The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-25

Continued from Page One.
belief that the engineers should be grant
ed a fair compensation. They further
state II to be probable tSat the great
majority Of the railroads in the district
considered are able to pay a fair compen-
sation. II they are not able TO pay such
compensation with existing rates, the re-
port SAYS, there is just cause for them TO
open again the question of an increase
of rates with the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Main Requests.
The requests formulated by the engi-
neers were in the main as follows: In pas
senger service rates Of $40 and $40 per
day Of 100 miles, according to the size OF
the locomotive cylinder. with an overtime
rates Of 20 cents per hour after nve
hours; in freight service rates of SIS,
$50 and $50 per day of 100 miles, accord
ing to the size of the engine, and -
for MaIlet engines, the same rates TO ap-
ply to mine runs, work. wreck. pusher, or
helper, milk and circus trains and .
cents additional for local freight service.
For switching service. the engineers asked
$3.50 per day of ten hours and for oet
line service a rate of s. per day of ten
hours In addition. the engineers request
ed that the engineers time in all classes
of road service be computed as beginning
thirty minutes before leaving the round
house and terminating at the time the
engine is placed on the designated track
or relieved by hostler at terminal They
also asked that electric service be oper-
ated exclusively by steam engineers, and
that number Of uniform rules be adopt
ed upon the several roads with regard
to such matters as initial and final ter
minal delay held away from home ter
minal.
These requests upon one side and their
general refusal upon the other side, with
no proposal for a modification OF existing
rates of pay or rules service, placed the
problem before the board Of determining
whether an increase should be granted,
and, if So how much for eacn class OF
service for each of the fifty-twO roads.
The railroads were represented on this
board by Daniel Willard, president of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. and
the engineers by P. H. Morrissey for
mer grand master of the brotherhood
of Railroad Trainmen. The other five
members of the board, appointed by the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the
United States Commissioner of Labor.
and the presiding judge of the United
States Commerce Court, were Oscar S.
Straus. of New York: Charles r. Van
Hise, of Madison. Wis; Albert Shaw,
editor of the Review OF Reviews; Fred
erick N Judson. of st. Louis and Otto
NJ. Eidlitz. former president OF the
Building Trades Association, OF New
York City.
History of Arbitration.
The arbitration resulted from a con-
certed movement begun by the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Engineers in jan
uary last, when the brotherhood pre-
scented to the railroads a series of re-
quests involving uniform rates Of pay,
uniform clasSifcations Of service. and
uniform working rules throughout the
Eastern district. Three conferences were
held in March between the railroad
managers and the brotherhood officials
: ms railroads refused to grant the re-
Z quesTs Of the men in part or in whole.
whereupon the brotherhood took strike
vote. which indicated that more than 80
per cent of the engineers were prepared
to strike upon approval by Grand Chief
Warren S. Stone and his associates, as
required by the brotherhood rules. 1t
was at this critical stage that Judge
Martin A. Knapp. OF the Commerce
Court. and DIR. Charles p. Neill. Com
missioner of Labor. urged the contend
ing parties to seek an amiCable settle
ment of the dispute. and thus avoid
the calamity Of a strike upon the rail
roads OF so large and important a sec
ton of the United States. Mr.. Stone,
on behalf of the engineers, and Mr.. J. c.
Stuart, chairman of the conference COM
mittee of managers, on behalf of the
railroads, agreed TO consult with these
gentlemen. and, while the consultation
resulted in the rejection OF a proposal
to mediate, the cOntending parties
agreed to submit the matters in dispute
10 a board Of arbitration.
Beginning in July the board has met
from time to time and between meetings
have had the problems before them I'M
der consideration, but only lately was
the board able to announce its final
conclusions.
Suggests Wage Commissions.
The references of the report to the
settlement of labor controversies on rail- !
roads is of wide public interest After
discussing at some length the probable |
disastrous consequences OF a general |
strike among the engineers OF the rail- !
roads in so large a section Of the country |
and pointing out that for some years the |
railroads have been subjected to the con- !
troll OF commissions, both State and Fed |
eral, the board concluded that the pub |
lie at large cannot tolerate a strike upon
the railroads, the effect of which would |
be far more disastrous to the community |
than to the parties directly concerned |
The danger. however, Of such a calamity |
will continue until some more ADEQUATE |
provision is made for the amicable and /
just settlement Of labor controversies |
than now exists. AS a means toward |
this end, the board urges in strong terms |
the creation Of wage commissions, having |
power in labor matters analogous to |
those now exercised in the matter of |
rates by the Interstate Commerce Com |
mission and by State railroad commits |
sions. The report terminates with the |
statement that the public utilities of the |
naion are of such Fundamental importance |
to the whole people that their operation |
must not be interrupted. and means must |
be worked out which will guarantee this |
result"
MOrrisSey'E Opinion.
Mr.. Morrissey, in his dissenting opinion,
expresses the belief that the award Of
the board will have the effect of retard-
ing the progress of arbitration in the
settlement of Industrial disputes on the
railroads.
He contends that the award does not
settle the important principles raised by
the engineers and claims that it is based
upon the use of statistics that are not
only unreliable for the purposes for
which the board used Them but that the
board also erred in the application of
these wage statistics.
For this reason. he says, while the
engineers will faithfully abide by the
award during the period that II is to con-
tinue, at the same time it can be only
temporary because it's fundamental basis
is so insecure"