Smyrna times., 1912-11-27
MINIMUM WAGE
FOR ENGINEERS
$4,000 Locomotive Drivers
to Benefit.
AGAINST GENERAL INCREASE
Arbitrators Point Out Danger to Public
of Strikes and Federal and State
Commission Suggested as Remedy.


Commission Suggested as Remedy.
Thirty thousand locomotive engi-
neers on ffty-two eastern railroads
gain a partial victory in their demand
for more wages, under the award an
ncunced by the board Of arbitration.
In it's decision, however, the board
holds that the public, which had no
voice in the controversy, and no
choice but to abide by the decision,
had more at stake than either engi-
neers or railroads; and the report
emphasizes the necessity of plans to
safeguard the public against the possi-
bility of future strike, whose conse-
quences it depicts in somber vein.
1T would be difficult to exaggerate
the seriousness of such a calamity"
reads the report. 'It is safe to say
that the large cities of the east would
find their supply of many articles of
food exhausted within week. OF so
important commodity as milk they
would have no more than a days sup
ply. If a strike of the character last
ed for only a single week, the suffering
would be beyond our power Of descrip-
tion. The interests Of the public so far
exceed those of the parties to a con-
troversy as to render the former para
mount. To this paramount interest
bot. the railroad operators and the
employees should submit"
To place such a strike beyond the
realms of probability. the board advo-
Gates the creation of federal and state
wage commissions. These commits
sions. the board suggests, should be
vested with practically the same pow
ers over organized labor as public
utilities commissions now exercise
over quasi-public corporations.
1T is the belief of the board" con-
tinues the decision, that in the last
analysis the only solution is to qualify
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 wages
on some railroads and for some class
es of service, it holds that a general
increase on all roads is not warrant
ed. The award dates back to May
last, and will hold for one year from
that date.
Mr.. Morrissey, representing the en-.
gineers, has already indicated doubt
as to it's 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 100
miles or less; and an overtime rate of
so cents per hour with an average
speed of twenty miles per hour. The
engineers asked $4.4O and $3.50 per
day of 100 miles, according to the size
of the locomotive cylinder, with an
overtime rate of 20 cents per hour
| after five hours.
In through freight service a 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 OF
pusher, milk and circus trains.
In local freight service, twenty-five
| od fC hn oh, rrt,i
rates was granted. This met the full
request of the engineers.
In switching service, a minimum ot
$41O a day of ten hours or less wa;
granted. The engineers asked $4.5(
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, /;
higher minimum rate is established
for the roads, parties to the arbitra
tion with the exception of few.
In awarding the minimum through
freight rate of S4.75 per day. tn,
board establishes wages Tor the dis
trict that measurably approach tn
current minimum of roads now payini
the better rates.
In making the rate for local freigh
service twenty-five cents higher thai
through freight service a general in
crease of compensation is granted
The effect of the twenty-mile pc
hour basis of computing overtime il
the passenger service, the rules re
garding final terminal delay and othe
changes in the rules of service are al
more favorable to the engineers thai
existing rules on many of the roads.
Boy Kills Self over Love Affair.
Worried over a love affair that ha
seemed beyond solution, Frederic