Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-25
WAGE RAISE FOR
$4,000 ENGINEERS
Commissions to Protect Inter-
ests Of Public Are Urged
by Arbitrators.
koRRIsSEY IN DISSENT
Board Holds Lines Should Ask In
crease In Rates II Unable to
Meet Advance.

Washington, Nov. 25.-An award
that is considered q partial victory for
the 10000 locomotive engineers in their
controversy, begun last January, with
the 81 railways operating in the terri
tory east OF Chicago and north Of Nor
folk and Cincinnati, was announced
here today by the board Of arbitration
which Investigated the questions at
Issue. II grants certain increased com
pensation and improved and uniform
rules Of service requested by the en-
gtneers. but holds that a general in.
: crease Of wages on all roads is not
warranted upon the basis of the eyi.
dence presented.
The board found that on some roads
and for certain classes of service. the
compensation was too small and there
fore introduced into the award the
principle Of a minimum wage for the
entire district. The award, which
dates back TO May last and will stand
for one year. settles the mos, import
ant American labor dispute submitted
TO arbitration since the anthracite coaS
strike in 1902.
In its report the board suggests the
creation CT federal and state wage con
missions which shall exercise functions
regarding labor, engaged upon public
utilities, analogous TO those exercised
with regard to capital by the public
service commissions already in exist
ence. The representative Of the en-
gineers on the board p. Fl. Morrissey
dissented from this suggestion which.
he said. In its effect virtually meant
compulsory arbitration and was wholly
impracticable.
MORE IMPORTANT AWARDS.
Following are the more importan.
OF the boards awards and the requests
OF the engineers:
In passenger service, a minimum
wage was granted OF $425 for 100
miles or less; and an overtime rate
of 80 cents per hour with an average
speed OF 20 miles per hour. The en-.
gineers asked 34.40 and s4GO per day
of 100 miles according to the size OF
the locomotive cylinder. with an over
time rate Of 20 cents per hour after
five hours.
In through freight service. q mini.
mum was granted OF $4.75 per day of
100 miles or less. with overtime pro
rata after 10 hours. The engineers
requested rates of 1925. $3.50 and
1915 per day OF 100 miles. according
the uigR ~
for Mallett engines: the same rates
10 apply TO mine runs, work. wreck,
helper or pusher. milk and circus
trains
In local freight service. % cents ad,
ditional to the through freight rates
was gran ed. This met the full re-
quest OF the engineers.
In switching service. a minimum OF
$40 per day OF 10 hours or less was
granted. The engineers asked $3.50
per day Of 10 hours in switching ser
vice and for belt line service.
All existing rates higher than the
mipima granted by the board are con
tinued in force.
In fixing the minimum wage in pas
senger service at $4.25 per day. a high.
er minimum rae Is established for the
roads parties to the arbitration with
the exception OF a few.
In awarding the minimum through
freight rate Of $4.75 per day, the board
establishes wages for the district thai
messurably approach the current mini.
mum OF roads now paying the better
rates.
GENERAL INCREASE.
In making the rate for local freight
service rs cents higher than through