The evening world., 1912-07-22
RAILWAYS PROTEST
. THEY. CAN'T RAISE
/ WAGES OF 10000
e. -
Present Their Side to Arbitra-
ton Board in Opposition
/ to Standardization.
CALL 1T OPPRESSIVE.
Declare II Would Mean Heavy
Tax and in Some Cases
Bankruptcy.
CALL 1T OPPRESSIVE.

The hfty-two railroads east Of Chi
eAso and north OF Norfolk and Western
railroads assumed tho defensive to-day
before tho straus board Of arbitration.
10 session In the Hotel Oriental. Man
haitian Beach. In support Of their con.
tsution that the 10000 engine drivers OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gtueers are not entitled to q standard
led and increased scale Of WAGES
IT 10 expected the railroad officials
Wi occupy a full week In their pre-
ssukation OF their side Of the wnge con-
sroversy which came no perliously near
to causing a strike a few months ago.
The chief contention OF the railroads
10 that the increased wages demanded
Will tax the ffty-two roads involved
U.sSa7s2.1 a year. equivalent to plac-
ins . lien Of rss,sH,sis Of I per cent.
securities on thcso properties. this lien
taking preference over even nrst mort.
sage bonds. The collateral effects of
the increase. the roads contend. will be
simultaneous demands from all other
branches OF their employees, which, ~
granted. would tax the roads SEQ. 000.-
900 q year In increased wages, or the
equivalent OF a lien OF $500. 0oo. 900
I per cent. securities.
The roads contend that this burden
would cripple every one Of them. and
would IN the case of the weaker roads
oanse almost immediate bankruptcy
Proceedings.
Assert ENGINEERS GOT RAISE
IN 1910.
They point to the fact that the en-.
Ginsers In the Eastern district received
{ 1918 per cent. wage increase In 1870
Amounting TO an aggregate Of G.923.-
Dael, and that the high cost of living
hes not increased to the point whore
smother salary increase Is warranted.
The roads. too. object strenuous!y to
the Standardization Of wages demanded
by the Brotherhood. They declare the
same high grade OF skill! and efficiency
v not required OF engine drivers on the
smaller roads. and that q consequent
smaller wage scale ought to prevail.
The richer roads. they assert. are bet
tor able TO pay higher wages than the
smaller roads. over which the traffic Is
% slight as to result In small dividends.
" any NJ all.
Necessary improvements demanded by
the travelling and shipping public have
taken all the surplus funds OF the roads
TIE managers set forth, and they urge
that II all their earnings are to 20 into
the pockets OF their employees. instead
q granting a dividend return TO inves-
tore, capital will decline to furnish the
necessary money for the ordered I'M
provements. This. according to Presi
deaf d. A. worthington OF the Chicago
and Illinois, who Is In charge OF tn,
case for the railroads. would result II
the utter inability OF the roads I,
handle the countryfs shipping and
consequent blow to every class OF trade
sUeuReAN ENGINEERS HAVE
LONGEST HOURS.
II was brought out that the averag,
Of the hours on duty for engineers o.
fast freight trains was ten hours o.
less, and that engineers OF slowe
freight trains seldom exceeded clever
or twelve hours on duty
In reply to questions Mr. Worthing
ton turned to the possible earnings O
the engineers OF the Twentieth Cen
fury Limited who testified at a pre-
vtous session.
''Our tables show that the engineer
on that run-the Mohawk division
declared Mr.. worthington. receive
an average OF 3l.26 an hour and tina
their working time on the rail Is 4.
hours" Turning to the subject o
suburban passenger runs the witnes
said Engineers on suburban run
naturally have longer hours betwee
reporting for duty and dismissal. a
their trains are run when the trai
~ 10 heaviest In the morning an
svvninx. Our records show twelv
h0Mrn and thirty-,ne minufea fnta