The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-11-25
MINIMUM WAGE
FOR ENGINEERS
10000 Locomotive Drivers
to Benefit.
AGAINST GENERAL INCREASE
Arbitrators Point Out Danger to Public
of Strikes and Federal and State
Commission Suggested as Remedy.

HrpltTdtoT8 FoiHt Out hanger " dph
of Strikes and Federal and Stat
Commission Suggested as Remedy.
Washington, Nov. 25.-Thirty thou
sand locomotive engineers on fifty-tw'
eastern railroads gain partial victor.
in their demand for more wages, UT
der the award announced by the boarl
of arbitration.
In it's decision. however, the boa e
holds that the public, which had M
voice in the controversy, and ~
choice but to abide by the decision
had more at stake than either eng
neers or railroads; and the repor
emphasizes the necessity of plans tt
safeguard the public against the posi-
bility of a future strike, whose conse
quences it depicts in somber vein.
"It would be difficult to exaggeratt
the seriousness of such a calamity
reads the report. 'It is safe to sa,
that the large cities of the east wouli
find their supply of many articles O
food exhausted within a week. OFFS
important a commodity as milk the,
would have no more than a days sup
ply. If strike of the character last
ed for only single week, the suffering
would be beyond our power of descrip
ton. The interests of the public so far
exceed those of the parties to con
troversy as to render the former para
mount. To this paramount Interest
both the railroad operators and tie
employees should submit"
To place such strike beyond the
realms of probability, the board advo
Gates the creation of federal and state
wage commissions. These commis )
sions, the board suggests, should be
vested with practically the same pow.
ers over organized labor as pubic
utilities commissions now exercise
over quasi-public corporations.
'It is the belief of the board con
tinues the decision, that in the las.
analysis the only solution Is to qualisy J
the principle of free contract in the
railroad service"
From this suggestion P. H. Morris-
sey, the representative Of the engi
neers on the board, dissents.
While the award increases wagsf
on some railroads and for. some class
es of service, it holds that a genersi
increase on all roads is not warralt
ed. The award dates back to May 1
last, and will hold for one year fress
that date.
H.. Morrissey, representing en-
gineers, has already indicated doub.
as to its renewal. In the past, with
several notable exceptions. the con-
tracts between the roads and the en-.
gineers have been renewed annually.
Following are the more important
of the boards awards and the requests
of the engineers:
In passenger service, a minimum
wage was granted of $4.25 for LOO
miles or less; and an overtime rate OF
so cents per hour with an average
speed of twenty miles per hour. The
engineers asked $4.40 and $3.50 per
day of 100 miles, according to the size
of the locomotive cylinder, with an
overtime rate of 70 cents per hour
after five hours.
In through freight service mini
mum was granted of $4.75 per day Of
100 miles or less, with overtime pro
rata after ten hours. The engineers
requested rates of $5.25, $3.50 and
$5.75 per day of 100 miles, according
to size of the engine; and 81 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, minimum of
$4.10 a day of ten hours or less was
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 pas
senger service at $4.25 per day, a
higher minimum rate is established
for the roads, parties to the arbitra
ton with the exception of a 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 rate for local freight
service twenty-five cents higher thar
through freight service a general in.
crease of compensation is granted.
The effect of the twenty-mile per
hour basis of computing overtime in
the passenger service, the rules re
garding final terminal delay and Other
changes in the rules of service are al.
more favorable to the engineers thar
existing rules on many of the roads.
Trainmen Strike For More Wages.
pittshurqh Pa Nov 25-SiX hun