an overtime rate oil
80 cents per hour with an average
speed OF twenty miles per hour. The
engineers asked $40 and $3.50 pei
day OF 100 miles. according 10 the size
of the locomotive cylinder. with AM
overtime rate OF 10 cents per hour
after five hours
In through freight service a mini
mum was granted OF $475 per day oil
100 miles or loss, with overtime pro
rata after ten hours. The engineers
requested rates OF 1928 $3.50 and
1915 per day OF 100 miles. according
10 size OF the engine. and s. for Nal
let engines, the same rates to apply
to mine runs. work, wreck. helper OF
pusher. milk and circus trains
In local freight service. twenty Ave
cents additional TO the through freight
rates was granted This met the ful
request OF the engineers.
In switching service. minimum of
$40 day OF ten hours or less was
granted The engineers asked si.5C
per day OF ten hour. In switching ser
vice and for belt line service
All existing rates higher than the
minimum granted by the board are
continued in force.
In fixing the minimum wage In pas
sengsr service at s4.25 per day. al
higher minimum rate is established
for the roads. parties TO the arbitra
ton with the exception OF few
In awarding the minimum through
freight rate OF s4.75 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 twenty-five cents higher than
through freight service a general IN
crease OF compensation Is granted
The effect of the twenty.mile per
hour basis OF computing overtime inI
the passenger service. the rules re
garding final terminal delay and other
changes in the rules OF service are all
more favorable to the engineers than
existing rules on many OF the roads