The Washington herald., 1912-04-23
R. R. ENGINEERS
STRIKE AVERTED
BY GOVERNMENT
J contlausa from PaEs one.

II don't know what Messrs. NELL and
knapp either can OF desire to do" said
the chief OF the engineers after he re-
turned to his headquarters IN the Broad
way Central Hotel That WAS all he
could be induced to say about them
Both sides Hope Against Hope.
All day both sides had been hoping
against hope that an amicable agree
ment might be reached and that the
chieftaIns OF the brotherhood would re-
turn 20 their homes and assure their
followers that there was no reason for
them to begin the strike for which they
overwhelmingly voted over a month ago.
II was observed that Grand Chief Stone
maintained an unusually firm and ag-
gressIve attitude all day. He kept closely
to his room and would say little about
what he expected. They must come 10
our terms or I shall bes compelled TO exc
cute my purely administrative function
OF ordering the strike voted by our MEM
bers," he declared firmly. We cannot
listen to offers Of compromise. Besides,
the railroad managers do not seem bit
inclined TO offer any sort Of compromise.
Neither are we. Nor are We empowered
to suggest a compromise."
Assistant Grand Chiefs NJ W. Cadle of
Sedaiia. No. and F. H. Burgess, OF
Louisville. KY, sat by their leaders side
through most OF the day and heartily
approved all he said and did. The three
will maintain their headquarters at the
Broadway Central until a settlement OF
the trouble is brought about None OF
them tonight would admit the belief
that settlement could now be arranged.
Fight 90 Finish.
Under the tentative arrangement Of the
brotherhood chiefs, the local chairman
are to have two hours In which to notify
the men In their Jurisdiction to leave their
engines and thus tie up the roads.
enginemen TO the nearest siding after
the notification is received and passen-
ger trains are to be hauled only 10 the
nearest division terminal Of the engineers
driving them.
what Engineers Want.
The dissatisfied men are now receiv-
ing from S3.5 to A.I5 per hundred miles.
They demand from $40 per 100 miles for
passenger trains drawn by locomotives
with twenty-inch cylinders or less and
Aeo per hundred miles for locomotives
with cylinders over twenty inches in
diameter: miles made in excess of 100
TO be proratec; overtime to be COM
puted on q basis Of twenty miles an
hour; overtime TO be paid At the rate OF
20 cents an hour.
The freight train rates demanded are:
Engines with cylinders twenty inches
or less. So: more than twenty inches
and over twenty-four. $50; more than
twenty-four inches. exoept mallets. $50;
mallsts. 81.
The demands further prescribe 100
miles or less as q days run, and ten
hours or less as a days work. All over
100 miles to be prorated. Overtime to
be computed on a basis Of ten miles per
hour and paid for pro rata Through
freight rates to apply to all mine runs,
work, wreck, pusher. or helper.
Through freight rates to apply to all
mine runs. work. wreck. pusher. or
helper. milk. roustabout. and circus
trains, according to class Of engines.
Overtime TO be computed on minute ba-
sis; engineers to be paid at overtime
rate for all time over fifteen hours held
at other than their home terminals; 3
cents per 100 miles less additional to be
added TO through freight rates for local
freight service. according to class Of en-
gines. Switching service Is to be paid for
at A-50 a day. ten hours or less to con-
stitute a days work. and overtime to be
computed on q minute basis. Belt line
service Is to be paid for at the rate of
N~-s "AN-@ ~ 49, s---o ~ ~ NNHss
an hour.
These demands were first sent to the
committee OF railroad managers January
.. On March 3 ]. c. Stuart, Vice Presi-
dent of the Erie and chairman OF the
managers committee, sent a reply 10
Grand Chief Stone. declining to comply
with the mems demands.
Would burden Roads.
His refusal was accompanied by a
lengthy statement. containing a compu-
tation which showed that compliance
with the demands would impose an addi-
tional labor wage burden upon the roads
that would necessitate the issuing by
them of new securities to the value Of
more than s1s.0Oooo0. and also computed
that the mems demands involved an in
crease OF IS per cent in their present
wages.
on behalf Of his colleagues, Mr.. Stuart
suggested that until the Interstate Com
merce Commission should permit the
Eastern railroads to increase their
freight rates. according to the schedules
disallowed by the commission seveeal
months ago. the roads could not increase
wages. The railroads claim that the
Southern and Western roads were
enabled to standardize their wage scales
because the Interstate Commerce Com
mission had permitted them to increase
their freight rates.
Both Of these assertions are denied by
Grand Chief Stone. Although he declin-
ed to reduce to terms Of percentage the
increases demanded by the men. he said
that II is not IS per cent, nor would 1t
necessitate the new capitalization COM
puted by the railroad managers.
Men Cheer UItimatum.
It was nearly O'Clock this evening
when Assistant Grand Chief Burgess
gave out the reply Of the strike man
ayers to the ultimatum of refusal that
had been received half an hour previ-
ously from the managers. He had
nothing to add to the brief Of the
statement, further than # was now
the intention OF himself and two as
sociates to remain in New York and
conduct the strike from this city.
As soon as he had read the refusal
of the managers sent to him. Grand
Chief Stone referred II to the confer
ence of local chairman OF the brother
hood in a parlor on the second floor
of the Broadway Central. He also sent
the final reply to the ultimatum Of the
roads, which he and his associates had
drawn UP and forwarded to the man
ayers. The men greeted the strike
with a ringing cheer, and
soon thereafter filed silently out of the
ROOM None of them would talk All