New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-25
Engineers Get General Wage
Advance and Better Condi-
tionS in Decision OF Board
of Arbitration.
P. H. MORRISSEY DISSENTS
Finding Will Retard Progress of
Settlement by Umpires, He
Says - Report Declares
Both Sides Should Yield
to Public Interest.
From The Tribune Bureau. J


Washington, Nov. 24.-Ending the
wage dispute that threatened a strike
by 10000 locomotive engineers on fifty
two Eastern railroads. the board OF
arbitration intrusted with the settle
ment of the controversy announced its
award tonight. The engineers gain
partial victory in the+r demand for
more wages.
The findings OF the board are practi-
cally compromise. although a gen
cral advance Of wages and better work
ing conditions are awarded. The
award is signed by five members of the
board, p. H. Morrissey, former grand
master OF the Brot. .erhood of Railroad
Trainmen, submitting a dissenting
opinion in which he claims that the
result will have the effect Of retarding
the progress OF arbitration OF indus
trial disputes on the railroads.
The settlement Of the controversy re-
fleets credit on DR.. Charles p. Nell
Commissioner OF Labor, and Judge
Martin \. Knapp, of the Commerce
Court, who exercised their friendly OF
fees at the critical stage OF the dispute
and doubtless averted a strike by per-
suading the railroad officials and rep
resentatives Of the engineers to sub
NIT the matters in dispute to arbitra-
ton after mediation had failed.
Public Had Most at Stake.
In it's decision the board holds that
the public. which had no voice in the
controversy and no choice but TO abide
by the decision, had more at stake than
either engineers or railroads. The re-
port emphasizes the necessity of plans
to safeguard the public against the pos
sibility OF future strike, whose conse-
quences It depicts in sombre vein,
adding:
1t would be difficult TO exaggerate the
seriousness Of such a calamity, II ~
safe TO say thar the large cities or the
Fast would dnd their supply OF many
articles OF food exhausted within week.
OF so important commodity as miik
they would have no more than days
supply. II strike Of the character last
cd for only a single week the suffering
would be beyond our power Of descrip-
tion' The interests OF the public so far
exceed those OF the parties 10 a contro-
versy as to render the former para
mount To this paramount interest both
the railroad operators and the employees
should submit
1T is the belief Of the board" con-
tinues the decision, that In the last
analysis the only solution is to qualify
the principle OF free contract in the
railroad service"
General Increase Not Warranted.
While the award increases wages on
some railroads and for some classes OF
service. II holds that general increase
on ali roads is not warranted The
award dates back to May l and Will
hold for one year from that date. Mr..
Morrissey, representing the engineers.
has already indicated doubt as to It's
renewal. In the past, with several
notable exceptions. the contracts be-
tween the roads and the engineers have
been renewed annually.
The attitude Of the railroads, as out
lined In a statement to-day by Presi-
dent Daniel Willard Of the Baltimore e.
Ohio Railroad. who represented the
ra ilroads on the arbitration board, Is
likewise indefinite as to the future.
"My acceptance of the award as
whole does not signify my approval OF
all the findings in detail" said Presi-
dent Willard. He added that al.
though the award Is not such as the
railroads had hoped for" nor such as
they felt was justified by the facts,
they now accept without question the
conclusion which was reached"
Grants Increased Compensation.
In It's award the board grants certain
Increased compensation and improved
and uniform rules Of service requested
BY the engineers, but holds that gen.
eral increase of wages on all roads Is
not warranted upon the basis of the
evidence presented.
The board found that on some roads
and for certain classes OF service the
compensation was too small, and there
fore introduced into the award the
principle Of q minimum wage for the
entire district. The award, which dates
back to May / last and will stand for
one wear. settles the most important
American labor dispute submitted to
arbitration since the anthracite coal
strike in 1902.
In its report the board suggests the
creation Of federal and state wage COM
missions. which shall exercise functions
regarding labor engaged upon public
utilities analogous to those exercised
with regard to capital by the public
service commissions already in exist
ence. The representative Of the engi-
neers on the board, +. H. Morrlssey,
dissented from this suggestion, which,
he said, in its effect virtually meant
compulsory arbitration and was wholly
impracticable.
The Important Recommendations
Following are the more important OF
tho boards awards and the requests Of
the engineers
In passenger service minimum wage
was granted Of 81 70 for 100 miles or less
Continv ed on second page. fourth column.