New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
F|REMEN'S DEMANDS
DON'T SUIT RAILROADS
If Granted, Says Lee. Running
Expenses Would Be In
creased by 49, 00,0 900.
HOPES FOR CONCESSIONS
Chairman of Managers Sug-
gests Question of Firemen's
Assistants Be Left to
Permanent Committees.

Elisha Lee chairman of tho managers
committee of the Eastern railroads, re-
Piled Yesterday on behalf Of the rail-
roads TO the demands. as modified for the
second .ime of the fremen on those
rods The reply was In the form OF
lett-r. which was read at the joint confer
encc Of the managers committee ana ire
nremen's adjustment committee. 1t was
addressed to w. S. Carter, president OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen. but Mr.. Carter was on
his way to Denver and his place at the
ioint conference was taken by Nice-Pres-
ident Wall.
Mr. Lee in his reply repeats his for
mer statement that the railroads, While
recoEniZing that in no case should an
employe be expected or allowed TO per-
form service which will require excessive
physical effort. the varying conditions on
railroads would not make II practicable
10 formulate any general rule as 10 as
sistance for firemen. He suggests that
the matter of assisting the firemen be
left in the hands of permanent COM
mittee to be appointed for the purpose
for each road.
on the basis of the award of the arbi-
traitors in the case of the engineers ana
offers on behalf of the railroads TO con-
slider a settlement on that basis. ana also
TO consider an increase of present rates
I'm some instances He points out that
the demands as twice modified WouId
amount to an increase in the running eX-
pense of the railroads OF S9,6ooooO annu-
ally. or % per cent on the present wages
of the firemen.
His statement says in part;
The conference committee of managers
have not recognized the justice OF your
request. as formulated and presented; put
DO recognize that in no case snoulu" an
cmplOye. in any class of service, De eA-
pected or permitted TO perform service
which will require excessive physlcal el
fort. While the question OF expense ol
any proposition is "A serious matter anu
must carry great weight, the committee
position is that where IT is a fact tha'
assistance for firemen is necessary the
question of cost is of minor consldera-
Ne trust that you will not take the
position that YOU are not Warranted III
further modifying your demands, as We
feel that with the precedent establlsheu
bV the recent arbitration of the engineers
case il should be possible TO arrive az
settlement which would meet with public
- SIDES 1t is possible that you could not
have been aware of the cost to the rail-
roads of your latest amended proposal
when you wrote your letter. but We are
now able to inform you that careful
estimate indicates that the increased cost
would amount to s9,6oo,OOO. or 20 per cent
of the firemen's present wages.
With regard 10 your proposal TO submit
al matters i'm dispute to arbitration, In
order to avoid the necessity of a strike
vote We reiterate that II ought not TO
be necessary TO resort to these extreme
measures at this time. nor while we nave
available the best expression OF pubic
opinion which II was possible 10 Drlns 20
bear upon a case so clearly related as is
that Of the engineers.
The relations of the railroads TO their
employees and 10 the public were clearly
brought out in the controversy with the
engineers and the position which either
party could take and retain the support
OF the public on the question Of arbitra-
ton was quite clearly indicated by the
expression of public opinion at a time
when the public was much concerned.
The railroads still adhere to the position
which they took at that time. am in
structed TO inform you that II arbltra-
ton finally becomes necessary II is the
opinion of the managers committee that
the plan of arbitration should not exactly
follow the lines Of the Erdman act. but
that the number Of arbitrators and the
methods Of choosing them should be sub
stantially the same as in the engineers
case.
While the railroads favor this plan Of
arbitration. it was learned that the fire.
men prefer arbitration under the Erd-
man act. Arbitration under this act re-
quires the arbitrators. three in number,
10 render an award within thirty days
after their appointment. The arbitration
board in the case Of the engineers con-
sisted of seven members. and according
20 ka zferhA "a
the arbitrator started their hearings be-
fore they rendered an award