United labor bulletin., 1912-12-05
ARBITRATION AWARD
Decision Rendered in Engineers
Case Very Unsatisfactory
to Trainmen.

The arbitration board, which for some
weeks has had under consideration the
settlement OF the controversy between
tifty-two Eastern roads and the 10000
engineers in their employ, has just made
its award public The award is consid-
cred to be only a partial victory for the
engineers. This controvers was begun
last January. The award grants certain
increased compensation and changes
rules of service requested by the engi-
neers, but maintains that a general in
crease in wages on all roads is not war
ranted upon the basis of the evidence
presented. The arbitration board sug-
gests the creation of federal and state
wage commissions which shall exercise
functions regarding labor engaged upon
public utilities analogous to those exer-
cised with regard to capital by the pub
lie service commissions, already in exist
ence The representative of the engi-
neers on the board, P. H. Morrissey, dis
sented from this suggestion, which he
says in its effect virtually means COM
pulsory arbitration and is wholly i'm
practicable. In the passenger service a
minimum wage was granted of $4-25 for
100 miles or less and an overtime rate
of 80 cents an hour. with an average
speed of 90 miles an hour The eng1-
neers asked $40 and $3.50 day for 100
miles, according to the size of the loco
motive cylinder, with an overtime rate
of 10 cents an hour after five hours In
through freight service minimum was
granted of $4.75 a day of 100 miles or
less with overtime pro rated after ten
hours. The engineers demanded $5-25,
$3.50 and $5.75 day of 100 miles, ac-
cording to size of the engine and 81 for
Malett engines, the same rates to apply
to mine runs, work, wreck, helper or
pusher, milk and circus trains. In local
freight service 25 cents additional 10
the through freight rate was granted.
this meeting the full demand of the engi-
neers In the switching service mini
mum of $4.1O a day OF ten hours was
granted the engineers having asked
$3.50 a day of ten hours in switching
service and tor belt line service. All
existing rates higher than those granted
by the board are to be continued In
force. Disregarding 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. The board AYERS it to
be probable that the great majority of
the railroads in the district considered
are able to pay a fair compensation. ana
further AYERS that If they are not able to
pay such compensation with existing
rates there is just cause for them to
open again the question of an increase
Commission P. II. Morrissey. repre-
senting the engineers, wrote a dissent
ing opinion in which he expressed the
belief that the award would have the
effect of retarding the progress of arbi-
tration in the settlement of industrial
disputes on the roads. He contends that
the award does not settle the important
principles raised by the engineers. and
claims that it is based upon statistics
that are not only unreliable for the pur-
pose for which the board used them. but
that the board also erred in the applica-
tion of these wage statistics. valuable
suggestion is made in Mr.. Morissey's
recommendation that hereafter arbitra-
ton boards should be so constituted that
none of the parties composing them, not
even representatives of the public
should have majority of the members
and that the majority of the members
should be the representatives of at least
two of the parties involved in the con-
troversy. 1t is apparent from statements
made by officials of the engineers that
the result of the arbitration is not salts
factory. but that the award will be ac-
cepted and adhered to for the time spec
flied. The award dates back to May l.
last. and will remain in force until May
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