Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-07-25
Wage Increases
for Engineers
SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE LAST
TEN YEARS
ATTERBURY TEsTIFIEs
Vice Prssidenti of Pennsylvania Road
Says If General Increase is Grant
cd Roads Surplus Will Vanish.

New 1ork, July 24.-W. w. After
bury, vice. president Of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. was the principal wit
ness today before the arbitration com
mission sitting at Manhattan beach
to pass upon thedemands of the loco
motive engineers of all eastern rail-
roads for increased pay. His testi-
mony, while it referred mainly to the
Pennsylvania lines east of Pittsburg,
of which he is the operating head,
presented the whole case of the rail-
roads SO clearly that he held the at
tention Of the board for the three
hours that he was on the stand
Increase Would Wipe Out Surplus in
Year.
Mr.. Atterbury said that the Penn
sylyania method Of arriving at basis
of pay for its employees has been "a
constant endeavor to pay q fair rate
for a fair days work" He furnished
tables showing hours Of work. miles
run and the average pay for engi-
neers which last he said was equal to,
if not better, than that on any COM
peting railroad
To grant the demands now made by
the engineers would, the witness said
add to the operating expenses of the
railroad the sum of $911, $50 a year,
and if proportionate increases are
made in the pay of all other employees
the cost would be $11,S78,66S, which,
he declared, would wipe out the sur
plus of the Pennsylvania railroad in
one year.
Frequent Increases for Engineers.
Mr.. Atterbury said that the engi-
neers had been given an advance of
ten per cent in wages in 1902 a ten
per cent increase in 1906, certain ad-
| 1ustments in 1907. fiat six per cent
increase in 1910. and later in the same
year an adjustment of wages follow
ing the New York Central arbitration
case.
I'VE did that" said Mr.. After
bury, mot because We thought our
men had earned an increase, but be-
cause we have taken the position that
we wanted our men as well paid as
those Of our competitors"
Operation Of Electric Trains.
Talking of granting the request of
steam engineers that they be given
the right to operate all electric trains,
Mr.. Atterbury said:
| Gentlemen, that has something In
1t that does not appear on the sur
face. There is a serious side to that
proposition. The Pennsylvania rail-
roads practice has in the past been,
when we have electrified, to assign
to that electric service, at a reasona-
| BILE and fair rate, our steam engineers,
The question Of obligating US to con-
tlnue that in the future Is a more Sc
r1ous matter, We have not thought
Of making any change, but the deci-
| sion by this commission that such shall
be the case in the future, will set up
the railroad and it's property SO aa
| to prohibit the lease or sale of the
property. 1t also carries with 1t, hid
den, but still there, the right of the
employe to demand continuous en-
ploynnent. l do not know whether you
gentlemen appreciate that particular
phase Of this proposition.
Pennsylvania Railroads Crisis.
I'VE have had what Mr.. Mcrrissey
calls a crisis on the Pennsylvania
railroad within the last few months
brought about by the application o1
that principle to a portion of our line
When We opened up our Pennsylvania
station in New York City, we at the
same time opened up a subway line
that is called the Hudson and Man.
haitian. 1t is hardly necessary fol
me to go into the details of negotia.
tions that led to the construction O.
that line. but can only say that haC
1 we not done so, q very large portion
of our suburban business would have
been lost to us entirely. that by thu
combination Of the Pennsylvania will
what interest it now owns in the Hud
son and Manhattan line, we were ena.
bled to prevent the construction of
competing line.
No Obligation to Provide for EmpIoye
"A demand was then made upon u
by our men that we should not per
nit the Hudson and Manhattan tt
man all of those trains, but that
portion of our men should run in tha
service. The demand was made b,
the engineers and the matter wa
finally settled by agreeing to disagree
for year
Mr.. Atterbury said that while it /
the practice to take care of employe
when railroad is purchased, he woul
not consider that there is any mora
or legal obligation to do so.
The hearing will be resumed to
morrow.