Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1912-11-30
$4,000 iocongt|Ys Drivers
Il Ban5f!i.
AGAINST GzHERAL INCREASE
Arbltrators Point Out Danger TO Pubic
Of 0trikes and Federal and Gta.e

Commission Suggested as Remedy.
Thirty thousand locomotive cngl-
neers on ft,y-two eastern railroads
gain q partial victory Il! tne!r Gemand
for more wages, under tho award an
nounccd BY the board OF arbitration.
In its docision, however. the board
holds that the public, which had no
voice In the controversy, and no
choice but to abide By the dec.sion,
bad moro II stake than either enyi-
neera or railroads.; and the report
emphaalzes the necessity OF plans to
safe guard the public against the posA-
bility OF future strike, whose c0Lse-
Quences 1t depicts in sombe- vein
1T would be difficult to e1agsorate
the seriousness OF such g. calamity"
reads the report. 1T 10 safe to say
that tho largo elites OF the east would
find their supply Of many articles OF
food exhausted within week. OF so
I'm portant commodity aS milk they
would have no moro than days sup
ply. II strike OF the character last
cd for only single week. the suffering
would be beyond our power OF deGcrip-
ton. The interests OF the public SO fer
excood those OF the parties to a cen
troverGy as TO render ths former para
mount. To this paramount interest
both tho railroad operators and tho
employees should submit"
To place such a strike beyond the
realms OF probability, the board advo-
Gates the creation OF federal and state
wage commissions. These commits
sions, the board suggests, should be
vested with practically the same pow
ers over organized labor as public
utilities commissions now exercise
over quasi-public corporations
1T Is the belief Of tho board" con-
tnues the decision, that In the last
analysis the only solution ia to qualify
the principle OF free contract Ia the
railroad service"
From this suggestion P. H Morris
soy. the representative Of the engi-
neers on the board, dissents.
While the award increases wages
On some railroads and for some class
es OF service, 1t holds that q general
increase on all roads is not warrant
ed. The award dates back to Nay 1
last, and will hold for one year from
that date
Mr.. Morr1ssey. representing the on
gineers, has already indicated doubt
as TO its renewal. In the past, with
several notable exceptions, the con-
tracts between the roads and tho en-
gineers have been renewed annually.
Following are the more important
OF the boards awards and the requests
Of the engineers:
In passenger service, minimum
WACO Was granted OF S425 for 100
miles or less; and sn overtime rate Of
80 ceuts per hour with an average
speed OF twenty miles psF hour The
enElneoTS asked 94.4o aad $3.50 psY
Gay q 100 milos, according to tho saga
OF the locomotive cynndsr. with "a
overtime rate OF 70 oeata psr hour
aiter five hours
In through freight service q mini
mvin was granted Of $475 per day Of
100 miles or less, with overtime pro
rata after ten hours. The engineers
requested rates Of 1926, $3.50 and
1915 per day Of 100 miles, according
10 size Of the engine; and ST for NAL
let engines; the same rates to apply
TO mine runs, work, wreck, helper or
pusher milk and circus trains.
In local freight service, twenty-five
cents additional TO the through freight
rates was granted This met the full
request Of the engineers.
In switching service, a minimum OF
$40 day Of ten hours or less WINS
granted. The engineers asked $3.50
per day Of ten hours in switching Ser.
vice and for belt line service
All existing rates higher than the
minimum granted by the board are
continued in force
In fixing the minimum wage in oas.
senger service at $4.25 per day. q
higher minimum rate is established
Tor the roads, parties to the arbitra-
ton with the exception Of few.
In awarding the minimum through
freight rate Of $4.75 per day, the
board establishes wages for the dis
trict that measurably approach the
current minimum Of roads now paying
the better rates.
In making the ratio for local freigh,
gpTV1Hp twnnTy n,,4o ~,