The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-11-28

award does not settle the Important
principles raised by the engineers
and claims that it is based .upoa
statistics that are not only unrell-
able for the purpose for which the
board used them hut that the board
also erred in the application of these
wage statistics.
/ For this reason says Mr.. Nor
rlssey. "while the engineers will
! faithfully abide by the award dur
ing the period that it is to continue,
at the same time IT can be only tenn
porary because its fundamental ba-
4sis is SO insecure" =
/ Mr.. Morrissey recognizes the i'm.
portance to the engineers OF the ef-
fects Of such increases In wage
rates and the establishing OF such
uniform rules of service as the board
has awarded.
i There has BEEN" ne says, "a
gain in essentials and step for
ward has been taken in the stand
ardlzation in engineers rates and
OF conditions for the eastern dis.
5trict."
Mr.. Morr.ssey dissents from the
majority OF the board in their rec
ommendatlon that wage commissions
be established with power of COM
pulsory arbitration, although he
suggests that there are some i'm
portant activities 10 which wage
commissions might probably give
their attention.
A striking suggestion is made in
his recommendation that hereafter
arbitration boards should be SO con-
stituted that none OF the parties
composing them-not even repre-
sentat.ves CT the public-should
nave majority OF the members;
that the majority should be consti-
Z tuted by representatives of at least
two OF the parties agreeing.
Mr.. Morrissey's dissenting report
concludes with the statement:
II wish to emphasize my dissent
from that recommendation of the
board which in its effect virtually
means compulsory arbitration for
the RAILROADS and their employees.
Regard.es of any probable eonstitu-
tional prohibitions which might OPP
crate against its being adopted, 1t is
wholly impracticable. The progress
toward the settlement of disputes
between the railways and their en-
ployees without recourse to indus
trial warfare has been marked.
There is nothing under present con-
ditions to prevent its continuance.
1t will never he perfect, but even
so it will be immeasurably better
than It would be under conditions
such as the board proposes. The
peace that would satisfy such an
ideal condition as that had in mind
by those making the recommends
ton, would be too dearly bought
even If 1t could be attained. TO m
sure the permanent Industrial peace
50 much desired will require 4
broader craftsmanship than that
which would Ashackle the rights OF a
large group OF our citizens"
The arbitration resulted from =
concerted movement begun by the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
gineers in January last, when the
brotherhood presented to the rail-
roads series of requests involving
uniform rates OF pay, uniform class
flcation of service, and uniform
working rules throughout the East
ern district. Refusal of the rail
roads to grant the requests in part
or in whole resulted in strike vote
by the engineers which indicated
that over SO per cent Of the men
we're prepared to go out upon APP
proval Of Grand Chief Warren s.
Stone. Judge Martin s. Knapp, OF
the United States commerce court
and DR.. Charles p. Neill, United
States commissioner Of labor urged
I. an amicable settlement. A confer
/. ence With these two officials brought
about an agreement between the
railroads and the engineers to sub
nit the dispute to board of arhi-
i tration.
The board began its deliberations
in July but only yesterday was able
to announce its conclusions. Hear
ings were given more than a score
, OF engineers whose case was sepre'
! seted by Grand Chief Warren :
stone, and the railroads we're repre-
| scented by w. NJ. Duncan. receiver o.
) tho Wheeling and Lake Ere, ane
: b. A. Worthington, now president
of The Chicago and Alton. Eact