Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-25

compensation is granted.
The effect of the 20 mile per hour
basis of computing overtime in the
passenger service. the rules regarding
final terminal delay, and other changes
In the rules Of service, are all more
favorable to the engineers than exist.
ing rules upon many Of the roads.
The problem before the board of
arbitration was one Of such difficulty
that 1t became necessary before an
award was made for the board to con-
slider the principles which should OBJ
tain. The facts upon which It reached
its conclusions were 30 involved and
numerous that they cannot be summar-
lied. The Investigations regarding the
compensation to capital, the INTERIOR
porate relations Of the railroads, their
present earnings, their future possible
earnings and other factors, were so
complex that the board was unable
to arrive at a conclusion regarding the
ability Of the roads to pay an increased
compensation.
II was determined, however, that a
reasonable wage should be paid. Dis
regarding, therefore, the claim of the
railroads that they were unable to
bear an increase, the board agreed to
the principle that the engineers should
be paid fair wage.
In determining the basis Of a fair
wage. the board took the point of view
that the is.ing facts regarding the
relation of wages Of engineers to those
OF other classes of employees in the
! train service in the eastern district
and in other parts OF the country
should be the guiding principle. The
boards discussion of facts in this
connection led II to the conclusion
/ that a general increase of wages on
all roads was not warranted upon the
basis OF the evidence presented.
/ It was concluded by the board, how
ever, that on some roads and for GER
tain classes of service. the compensa-
ton was too small, and therefore the
board Introduced into the award the
principle Of a minimum wage for the
entire district in question.
ROADS ARE ABLE.
/ The board states as its belief that
the engineers should be granted a fair
compensation. 1t further states It to
be probable that the great majority
Of the railroads in the district consid-
cred are able to pay a fair compensa-
J ton. II they are not able to pay such
compensation with existing rates, the
report says, there is just cause for
hem 10 open again the question OF
an increase of rates with the inter
! state commerce commission.
| The board points out that a railroad
strike for the great centers Of the
/ United States can no longer be con-
/ sidered as a matter which primarily
affects the railroad operators and en-
ployes. While It does affect them SER
iously the public is far more deeply
| interested; indeed the interests of the
| public so far exceed those of the par
/ ties to the con roversy, says the re-
/ port, as TO render them paramount
! II is therefore imperative that some
othef way be found to settle differ
ences between railroads and their en-
. pAOs % IMAM W CNlAhGs tue ItDOIl say ..
In this connection the gains secured
through the Erdman act and the Cana
dian Industrial disputes act are dis
cussed, and while these acts are found
| TO have merits they are held by the
/ board TO be inadequate to meet the
situation.
In many respects the railroads are
D urah anF 90 q ia
commission and various state commits
sions. The same is not true Of the
employees Of the railroads, the board
says. This disparity of status sug-
gests the crea ion of federal and state
wage commissions which shall exer-
/ else functions regarding labor engaged
( in work upon public utilities analogous
to those exercised with regard to cap
ital by the public service commissions
already in existence.
PROBLEM COMPLEX.
ut is well unders God by the board"
the report says, that the problem for
which the above plan Is a suggested
solution is a complex and difficult one
/ The suggestion, however grows out OF
a profound conviction that the food
and clothing of our people. the in
dustries and the general welfare of the
nation, cannot be permitted 10 depend
upon the policies and the die ates of
any particular group of men, whether
employers or employees, not upon the
determination of a group of employers
and employees combined. The public
utilities Of the nation are of such funda-
mental importance 10 the whole people
that their operation must not be in
terrupted. and means must be worked
out which will guarantee this result"
The report is signed without reserve
by Charles r. Van Hise, Madison, Wis,
chairman; Oscar s. Straus, New York:
Albert Shaw, New York; Frederick n.
Judson, St Louis, and Otto NJ Ed.
litz. New York. who were appointed
by the chief justice of the supreme
court Of the United States. the United
States commissioner OF labor and the
presiding Judge OF the United States