Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-17
Of Question Presented to
Arbitration Committee.
Cites Facts and Figures Show
ing Expense to Railroads.
Other Employees, Besides Engineers,
Would Ask for Raise In Pay.

New York, July 16.--Warren $. Stone,
chief of the Locomotive Engineers
completed the oral presentation of the
case of the engine drivers of SO East
ern railroads, who are seeking shorter
hours and higher pay, before The arbi-
tration commission at Manhattan
Beach, today. B. A. Worthington pres
dent of the Chicago & Alton, the
spokesman for the railroads involved,
later began his argument in reply.
Mr.. Worthington said, there was no
disposition on the part of railroads to
make conditions of service for engi-
neers or any other employees unduly
burdensome. He declared there is no
higher class of service in the world,
today. than that of the engineers.
We have. however, an honest diff
ference of opinion with these men." he
continued. THE railroad companies in
viewed in this controversy. on June 30,
1910. operated 266.1S5 miles Ct main
track in that part of the United States
east of the Mississippi and north of
the Ohio and Potomac rivers. The same
railroads during the same year carried
120. 522, 004 .595 tons miles, which was
ALB per cent of the aggregate ton
mileage of the steam roads of the Unit
ed States for that year, they carried
Is. $40, 743 passenger miles, or 42.S per
cent. of the aggregate. The total oper-
ating revenues were 81 ,0SS, 1867 ,0S7, or
39.e per cent. of the aggregate. Their
net operating revenue were 1851 1913, 429
or 80 per cent. of the aggregate
merely cite these figures to give you
a nidea of the magnitude of the prob
lem that is before us.
I'm 1900 the same railroads, accord
ing to the same authority. employed
27,175 engineers at an annual wage of
$S7 ,6T2 $50, or an average wage of 1890
for each engineer.
Tine average yearly compensation
received Icy the engineers in 1910, was
90 per cent. more than the average
yearly compensation received by the
engineers in 1900. The wage adjust
ments of 1910 and 1911 gave the engi-
neers further advances in pay, result
ing in an annual increase of s4,04t. 230.
The engineers now demand q STAN
datd rate of pay upon an increased
basis and certain standard rules which
applied against the calendar year of
1911 would have increased the engi-
reers' compensation on all railroads
$7,172.554. or 17.71 per cent"
Mr.. Worthington said standardiz-
alton of the wages of engineers, which
is asked for. would have to be followed
by adjustments of wages paid to fire.
men and other railway employees and
that the total increase in the wages OF
all employees. in the same proportion as
the engineers, would amount approx
mately to S63, 000, 900.
Continuing, Mr.. Worthngton assert
ed that to compel weaker railroads to
pay the same standard rate of wages
To engineers and other employees thar
more prosperous roads pay. would
bankrupt many roads and prevent
needed Improvements ON others
He was interrupted by Mr.. Judson
and other members of the arbitration
board, who asked if it was fair argu-
ment to assume that all ether en-
pioyes would demand increased wages
If tie engineers We're advanced. iir
Worthington replied, that the firemen
and shopmen have already presented
demands and that the others We're
merely waiting the outcome of the
pending case to ask for proportionate
increases
The hearing will be continued, to-
morrow