Putnam patriot., 1912-07-26
pailroad's Wage Arguments Presented

pY stamps atitNeN
 -------------------=------------- Railroads Wage Arguments Presented
 Manhattan Bench, Y. Ys July D. The Arbitration Commission to decide whether the Eastern railroads are to increase the wages Of locomotive enRi- neers some S7,500,0 600 annually, on Monday resumed sessions, when rail- road officials began the full pTesenta- ton of their case and will try to show why locomotive engineers should not have S7 ,500, ,000 increase in pay.
 Last week was taken up with pre- liminary presentation Of the railroads case, and the full presentation of the engineers arguments for an increase. A careful analysis Of the demands presented by the locomotive engineers shows that they are demanding
 a] The adoption Of the principle that wages and rules of service shall be standardized throughout the East efn territory.
 f2) The adoption of certain stand ard rates of pay and certain standard rules of service, resulting in increased compensation 10 the engineers.
 f3j The adoption of the principle that locomotive engineers shall have the right to operate the motive power when 1t is changed from steam 10 elec. tficiiy or other motive power, and that electric service shall be governed by the schedule covering rates of pay and rules of service in steam service.
 t4) That locomotive engineers shall have the right to operate electric or multiple unit trains when the same enter upon steam tracks or tracks for merly operated by steam, or where trackage rights are leased to holding companies.
 The railroads, on the other hand, are rejecting the demands of the engineers as above set forth, upon the ground that existing rates of pay are full and liberal, that existing rules of service bear some relation to local conditions, that standardization of either rates of ! by conditions, and that electric service is not entitled to be paid upon steam basis.
 In arguing the railroads side of the case, B. A. Worthinglon, President ol the Chicago S Alton Railroad, said:
 "In nearly every instance standardi, zation will have the effect of imposing very heavy burden on a very weak road.
 "The railroad, claim that the exist ing Wages are fuir and liberal, says Mir. Worthington, "because railroao employees are us well, if not better paid than labor in other employments Engineers constitute the highest paio class of employees in the railroad ser vice.
 "The existing ditierential in the rat' Of pay in favor of the engineers agains the conductors, growing out of th, wage adjustment of 1910, corresponds in majority of cases with the differ ential therefore existing for number
  1910 adjustment of engineers wage was made, excepting in three or foni instances, on the iifty-two railroads in volved, subsequent to the adjustment with the conductors and trainmen line engineers have worked under the existing diiierential for the past two wears without protest until the issue raised at this time"
 "Engineers wages increased in 1910 approximately S4, 4,044 ,23o per annum, or 0.S4 per cent, at which time full consideration was given 10 all the con dtions of service then prevailing Since that time there has been no in. crease in risk or responsibility or phy' sical labor of the individual engineer on any of the tifty-two railroads either on account of tll the size Of engine; (2l the speed of trains; or (sl the loading Of trains.
 The spokesman for the railroad said; uThere were 200S locomotives pur- chased since the last adjustment with The engineers for the fitly.two roads; only 6s of these engines were of the aMallet or double engine type, and most of them were purchased for help. CT service; 2o2 were of the Mikado type: SIC Consolidation type, while 524 had about 10 per cent. excess eapa- city over an engine with slightly less than 100000 pounds on drivers; from which il is quite clear this could hardly be used as an argument for in crease in compensation based on the size of engine.
 aThere has been very slight, if any, increase in the average speed os passenger and freight trains in the past six years. There surely is noth- ing in connection with the speed of trains that would justify any increase "we do not dispute that there has been a gradual increase in trainloads, and that this difference hasibeen quite marked. In this period of ,ten years, he increase is about 40 per cent. The engineers wages have not increased in the same ratio, and Il could hardly be