The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-04
ENGINEERS FAIL
To GET DEMANDS

NEW HAVEN, CONN., Special
Denying that the reason for the re-
fusal of the Eastern railroads to grant
the demands of the engineers was be-
cause they had not been allowed TO
advance freight rates. declaring that
the engineers are the highest paid
men in the railroad service. and re-
futtng the statements that the average
working life of an engineer is ten
years, the conference committee OF
engineers representing fifty railroads
In the East at present negotiating
with the locomotive engineers on the
subject of wages, issued the follow
ing statement today:
In reply to the proposition sub
mttted by the engineers, the commit
tee made its position so clear that il
Is incapable OF being misunderstood
The only reference made TO the
subject OF freight rates was the state
ment that the wage advance to en-
gineers and other employees in 1910
was made in expectation of a much
needed advance in freight rates, which
the Interstate Commerce Commission
declined to allow.
Enforced reduction of rates have
been more or less continuous, since
that period, and many important rate
reductions are now pending the latest
difference being in the Pittsburg coal
case. requiring an average reduction
rate, which will directly affect over
$1,000. 900 tons OF coal per annum
and the general effect upon freight
rates on fuel and commercial coal
will be far-reaching.
The committee said that the In,
creaseS asked would amount to 81
55S. 1874. or 1858 per cent, per an
mum, and that this increase would be
equivalent 20 placing on the proper
ties lien of $1SS,S44,S1S of per
cent. securities, which would have
preference over first mortgage bonds,
and TO Just that extent would lessen
the ability of the roads to make the
improvements necessary to increase
the facility of their service, and to
insure greater safety to the public
and the employees.
1T was pointed out that ii Is less
than two years since the adjustment
of engineers wages was made in the
Eastern district. which resulted in an
annual increase of engineers nav
amounting to $3,923. 6Se.61. or 1918
per cent, per annum. In this adjust
ment all conditions OF the service
then prevailing We're considered and
provided for, and since that time there
has been no substantial change in
the conditions"
What Caused TOday's Statement.
NEW YORK Special public
dtNSHllOH SHOulQ De CLOSELY directed
to the situation which has arisen on
the railroads.
The railroads of the Eastern ter
ritory-and that means east of Chi
caso, with the Illinois Central as the
dividing line, and north of the Ohio
river. with the Norfolk and Western
the dividing-have directed our de-
mands for an increase. They have NOT
| advanced. for the reason that freight
| rates have been so reduced by the In
| terstate Commerce Commission that
they are unable to afford the increase.
Now the public must understand
that L accept the statement from the
| railroads as true until it is proved
( untrue. 1t seems to resolve itself into
1 this:
"If the railroads are not telling the
| truth and existing rates are fair and
! Just, the railroads should be com
pay OF engineers.
IF the railroads are stating the
Facts truthfully, the Interstate Com
n m1eree commission. to meet. public
down below fair figure. and the pub
lie should Insist that those rates be
readjusted upon a basis that will
permit fair wage to the engineers.
railroad in the Eastern territory will
De tied up. except the Jersey Cen
tral. Our contracts on that road
Now let me state a few facts. Our
men have endured more hardships
during the past winter than they have
for years. Our death rate has in
The above is the substance Of q
statement made last night by Grand
Chief warren S. Stone, of the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Engineers.
$500 FOR THE AuREST oEc