The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-25

arbitration for the railroads and their en-
ployes. Regardless of any probable pro-
hibitions which might operate against its
being adopted il is wholly impracticable.
The progress toward the settlement of dis
putes between the railways and their en-
ployes without recourse to industrial war
fare has been marked. There is moth
ing under present conditions to prevent
its continuance. II will never be perfect,
but even so it will be UNNECESSARILY bet
Ter than it would be under conditions
such as the board propose. The peace
that would satisfy such an ideal condi-
ton as that had in mind by those maxi
ing the recommendation would be too
dearly bought even If it could be at
tanned. To insure the permanent indus
triad peace SO much desired will require
a broader craftsmanship than that which
would shackle the rights of large group
of our citizens,
Fight Begun in January
The arbitration resulted from a concerts
ed movement begun by the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers In January last,
when the brotherhood presented to the
railroads a series of requests Involving
uniform rates Of pay. uniform classifiea-
tons OF service and uniform working
rules Throughout the eastern district Re-
fusal of the railroads to grant the re-
quests in part or in whole resulted in a
strike vote by the engineers which indi-
Gated that over 80 per cent of the men
we're prepared to go out upon approval
OF Grand CHER Warren s. Stone, Judge
Martin A. Knapp of the United States
commerce court and Dir. Charles P, Neill,
United States commissioner of labor,
urged an amicable settlements. A con-
ference with these two officials brought
about an agreement between the railroads
and the engineers to submit the dispute to
la board OF arbitration
The board began it's deliberations in
July but only today was able TO an
nounce its conclusions. Hearings were
given more than a score OF engineers,
whose case was presented by Grand Chief
Warren S. Stone. and the railroads were
represented by w. NJ. Duncan receiver
of The Wheeling and Lake Erie. and b A,
W0rthington, now president of the Chi
loago and Alton. Each party presented
an abundance of statistical material and
/ its contentious.
1 The engineers presented as arguments
| III favor of their claims the Following: The
nature az their calling, they stated, IN
yolyed heavy and increasing responsible
/ tyl great skill and efficiency, long pre-
naratory training. acute mental strain
mitch hazard and limited years of earn
OF the increase in the size of engines
their responsibility and productivity
were steadily Increasing They held that
the wages Of engineers had not kept pace
| with other ctisses Of train service anc
/ that the wages OF the engineers In III,
I eastern district We're not so high as II
4 the southern and western districts.
The railroads on their side held that the
engineers now receive not only a faii
4 but a liberal compensation for the worl
performed being the highest paid class
OF employees in the railroad service; tina
the hours OF duty were limited ana othel
1 conditions OF service SO arranged as t
relieve the engineers in the normal cours'
Fl OF work of excessive strain; and tina
there had been no change in working con
slitions. Since the last wage adjustment
1 now requiring adjustment. Also the rail
roads held that they were financially un
able to meet the Increased compensation
4 asked
These requests upon one side, and thei
general refusal upon the other side, Will
nn proposal for q modification or existing
a rates OF pay or rules of service places
the problem before the board Of deter
mining whether an Increase should b.
4 granted and it 80 how much for eacl
iclass of service for each of the 81 roads
The boards Investigations led them t
consider the broader aspects OF the PROB
lem Never In the history Of tile nlte
States has there been a strike on all III
railroads of q great section OF the coun
irr. The present Arbitration, involvin
~ IL did a concerted movement atfeciin
Il roads represented a new phase Of dc
yelonmciit The railroads invoked opei
ated 0sSsr miles of main track IN 1910 Q
,.,.<,., ff.s,t, .,nF-f,tlffft OF the total mile