Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-03-25
is RAILROAD
STRIKE COMING I?
Fifty Eastern Lines Refuse
Increase to Locomotive
Engineers
WANTED NINTEEH PERCENT
Reductions in Freight Tariffs by
Interstate Commerce Com.
mission Blamed.

! (By Special Leased Wire to New Mexican)
! New York, March 25.-Fifty rail
iroads comprising practically all the
/ lines east OF Chicago and north of the
Norfolk and Western today refused to
grant an increase in wages demanded
! by their locomotive engineers. The
engineers demand, presented on Jan
uary %, was for an increase amount
! ing to about nineteen per cent a year.
The railroads refusal is based on the
assertion that they are financially un-
fable to bear the increased expense.
The railroads, in their reply, point
ed out that the proposed increase will
amount to $7,553,792, annually which
would be equivalent to placing on their
property lien of $1SS,S44,S1S of four
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 efficiency of their service and to
insure greater safety to the public and
employees
Reductions in Freight Rates.
The reply was presented at a joint
meeting of committees representing
the brotherhood of locomotive engin-
GERS and twelve presidents and gener-
al managers from the railroads. The
railroad points out that the wage ad-
vance to engineers and other employ
es since 1910 was made in expectation
Of "a much needed" advance in freight
rates which the interstate commerce
commission declined to allow. Since
that period, they say, enforced reduc-
tiOns of rates have been more or less
continuous and other rate reductions
are pending. The railroads declare
that the fixing of standard wage for
the conductors and trainmen was the
result of a crisis developed in connec-
ton with their demands and should
not be taken as a precedent.
Decrease in Net Earnings.
Figures are presented to show that
while the gross earnings of the roads
concerned increased $lS,559,659 in
1911, there was decrease in net
earnings of $27650,200; and while
1917 less men were employed, these
total wages increased $39, ,416,S02. The
reply is signed by the conference com
mittee of managers, J. c. Stuart,
chairman.
Grand Chief Stone, when told, just
before the meeting of the railroad men
that the demands of the engineers had
been refused and asked what the en-
gineers would do, said he had no pre-
dictions to make. When Mr.. Stone
came from the conference room, he
said he and the other representatives
of the brotherhood of locomotive en-
gineers would hold a meeting later az
ter which they might have something
Ito say.
Was any compromise suggested?"
he was asked
None he said. I'VE have not
made known our attitude on the refu-
sal and will not do so until we have
had time enough to discuss it among
ourselves. Allel we nave SUutr ONSt
the matter another joint meeting with
the railroad representatives will be
held
"Looks Like War"
New York, March 25.-''It looks like
war; Mr.. Stone later was quoted as
saying, "and the indications are that
we will have to take a strike vote and
make preparations to enforce our de-
mands unless the railroads adopt
more reasonable attitude
Engineers Stand Firm.
New York. March 25.-At the con-
clusion of the conference of the loco
motive engineers this afternoon it was
announced that they would not recede
from their position in the demand for
increased wages. Another conference
will be held.