Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-25
INCREASE PAY
OF ENGINEERS
10000 Railroad Men Win 4
Partial Victory.

washington, Nov. 25.-Thlrty thou
sand locomotive engineers on f1fty-twe
eastern railroads gain a partial victory
In their demand for more wages under
the award announced by the board Of
arbitration. In its 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
moro at stake than either engineers or
railroads. and the report emphasizes
the necessity Of plans to safeguard the
public against the possibility Of a fu-
ture strike, whose consequences 1t de-
picts in somber vein.
Notwfthsta nding the Increase In com
pensatfon. the representative of the
engineers on the board dissents from
the award and says the settlement &C
ceptpd by 1t can be only temporary
The reward is retroactive. running for
only one year from May /. 1912. This
means that within fve months the
railroads Of the east probably will be
confronted With further demands
from the engineers and again may
have to meet the possibility Of a strike
The railroads estimated that the de
mands on the part Of the engineers If
granted would entail an additional ex
penditure Of S7.172,00O a year. If the
same percentage of increase were
granted to other employees the add
tional expense would amount In all to
S67. 900. 600 The board of arbitration
expresses the opinion that this total is
too high. but 1t does not attempt to
give exact figures rs to the additional
burden that the award may impose
upon the railroads Of the east
The findings Of the arbitration board
are regarded here as practically insur-
ing a renewed attempt on the part OF
the railroads to raise freight rates.
To Increase Freight Rstes.
The chief contention of the railroads
in opposina the engineers demands
was that they were unable financially
to meet the Increased compensation
asked The board Of arbitration
valves this question aside and holds
that IL the railroads are not able to
pay 4 fair compensation to their en-
g1neers with existing rates there is
just cause for them to open again the
question Of an increase In rates with
tho interstate commerce commission.
1t 10 on the strength Of this sugges
ton that the railroads undoubtedly
will quickly nov to lay before the
interstate commerce commission again
schedules of increased rates. The ar
bitrators express a rough opinion, how
ever, that a great majority Of the roads
In the eastern district probably are
able to pay a fair compensation.
But more striking than the actual
award by the board is a recommends
ton which it makes for the solution of
all labor disputes on railroads of the
United States. This recommendation
contemplates the establishment by law
of state and federal wage commits
sions. The federal wage commission.
as outlined by the ~nrbitrators. would
be a body similar to the interstate
commerce commission. and all labor
disputes Of the Interstate railroads
would be referred TO 1t for settlement.
Under this proposed plan arbitration
of oil railroad disputes would be com.
pulsory.
Morrissey Opposes Award.
P. H. Morrissey, the representative
Of the organized engineers on the
board of arbitration. expresses bitter
opposition to this compulsory arbitra-
ton plan. and the indications are that
1t will raise a mighty protest from the
labor world. The engineers represent
alive finds fault also with other fea-
lures of the award, particularly the
failure Of the board to uphold their
demands for Standardization Of wages
and for different pay for different
classes Of engineers and contends that
the findings Of the board can only be
temporary. The award of the arbi:
traitors is binding for only one year.
from May 1.s1912. Mt. Morrissey is
the only member of the board Of arbi-
tration who does not sign the award.
The more important features Of the
award are: A minimum wage Of $4.25
| per 100 miles or less for engineers In
passenger service, with an overtime
rate of 80 cents per hour with an aver
age speed of twenty miles per hour a
minimum of $4.75 for engineers In
| through freight service per day of 10C
miles or less, with overtime pro ratu
after ten hours; % cents additional
| per day In local freight service and
$4.10 per day of ten hours or less III
switching service. All existing runs
higher than these are continued IL
force,